A few words of warning re feeders

[Erichalfbee]

When you take off your rapid feeder and shake the bees out make sure your queen isn't in it!

 

[protheroe]

maybe thats where my queens went on opening up q less hives in spring.

 

[Mickyboy]

How long should you keep the feeders on , can u over feed them ?

 

[enrico]

No you can't over feed them unless the queen is trying to lay! You just have to time it right!
E

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

When you take off your rapid feeder and shake the bees out make sure your queen isn't in it!

Is there a story behind this, ericA?

Or do you just have a vivid imagination?

Do tell!


Dusty

 

[masterBK]

If that is a worry then leave excluder beneath crownboard

 

[JohnyP]

Never thought of that. They certainly come out "with intent" when I take the contact feeders off to refill.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is there a story behind this, ericA?

Or do you just have a vivid imagination?

Do tell!


Dusty

Bless me Dusty, for I have sinned.

Well....nadired a shallow this afternoon as brood box is really full and thought I'd remove a rapid feeder that had been sitting empty on the crown board for a week or so...tut tut.
I put the feeder with a few bees on the stand and closed up. Husband with me said, "shall I tip these out?" While tipping, thankfully onto the stand and not in the grass in front of the hive like I often do, this was followed by ......."Quick, quick open up there's the blooming queen." She took of, rather clumsily but landed on husband's arm giving me time to get the crown board off. She was probably hiding from the thymol fumes!
I just hope I haven't lost any others in a similar fashion.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Well, bless your cotton socks, ericA!

Tho it sounds as if 'im outdoors did the dirty deed.

Never mind, looks like St. Ambrose was looking after you.

Dusty

 

[banwee40]

Hi all on the subject of Queens not being where they should be, I opened up one of my hives a while back to remove the queen excluder from between the brood box and super and noticed that to my surprise the queen was walking about on top of the excluder. She was not a small queen so just goes to show you can't take anything for granted. I have had them hanging onto the underside of an excluder but not on top before.