Bee Feeders

Most beekeepers use an entrance or top-mounted bee feeder to help a colony through a nectar dearth. Entrance feeders are easy to monitor from outside the hive, while top feeders sit under the outer cover where only the resident bees can reach them. It’s a good idea to offer the supplement when the hive feels light or when a new package is first installed. Keeping the feed available during early spring helps the queen ramp up egg production before the wildflowers really take off. It is a reliable way to ensure the colony doesn’t starve during a late spring frost.

Using sugar water is a safe and effective way to prevent starvation in a colony. While it doesn’t have the complex nutrients of real nectar, it provides the pure carbohydrates bees need for energy. We recommend staying away from feeding bees honey purchased from a grocery store, as it can harbor spores for diseases. If you find the bees aren’t taking the syrup, try adding a tiny splash of a feeding stimulant containing lemongrass oil. Just be sure to stop feeding once you put your honey supers on so you’re harvesting pure honey rather than sugar syrup.

Turning a glass canning jar into a bee feeder is a simple project that most beekeepers can finish in a few minutes. You just need to punch about six to eight tiny holes in the metal lid using a small nail or a pushpin. After filling the jar with sugar syrup and tightening the lid, flip it upside down to ensure a vacuum forms. You’ll see a few drips at first, but then the atmospheric pressure will hold the liquid in place. Place the jar over the hole in your inner cover, and the bees will licks the droplets through the holes as they need them.