Feeder: 2 Gallon Pail

Pail feeding is one of the most simple, effective, and cost efficient ways to feed your bees. This two gallon pail feeder features a stainless steel feeder screen directly embedded into the lid of the pail. Simply make or pick up syrup, and you are ready to go.

Dimensions

• 10" diameter x 9-5/8" tall

How Does Pail Feeding Work?

 The pail is filled close to the top with syrup, then with the lid attached, it is slowly inverted to create a vacuum. The pail is placed on top of the frames or over the hole in the inner cover, where bees come up to the screen and lick, allowing more syrup to drip down as they are eating.

Note:

• We recommend placing an empty hive body around the feeder below your outer cover to prevent robbing
• If you don’t fill your bucket all the way, a lot of syrup will stream out when you flip it

How to Feed Sugar Syrup:

Spring Feeding: Create a 1:1 syrup using 1 lb. water (2 cups) to 1lb. sugar.

Fall Feeding: Make a 2:1 syrup using 2 lb. sugar per 1 lb. of water.

Feeding Notes:

• When making syrup, water must be very hot to dissolve sugar
• We do not feed sugar syrup during cold weather when bees are not able to take cleansing flights
• Do not feed sugar syrup until it is warm enough for bees to fly regularly. If the weather is still too cold, feed winter patties.  Pollen patties are used to stimulate build-up of hives in anticipation of the spring flow, but don’t feed them too early because pollen supplements will cause rapid expansion, and there may not be enough bees to keep the brood warm. We generally follow the motto, "No pollen patties before St. Patty’s Day."