making some hive top feeders

[old243]

I have been making some hive top feeders. Used the design, by the fat bee man. If your accurate on your construction. the bees can't drown. They come up out of the hive to a screened in area. They take sugar off the surface , and return it to the hive. Have a couple in use now. Amazing how much they can pack away. Use a foil pan that will hold about 3 liters. Think they will work well. I will make a few more this winter.

We have combined a couple of hives, for some reason they were queenless. Very strong now, and packing in the goldenrod. Fall is approaching, the nights are cooler, they are putting in their winter stores


My pissy queens are gone, they seem to be quite a bit calmer. With the new queens. old243

[old243]

I have completed about 10 of the hive top feeders now. Have some on my hives , as well as some for my, bee keeper mentor. He is quite impressed with them, he intends to convert some of his other feeders to this style, good winter project.

Have taken the honey supers off, put on hive top feeders. Will feed any hives that want the feed. There are some fall asters still flowering . Our year is winding down. won't be long before we put them to bed., for the winter. old243

[swampcat]

We seem to be in a nectar flow down here. I fed the bees a couple days ago and they haven't taken much of the sugar water.. My mentors came by to inspect their hive, and was satisfied with it. I haven't inspected mine lately, but it seems alright. If it makes it through the winter, I plan to work with it next spring to build up a lot of hives.
if it don't I'll buy another package and try it again.. people have offered to hire me to Oxalic acid vapor their hives.
Not sure I want to get into that. Maybe when I have more experience with doing it, and testing to see if it needs to be done. I'm not sure of the effects of it on young bees..

I'll probably start soon building up small nucs for spring.

[swampcat]

Two gallons wow that seems a lot but like you said there are other bees in it too..

that storm blew through here and dropped some much needed rain. I was hopping to get another bloom on the buckwheat, I let come back before frost kills it out. I like the buckwheat it blooms quick and bees will work it. I can just about time its bloom and when the dearth happens.. but we have a lot of golden rod blooming now, and some little white flowers.. I'll have to inspect my hive before the frost, and see if the queen is in there and check on the honey stores.. I might have to feed some through the winter.. the temps are starting to cool down here.. the bees get out later now..

I like to set and watch the bees,, until I get them bumping into me, or getting in my hair that drives me nuts..

[old243]

I have hive top feeders on my 5 hives . They are working out well. Have added sugar water about once a week , when I repeat , the feeders are empty. Several are using more than the others. Took the last two honey supers off, they were pretty well full. Quite satisfied with the yield. Our flowers are pretty well done , on nice days they seem to be hauling in quite a bit of pollen. Not sure where they are finding it.

My mentor has a bunch of a different hive top feeders. not happy with them so I am tearing the innards out of them , and rebuilding them to the other type. Also fixing some boxes with bad corners , tops etc. This will keep me busy this winter.  old243

[swampcat]

I enjoy building bee equipment, only problem is I know nothing about wood work.. I've burned up two cheap table saws now and putting the third one together today.. since I got involved with the oxalic acid vaporizer, I've been working on a base for a screened bottom board, enclosed except for the rear, where I can treat the hive without opening the hive. I could close off the rear and stop air flow or regulate it. Having fun.. took the 2 year warrenty out on this table saw.. should have it mounted up and working by this afternoon.. maybe..

[old243]

Ifyou like making bee equipment, or wood working in general. Get quality blades for your saw.A dado blade set will help make the cuts Also a drill press, used is good. One tool that I am really impressed with., is a multi tool, blade oscillates,  mine is a cheapy one but really handy. I spend a lot of time puttering in the shop. Lots of days , I don't accomplish  much, but a good way to spend some time and create some saw dust.  My neigbours , grand kids  have some chickens, they take my saw dust and planer shavings. have fun old 243