Syrup Feeder

[Raf]

Good morning to you all, I have been using a large Thorn/English syrup feeder 6ltr. I have had my first colony of Bees "caught swarm" for nearly eight weeks and using a syrup feeder since, I have been using about 3 kg/ bags of sugar a week at 2 water to 1 sugar same weight. all going well, yesterday went to check if they needed any more syrup and found about 50 dead Bees inside the donut bit of the feeder, it was almost like there had been a rush for the syrup and the bees had drowned blocking off access to the syrup? The feeder has never even been close to full, 1.5 Ltr max each time. any information or advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks Sean

 

[drex]

You have already put 24 Kg of sugar into that colony. What is the state of the colony now ( how many frames of brood/bees/stores.?
Probably time to stop feeding and consider your varroa control

 

[Murox]

check the surfaces of the cone and inside the little covering cap - they should feel "rough or ridged" if not or not very rough scuff them up with sandpaper to increase grip for their feet.

PS I agree with @drex

 

[The Poot]

Good morning to you all, I have been using a large Thorn/English syrup feeder 6ltr. I have had my first colony of Bees "caught swarm" for nearly eight weeks and using a syrup feeder since, I have been using about 3 kg/ bags of sugar a week at 2 water to 1 sugar same weight. all going well, yesterday went to check if they needed any more syrup and found about 50 dead Bees inside the donut bit of the feeder, it was almost like there had been a rush for the syrup and the bees had drowned blocking off access to the syrup? The feeder has never even been close to full, 1.5 Ltr max each time. any information or advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks Sean

Rough up the inside of the cover and the cone with coarse sandpaper to give them a good grip.

 

[The Poot]

check the surfaces of the cone and inside the little covering cap - they should feel "rough or ridged" if not or not very rough scuff them up with sandpaper to increase grip for their feet.

PS I agree with @drex

Snap! Oops!

 

[Raf]

Thanks guys, all ten frames full, looks good lots of brood, Bees and stores lots of eggs and pupae and Bees.
Queen also looking good.

 

[Raf]

I will get on with the roughing up or sanding as soon as the rain stops, Thanks again.

 

[Ian123]

Just be aware there are still 3 months left that bees can be very active obviously depending on weather and location, if there’s a decent ivy flow in your area you may even want to consider removing a frame or 2. Monitor your hive through this period do not consider the job done. With continued brood rearing or robbers hives can become surprisingly light during this period!

 

[Buzzo]

its a bit fidgety but i put some old matchsticks inside the cup to act as floats . fixed the problem.

 

[MillMeadow]

My heart stopped for a moment when I saw the words 'match sticks'

its a bit fidgety but i put some old matchsticks inside the cup to act as floats . fixed the problem.

 

[enrico]

If you refill too quickly you can drown a few!

 

[ericbeaumont]

all ten frames full, looks good lots of brood, Bees and stores lots of eggs and pupae and Bees

Assessment best done by numbers of frames.

For example, if you had eight frames of syrup stored and only three of brood (and maybe half of each of those had pollen and syrup) then the balance of stores to brood would not give you a strong colony later this autumn, as summer bees begin to reduce.

I agree with Ian: ivy is yet to come and the balance of stores to brood to broodspace needs monitoring.

 

[Lynn Nicholls]

Good morning to you all, I have been using a large Thorn/English syrup feeder 6ltr. I have had my first colony of Bees "caught swarm" for nearly eight weeks and using a syrup feeder since, I have been using about 3 kg/ bags of sugar a week at 2 water to 1 sugar same weight. all going well, yesterday went to check if they needed any more syrup and found about 50 dead Bees inside the donut bit of the feeder, it was almost like there had been a rush for the syrup and the bees had drowned blocking off access to the syrup? The feeder has never even been close to full, 1.5 Ltr max each time. any information or advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks Sean

I used to have same problem, now put cut off cuff part of old sock over cone, works really well, no dead bees. Gives them something to grip on to. Also a brick or heavy weight temporarily on top of cone cover while pouring syrup in.