Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Donovan J on April 07, 2020, 11:42:50 pm

Title: Bees in Feeding Box
Post by: Donovan J on April 07, 2020, 11:42:50 pm

I just installed my new package for season 2 of beekeeping and I have a medium box on top with a quart mason jar as a feeder flipped over on top of the hole in the inner cover. I went out to check how much food was left today and lifted the cover and there was a ton of bees in the box and they all started humming and flying everywhere. I managed to put the cover back on before I got bombarded. I went back out this evening and they seemed to be fine

Title: Re: Bees in Feeding Box
Post by: iddee on April 08, 2020, 04:06:14 am

You NEVER want to give the bees open space. They will build wild comb in it every time. Cover enough of the hole to where the jar top closes off access to the upper box.

Title: Re: Bees in Feeding Box
Post by: Seeb on April 08, 2020, 08:23:42 am

I had the same question Xerox - thanks for asking

Title: Re: Bees in Feeding Box
Post by: Donovan J on April 08, 2020, 12:41:45 pm

I wanted to have a hole open so they could have ventilation but I'll close it up now. Thanks for the input

Title: Re: Bees in Feeding Box
Post by: CoolBees on April 08, 2020, 03:21:19 pm

Xerox - I feed the bees the exact way you describe. I've never had bees "move" into the empty upper box, even thought they can get up there. Iddee's right, it "can" happen. I'd keep an eye on them, but I like having a small open space next to the jar, for the odd bee that gets stuck up there when I'm refilling. If they started to move en-mass up there, then I'd close it off, and/or give them more room below.