The cone in the rapid feeder sits over the center of the angel food cake pan type container. The bees come up from the hole in the inner cover and can walk down the ridged surface of the cone to the height of the sugar syrup.
When Jeff and I fed the bees last week, the feeders on the hives were empty. In the photo below, Jeff begins to pour the bee tea into the rapid feeder.
In this picture you can see the bees through the cone cover going down to the height of the bee tea. We had to pour slowly to avoid drowning bees and to allow the bees time to crawl up to dry ground.
The leaves floating in the bee tea are thyme, by the way.
The level rises and the bees crowd the top area of the cone.
As the bee tea gets higher, the bees are forced to move up even higher.
When the container is full, the bees can't go down the sides to get syrup, although as the amount of syrup is brought into the hive, the levels will diminish and the bees will be seen more on the outside of the cone.
Just thought you might enjoy these up close and personal pictures of the bees endeavoring to take in the bee tea.
When Jeff and I fed the bees last week, the feeders on the hives were empty. In the photo below, Jeff begins to pour the bee tea into the rapid feeder.
In this picture you can see the bees through the cone cover going down to the height of the bee tea. We had to pour slowly to avoid drowning bees and to allow the bees time to crawl up to dry ground.
The leaves floating in the bee tea are thyme, by the way.
The level rises and the bees crowd the top area of the cone.
As the bee tea gets higher, the bees are forced to move up even higher.
When the container is full, the bees can't go down the sides to get syrup, although as the amount of syrup is brought into the hive, the levels will diminish and the bees will be seen more on the outside of the cone.
Just thought you might enjoy these up close and personal pictures of the bees endeavoring to take in the bee tea.
What is the purpose of the thyme sprigs?
ReplyDeleteThyme has a negative effect on varroa.
ReplyDeleteLinda, saw the Rapid Feeder on a Canadian site and became intrigued. Looks like a good solution. But I'm not crazy about dealing with customs and cross-border commerce. Is there a source for this item in the USA?
ReplyDeleteThis is the company we buy from https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FNW2VDB
DeletePigeon mountain carries them also
Deletethis would be a snap to fabricate from a plastic bucket, a length of pvc pipe and some silicone sealant
ReplyDeleteSimilar to a standard top feeder, only round not rectangular.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it could be made from a jello mold.
ReplyDeleteI found I had to drill a large circular hole in my inner covers to accommodate these feeders. Did you have to do that? Or am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why you would need to do that. The rapid feeder fits right on top of the hole that is in the center of the inner cover. The bees come up from there and crawl into the center of the cone and easily access the syrup
ReplyDeleteI am having some bees drown in my rapid feeder...any idea why? Could I be doing something wrong?
ReplyDeleteThe only time bees have drowned in mine are two: 1. When I poured the syrup in too fast and the bee drowned in the rising sugar water and 2. When I failed to push the center cup all the way down so it wasn’t properly positioned. Oh, and once I had a bee fall into the syrup as I was putting the top on the container and I didn’t see her.
ReplyDeleteI just put it on when I installed my nuc on Monday so I don't think option one is an option, I thought I pushed the cap down all the way? Does it need to click or does it just set on the lower grooves? Could it be too full?
ReplyDeleteThe liquid shouldn’t go all the way to the top. They have to be able to get their footing
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a hive inspection Saturday, I'll have to look at it more then, maybe take some photos. I though it was about half full. It was difficult to see with my bee suit on honestly.
ReplyDeleteI've just switched over to these for the winter on my 11 hives. Was wondering if the inner cover goes on in the same "this side up" position or if turned over is better to allow venting of hive?
ReplyDeleteKeep it in the up position. A potential robber bee will enter to find an inaccessible rapid feeder (the top is on the feeder) and an inaccessible hive (the inner cover opening is blocked by the rapid feeder). If you turn the vent toward the hive, you are allowing robbers to enter the hive itself.
ReplyDeleteI wonder where to place the feeder as I have a Maisemore Polly hive ( brood + 2 supers) and there is no circular hole anywhere which you mention for the feeder.
ReplyDelete