Feeder full of dead bees

[Philren]

I have 2 hives and have a syrup feeder on both. On one there’s a dam of dead bees preventing the syrup being taken. The other hive has an identical feeder and the syrup is being used.
Grateful for any advice as to what I’m doing wrong.

 

[elainemary]

I have 2 hives and have a syrup feeder on both. On one there’s a dam of dead bees preventing the syrup being taken. The other hive has an identical feeder and the syrup is being used.
Grateful for any advice as to what I’m doing wrong.

This can happen when you first fill the feeder if it’s done too quickly ie bees come up and drown. Best to fill steadily and slowly, allowing bees space in the process. You could try taking it off, pouring out the syrup then cleaning it of the dead bees
and re filling slowly.

 

[Sutty]

If it's a plastic one eg a "rapid" feeder, roughen the surface the bees climb up and down with some coarse sandpaper.

 

[Hachi]

C r a p happens, fill slowly or slower and just clean it out and try again.

 

[user 20297]

I've found that certain types of feeder are useless in that respect. Bees drown whatever I do in those big English feeders.
The latest Abelo (Lyson) Ashforth feeders have a concertina of plastic that inserts into the bees' end of the feeder so that no bee is far from a safe wall to climb.
In my experience, best of all are the massive and expensive polystyrene feeders for the top of an Abelo hive.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Just fill slowly or don't let it get completely empty. This happens because too many bees rush to get in and get jammed by the others on top. I find loosening the cap and wiggling it about as I fill chases quite a few bees back down and enables the few submerged bees to float to the top

 

[Philren]

Thanks for all your replies. I filled both away from the hives and carried them to the hive. I’ll try the sandpaper approach.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

i had this at first, no longer, learnings (as above) were

- roughen the inside of cup and outside of cone to allow bees to grip properly
- ensure cone is on properly when you have filled
- fill slowly

 

[rossbyjove]

I have 2 hives and have a syrup feeder on both. On one there’s a dam of dead bees preventing the syrup being taken. The other hive has an identical feeder and the syrup is being used.
Grateful for any advice as to what I’m doing wrong.

I cut up an elasticated support bandage and put it over the cone.
Tucking the edge over and into the hole.
The bees can take it from the bandage and no need to go over the edge.
Seems to work.

 

[Philren]

Thanks for all your help and advice, gotta love this forum

 

[Bumbling Keeper]

Now that's a really good idea! Thank you.

I cut up an elasticated support bandage and put it over the cone.
Tucking the edge over and into the hole.
The bees can take it from the bandage and no need to go over the edge.
Seems to work.

 

[Widget]

I cut up an elasticated support bandage and put it over the cone.
Tucking the edge over and into the hole.
The bees can take it from the bandage and no need to go over the edge.
Seems to work.

I do a similar thing. I cut the cuff off old pairs of socks and put it over the cone so it overlaps the cone. The bees can feed anywhere on the sock so they don't have to stampede to the edge of the syrup which is when I think the leaders may get pushed into the syrup by their hungry sisters behind them. It works for me.

 

[The Poot]

Wouldn’t want to do it with my old socks!

 

[Gina]

I have 2 hives and have a syrup feeder on both. On one there’s a dam of dead bees preventing the syrup being taken. The other hive has an identical feeder and the syrup is being used.
Grateful for any advice as to what I’m doing wrong.

Hi
I have tried to stop my bees drowning in the syrup from the round feeder. I even put a small piece of flat lead on top of the cup to keep it pushed down onto the base. Its better but still a few drowning. I checked on line and Frederick Dunn advises using the ribbed top of a child's sock and put this over the funnel then the cup over the top and diluting the syrup 1:1. This works like a wick so the bees never go down to the syrup but take it from the top of the sock. Has anyone else tried this??

 

[Erichalfbee]

I’ve only ever had a few bees drown and that’s when I top up too fast. So I do it slowly twisting the cup round to dislodge stuck bees and no deaths

 

[ericbeaumont]

syrup feeder

What type, Phil?

best of all are the massive and expensive polystyrene feeders for the top of an Abelo hive.

I agree, and it can be improved as a syrup feeder by removing the metal slotted baffle. Add bracken, straw, leaves or somesuch and pour in syrup; bees clear it quicker and none will drown.

This method was suggested by ITLD, aka Murray McGregor, who runs 5,000+ and won't waste time on inefficient feeding.

The Abelo feeder may be expensive but can be used as crownboard, split board, fondant feeder and floor; I leave them on all year, which saves cleaning and carrying and storing.

 

[Penninetrader]

Now that's a really good idea! Thank you.

I thought so as well

 

[Midget Gem]

I switched to these a few years back. They sit above the crown board and the mesh end stands in a container full of syrup. I use an empty super as an eke. The container covers the 2nd hole on the crown board, the feeder covers the first. It meant I could come home from work and feed the bees without disturbing them, just quietly remove the roof and pour in the syrup. The bees don't drown as they can crawl up the mesh. These are quite old and battered now, but you get the general idea. I was thinking that they'd be better made out of acrylic or 3d printed if anyone is feeling clever