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How to Make a Hive Top Pail Feeder

Honeybees do a good job of turning flower nectar into honey to help raise the next generation of honeybees. At certain times, however, a beekeeper must provide supplemental feedings to assist the bees in maintaining a strong hive. These occasions include the establishment of a new hive, winter feedings for hives with inadequate honey stores to get them through the winter, and early feedings in the spring to assist with a fast build-up for the beginning of the honey flow. One of the easiest ways to feed bees is with a hive top pail feeder.

Things You'll Need

One gallon pail with a tight-fitting lid
Nail
Sugar
Empty hive super

Instructions

- 1
  Poke a tight grouping of six or seven small holes in the pail lid using the small nail. The grouping should be a smaller diameter than the opening in the inner hive cover.
- 2
  Mix a syrup solution by dissolving the sugar in water. The concentration of the sugar to water solution should be 2-to-1 by volume for fall feeding and 1-to-1 at other times.
- 3
  Fill the pail with the syrup and secure the lid.
- 4
  Remove the telescoping cover from the hive.
- 5
  Invert the pail over the opening in the hive inner cover. A stream of the sugar syrup will flow from the holes until a vacuum is created. The solution will then trickle out as the bees feed.
- 6
  Place an empty super on top of the hive and replace the telescoping cover.
- 7
  Check the hive often, temperature permitting, to make sure the bees are taking the syrup and to determine if more syrup is needed.

Insects & Science