hive top feeders

drewgrim · Post by **drewgrim** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:50 pm

i have two questions...
should i have my hive top feeders directly on top of my hive bodies or should i have the inner cover under them?

also in one of my hives there seems to be alot of bees drowning in the syrup. in the other hive i have some mold growing on top of the syrup. is that ok or should i replace it?

Post by **Wally** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:47 pm

I do not use an inner lid with a hive top feeder.

Mold doesn't hurt any thing.

The one drowning bees has a warped lid. Put enough weight on it to make it touch the feeder all around.

PS. That's 3 questions, not 2. Deposit another 25 cents, please.

bdloving · Post by **bdloving** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:43 am

There are 2 types of hive-top feeders
1 type has the bee-entrance at one end with wire mesh preventing them from
getting into the main syrup area, I was drowning bees in this area until I dropped in a dowel rod that floats and gives the bees a standing area. That kind will also let in robbers if the lid is not on tight, and if the big black ants find it, they will chew a tunnel right around the top edge.

The other type has the bees coming up the middle with wood slats that float in the syrup areas, less drowning if you make sure the floats are floating, not stuck to the bottom/sides.