Community or open feeding, if done correctly will complete remove the tendency to rob between hives evenin a dearth. When feeding is necessary feeding every hive draws the bees to the syrup. When robbing occurs the bees are usually experiencing some type of nectar dearth and they go to the syrup. Placing the syrup in the open pulls the bees from all the hives to the same syrup source. They are all competing for the same food, just as in foraging. Keep the feeder away from the hives and each hive gets what it needs based on it's own resources. It is a very easy way to top of stores for the winter after harvesting. When the bees start building burr comb and the temps start dropping pull the feeder as the hives have as much stores as they can hold.
[/quote]
I understand the idea, but if you have 4-5 hives and only 1 is weak, what is gained? the 4 strong hives consume most of the sugar.... and at the price of sugar these days it would be easier and cheaper to combine the hives with 2 queens for a while, (or other options) If you only have 1-2 hives community feeing shouldn't be needed? I keep my haves around 10 feet apart and robbing is seldom an issue.... Smaller entrance reducers during dearths.... and allow the die off. seems to me that artificial feeding (as a comunity) compunds the issues as the hives with extra bees consume your profits in both sugar, and in extra stores to get thru the winter...... For example I had one hive last fall that was HUGE... they used right at 200lbs of honey this winter, where all my smaller hives averaged around 65 lbs consumed...... I wish they had a huge die off (I actually thought the would and didn't worry about it)....... the hive would have hade more stores for spring. as it was they would have died had I not started patties in Feb.....
anyway, what I am getting at is that I can't see a big benifit to the comunity feeder other than robbing prevention? and it seems to me a hive top feeder or robbing screens would be much more cost effective?
Just a thought to throw out...