Bee feeder: types and which one is better, how to do it yourself

Bee families need regular feeding. This needs to be done at least twice a year to stimulate brood. For the first time, insects are fed in the spring - before the flowering of honey plants. The second time this is done in the fall - before the replenishment of winter food. For the procedure to be effective, it is important to use special feeders for bees. They differ in variety and can be made from improvised devices.

Feeder Requirements

Designs for feeding bees differ in shape and size. However, there are a number of standard requirements:

1. Capacity must be up to 4 kilograms.
2. Insects need access to food at different times of the day regardless of the weather.
3. Bees should not drown in syrup while feeding.
4. There must be no contact with insects when feeding.
5. The beekeeper must be able to see the remains of the syrup. This allows him to add a new portion in case the need arises.
6. The design should be easy to maintain, since it must subsequently be systematically washed and cleaned.
7. Bees from neighboring hives should not have access to the feeder.

If the feeder is not made correctly, it poses a real threat to insects. They will start to drown in the syrup. There is also a risk of injury and hypothermia to the bees. As a result, this will provoke a decrease in the yield of the hive.

Varieties

Today there are many varieties of bee feeders. They differ in design features.

Ceiling

A box model is considered a universal design from this category. It needs to be fixed in the folds or put on a shelf, in which a hole should first be made. Thanks to this, the bees will be able to get close to the food. The box should be long enough to fit between the back and front of the hive.

Capacity for bees includes 3 sections:

• syrup chamber;
• stern section with insect bridge - made from foam or plywood;
• a small compartment through which the bees enter the feeding compartment.

A dividing wall is installed in the aft section, which does not reach the bottom by about 3 millimeters. In the third compartment, the partition does not reach the top by 8 millimeters. There is no bottom at the bottom, which creates a gap for the bees to access the food compartment.

Framework

This is the most common in-hive model. The dimensions of the container coincide with the frame with honeycombs. The design is an open-top box through which syrup is poured inside. A floating bridge is installed inside, which prevents insects from drowning. Such a feeder should be placed instead of a frame on the side of the nest. At the same time, it needs to be hung from the wall with hooks.

The most reliable option is the factory model made of plastic. A homemade design often causes leaks at the joints. In this case, the syrup enters the hive and leads to the death of insects.

Overframe

This design belongs to the box type. At the same time, it is installed in the hive above the frames. The design completely covers the nest, so insects cannot leave it during feeding. The building makes 2-3 compartments. One serves as a passage, and the rest are filled with syrup or honey.

This feeder is made of materials resistant to corrosion. These include, in particular, plastic, aluminum, wood. The box can be rectangular and have a volume of 0.5-2 liters.

Outdoor

This option is considered very convenient for beekeepers and insects. The outer feeder is a tight box with a hinged lid that is attached to the back of the hive. A container with food is placed in the feeder and a special raft is attached. To make it easier for the bees to get inside, a small gap is made behind the hive.

The main disadvantage of the design is the rapid cooling and freezing of the feed. Also, an improperly made structure can cause theft.

How to make your own bee feeder

For self-made bee feeders, you can use various improvised devices.

From a plastic bottle

Making a do-it-yourself feeder from a plastic bottle is not difficult. In addition, this building will have an affordable cost. To get a feeder, on the side wall of the bottle from the neck to the bottom, you need to draw a straight line and make 7 holes with an awl.

Cut 2 holders from the bars or sheets of chipboard. They must have recesses for the bottle. Elements should be attached to the wall of the hive. Side openings must be sealed with tape. After that, the container is filled with syrup and closed with a cork. Then the adhesive tape is torn off, and the bottle is placed on the holders. In this case, the holes should be at the bottom. The flow rate of the syrup depends on the viscosity of the mass and the size of the holes.

From a tin

Making a beehive feeder out of a tin can is easy. In addition, the building has many advantages. It has thin walls that conduct heat well. Therefore, the feed in the tank does not freeze for a long time. The design is also easy to clean, making it easy to care for.

To make a feeder, you will need small and wide jars. In this case, you should do the following:

1. Wash the jar with detergent. Then it must be wiped dry and top dressing added.
2. Cover the top with a cotton cloth so that its edges reach the middle. You can also use gauze folded in several layers.
3. Secure the material with an elastic band.
4. Turn the container over and place above the nest above the frames. To improve access to the feed, the container can be slightly raised by placing the bars down. At the same time, you should definitely leave gaps.

From a glass jar

Beautiful homemade feeders are made from glass jars. To do this, do the following:

1. Take a glass container with a capacity of 1 liter and pour nutrient syrup into it.
2. Fold gauze in 8 layers, moisten it with water and wring it out. Then attach the cut to the neck of the jar and secure with an elastic band.
3. Place the plywood on top, then turn the jar over and put it in the hive on the top platform. The plywood can then be removed. The syrup will seep through the fabric little by little, and the bees will start eating it.

From Styrofoam

For top dressing, you can use ready-made foam feeders. They can be easily glued from sheet foam. Also for this purpose, you can take a conical PVC container with a diameter of about 200 millimeters. You will also need an elastic band, chintz and a foam plate. Its thickness should be 30 millimeters.

1. Cut out a circle from the foam. This should be done with a sharp knife. In diameter, it should plunge tightly into the neck of the conical container.
2. A hole needs to be pierced in the center of the disk. Its thickness should be 7 millimeters.
3. Furrows should be made on the outside.
4. On the sides of the disc, you need to cut 4 grooves. The depth of each of them should be 5 millimeters.
5. Pour the syrup into the cone and cover the container with a foam disk.
6. Tighten the chintz from above and turn the cone over. If the syrup flows out quickly, add 1-2 more layers. As a result, it is important to achieve an even distribution of mass.
7. Finally, the feeder should be fixed in the hive with the grooves made on the side of the disk.

Today there are many different types of bee feeders that are made from different materials. This allows each beekeeper to choose the best option.

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