I hope they work as well as I have been told they will.
You are going to get a closer look.
Whether you like it or not.
This is a standard, in-hive feeder. It is the same size as a brood frame that fits in a deep or brood box. It is a little bit thicker, but basically hangs inside the box. These are not new. A lot of the commercial guys use these. It holds one gallon of syrup, and most are used open like this one. There are a lot of mixed reviews on this style feeder. One complaint is that you end up with a lot of bee casualties due to drowning once it is filled with syrup.
To prevent, or at least help limit the casualties, this is a look at the inside of the feeder. It has these little ridges to assist the worker bees getting in and out of the thing. It gives them a little traction. Another complaint is that the bees will actually use these open style feeders as a trash can of sorts. They try to keep a clean environment, and will throw dead bees and debris inside the feeder, using it as a dumping ground of sorts. Another issue, if left to themselves for too long, they will start building comb inside the feeder.
This feeder has been improved by the use of this cap. This is a side view. The plastic cone shapes are what the bees will actually go inside. This allows them to eat the syrup all the way to the bottom, and to easily get in and out. Also preventing them from building comb inside the feeder.
This is the feeder completely assembled. The black bands hold everything in place. The two holes allow the bees access to the syrup.
No dead bees.
No trash dumping.
No comb built, except where we want it.
I may be easily amused these days.
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