Wont take feed!

[Heather]

One of my colonies in Standard brood box and on 8 of those frames.
Queen laying, pollen stores good- but little nectar/syrup stores. The colony is calm and working- but the box is very light- enough to cause me concern- -and they wont take the 2:1 syrup down. The other colonies have taken all within 2 days- and this colony still has 1/2 left after a week.. any thoughts?

 

[tonybloke]

One of my colonies in Standard brood box and on 8 of those frames.
Queen laying, pollen stores good- but little nectar/syrup stores. The colony is calm and working- but the box is very light- enough to cause me concern- -and they wont take the 2:1 syrup down. The other colonies have taken all within 2 days- and this colony still has 1/2 left after a week.. any thoughts?

is this a contact feeder? I've had sugar crystals form on the mesh before, stopping the bees gaining access to syrup!

 

[Poly Hive]

Try a frame feeder.

PH

 

[Heather]

Why didnt I think of that! Cheers Pete

Had a rapid feeder on.

 

[Mike a]

If they still fail to take it down, pour it directly into the cells on one side of a frame which is clear of brood. Last resort a huge lump of fondant.

 

[The Riviera Kid]

I've had problems with crystalising sugare stopping the bees taking feed too. The feeder access is a central "tower" in the middle of the box with a plastic bowl over the top and bought from a high-profile Lincolnshire-based beekeeping supplier. It works well in general but the sugar crytalises around the base of the plastic bowl and inhibits access to the syrup. It also makes it blinkin' hard to the get plastic bowl off...

I will be sticking to good old Miller feeders from now on...