Rather, a jar is filled with syrup and fitted with a lid containing a few small feeding holes. The jar is then inverted into a hole in the top feeder, allowing bees to feed in the safety of their hive. Once the syrup runs out, a freshly filled jar replaces the empty one.
Top feeders are placed on the top of the hive just under the hive cover. This is an ideal way of feeding your bees with limited heat loss in the coldest conditions. Most top feeders contain 1 to 3 gallons of sugar water or dry feed. Most manufacturers make thin plastic feeder bins that only last a season or two.
Cons of the Top Bar Beehive
There is no way to add on to the hives and therefore, the hive cannot grow very big. That means once the hive is full, they will either swarm or stop producing honey. In order to keep them from swarming and to keep honey production going, you will need to regularly harvest the filled comb.
The top entrance will make it easier for foraging bees to directly access the supers of the hive. As a result, nectar does not need to enter the bottom of the hive, travel through the broodnest, and possibly pass through a queen excluder before finally making its way to the honey supers.
Hive top feeders allow them to consume as much as they need whenever they want. Some hive-top feeders are easier to refill without disturbing the bees inside, which can be a huge bonus if you have grumpy bees. Many hive top feeders come in larger sizes than other types of feeders and can be refilled less frequently.
The inner cover is placed over the top of the uppermost box. Then a feeder is put over the hole in the center of the inner cover.
As the name suggests, a top feeder is placed on the top of the hive. Designs vary a little, but the basic setup is a shallow box (4”-5” depth) with a plastic reservoir to hold syrup, and hardware cloth to allow bees access to the syrup, while preventing them from drowning.
Simply offer a drop or two of sugar water up to the front end of the bee on a teaspoon or an upturned drinks cap in a sheltered place and allow the bee time to recuperate. It is not advisable to use brown sugar as it is harder for bees to digest.
Cutting a hole the size of the lid allows the jar to rest down into the lid and is unlikely to fall over. A 2 7/8-inch hole saw is the size that works well. Make sure you keep the puck that is cut out because it can be used as a part of the seal when not feeding.
Use honey or sugar water as bait.
Pour honey or sugar water directly into the bottom of the trap. You don't need much; a thin layer will be enough to attract bees.
If you want to help the bees with drying and capping, make sure you have both a lower hive opening and an upper one. This allows a circular airflow where drier, cooler air comes in the bottom, and warmer, wetter air leaves through the top.
Using your HiveTopper™
The feeder sits directly above the top deep hive body, with the telescoping outer cover sitting on top of the feeder. Note: the inner cover is never used while the feeder is on the hive. Fill feeder with sugar syrup. Cover the feeder with your telescoping outer cover.
The idea is to remove one top-bar, one not used by the bees and somewhere near the back of the hive, and to place the bee entrance of the feeder exactly over that hole. Any exits to the side need to be sealed, so that the bees can't escape. I use BeeMax polystyrene hivetop feeders.
Best Bird Feeder Heights
The most popular bird feeder heights for popular backyard birds are: Cardinals and finches (feed at lower levels) – approximately eye level, 5–6 feet. Woodpeckers (feed higher in trees) – 6–10 feet. Hummingbirds (feed from flowering bushes and vines) – 3–6 feet.
With two brood boxes, there is enough space for your queen to lay as many eggs as she can. This means you won't need to check your hives as often. When using one brood box, there is only enough room to feed your broods sugar syrup in small increments. With two, you can give them larger amounts less often.
The yield on a top bar hive is 3-5 gallons of honey a year versus the Langstroth hive, which will yield 5-10 gallons.
Avoid High Foot Traffic Areas
They normally choose to live far away from all the action. New beekeepers should not go against their wishes and put them in the middle of harms way. Your bees will feel less threatened in an area that doesn't constantly have people treading through.
Cover your face with whatever is handy, if you can do so without impairing your vision. Never jump into a body of water to escape bees. They will wait for you to surface.
Level hives are key to a safe and productive life for bees, just as level ground is vital to a sturdy home for people. Creating an even hive surface is essential for beekeepers. A level hive impacts comb production, hive stability, bee safety, and your ability to work around the hive.