Beekeeping success hinges on many factors, and providing your bees with the right nourishment is a top priority. Feeders play a crucial role in supplementing your hive’s food supply, ensuring the health and vitality of your colony. In this guide, we’ll delve into three popular types of bee feeders – inside the hive feeders, top feeders, and entrance feeders, all of which you can conveniently find at Dadant.
- Inside the Hive Feeders
Inside the hive feeders are designed to fit directly into the hive, allowing bees easy access to the food source without exposing them to external elements. Dadant offers various inside the hive feeder options:
a. Frame Feeders: These feeders fit within the hive body just like a frame. They typically hold liquid sugar syrup and can be an efficient way to provide food without disturbing the bees. Dadant offers frame feeders that can be placed within the brood chamber.
b. Division Board Feeders: Placed between two hive frames, division board feeders are a great way to provide syrup while minimizing the risk of robbing. Dadant provides quality division board feeders that help ensure a steady supply of food to your bees.
- Top Feeders
Top feeders are placed directly on top of the hive frames, often beneath the hive’s outer cover. They are designed to hold larger quantities of syrup or other feed types. Dadant offers top feeders with several advantages:
a. Easy Access: Top feeders provide convenient access to feed for the bees. You can refill them without disturbing the hive, making them an excellent choice for beekeepers looking to minimize disruption.
b. Large Capacity: These feeders can hold a substantial amount of food, reducing the frequency of refills, which is especially beneficial during periods of high bee activity.
c. Reduced Risk of Drowning: Quality top feeders come with features that help prevent bees from drowning in the syrup.
- Entrance Feeders
Entrance feeders are placed at the hive’s entrance, allowing bees to access the food source without entering the hive. Dadant’s entrance feeders offer the following advantages:
a. Minimized Hive Disturbance: With entrance feeders, you can avoid opening the hive, reducing disruption to the colony.
b. Easy Monitoring: It’s straightforward to monitor the feed levels in entrance feeders, making it easy to gauge your hive’s food consumption.
c. Protection from Robbing: Many entrance feeders come with features to deter robbing by other bee colonies.
Selecting the right bee feeder is essential for maintaining a thriving bee colony, and Dadant offers a wide range of options to cater to your specific needs. Whether you prefer inside the hive feeders, top feeders, or entrance feeders, you can find them all at Dadant. By choosing the appropriate feeder, you not only ensure that your bees receive the necessary nutrition but also make beekeeping a more efficient and enjoyable endeavor. Explore Dadant’s selection of feeders and give your bees the sustenance they need for a prosperous and healthy hive.
Photo by Ion Ceban @ionelceban: https://www.pexels.com/photo/yellow-and-black-bees-on-brown-and-black-textile-3194327/