Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Native Plants on August 27, 2013, 05:12:50 pm
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I have worked through the design issues with the Mann Lake Feeder 1)screens not big enough and the bees get from hive to tray; 2) plugging all ventilation holes above so outside bees can't get in - I use an inner cover and prop it open with 1/16" cardboard and outer cover. I haven't had 'major' issues with the comb on the bottom of the plastic tray, only in the center divider. Other than that, I do like the feeders as I don't disturb the bees feeding the first year packages.
In reading about winter feeding, it seems I may have an issue with cold syrup. I can certainly warm the syrup, and put on only what they can take in 24 hours. Has anyone played with putting a solar cover (extra double glazed window) on top of the feeder and letting it warm for a few days? I may have to play with this with a cheap recording digital high/low thermometer.
Caveat: I only have four hives, 100' from the house. It's not a major effort to check on them.
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If your hives low on stores, feed, feed, feed NOW while they still take it. As to feeders, FatBeeMan has the best I've ever seen on his site. You can buy from him or just buy the $5 plans. Easy to build. Also what I do is to build up stores as much as possible then add a 2 1/2" spacer on top and add 2 sugar bricks on top of the topbars. Easy to access winter stores. If they are eating sugar bricks, good bet they have no stores left. Very cheap insurance to get hives through winter.
Have a good day. 8-)