Top feeders in spring

[eddiedlzn]

I purchased two top feeders this year. I heard from a few folks that they do not work well in the spring. Is this a fact?

[Michael Bush]

They do not work well with chilly nights and cool days as the syrup doesn't get warmed up enough.  If you wait for a warm day and warm up the syrup they work fine.  You could warm up the entire feeder's worth by putting it all in a pan and bringing it up to about 90 degrees or you could just take a saucepan full and boil it and pour it back in to warm up the rest.  Or, empty it, flip it upside down and use it over some baggies.

[a wannabee]

That gives me an idea for the drowning bees. What about taking the screen out of the top feeder and putting 2 or 3 baggies in the feeder where the syrup would normally go? That serves the purpose of a large capacity feeder and catches any syrup that may spill out of the baggie? Has anyone tried that?

[Brian D. Bray]

That gives me an idea for the drowning bees. What about taking the screen out of the top feeder and putting 2 or 3 baggies in the feeder where the syrup would normally go? That serves the purpose of a large capacity feeder and catches any syrup that may spill out of the baggie? Has anyone tried that?

An idea that sounds like it's worth a try.

[Michael Bush]

They will work better on top of the cluster than up inside the feeder.  The bees still won't want to get too far from the cluster on chilly nights and on top of the cluster the syrup gets warmed up.  I would flip the feeder upside down and put the baggies on the top bars.