Hello Bill & All, > do you insert the internal feeder in the top box to replace one >frame - in the middle, or off to the side? I'm guessing in the middle. In the middle would split the brood nest although the middle above the brood nest is the best place to feed bees. The inside feeder is the standard for the U.S. commercial migratory beekeeper. On a pallet of four hives the feeders replace the frame in the top box closest to the center of the pallet(on each of the four boxes). To feed the beekeeper simply slips about three inches the *migratory* lids towards the outside of the pallet side exposing the inside feeder. Once the feed is pumped (hose from syrup tank on feed truck) the lids are slid back with the beekeepers leg. A crew of two beekeepers can feed a couple thousand hives in a day in a California holding yard using the feeders. Makes for a very long day. I use a "Ball valve" instead of a gasoline fuel type lever nozzle (which I used for years) as so hard on fingers . One beekeeper slides the lids (and smokes the hives if needed) and helps drag the hose. ( I have used 1 inch ag line and have used a length of hose 200 feet long but today only used a 5/8th hose 100 foot long because of the lighter weight). Although the most preferred method for commercial migratory beekeepers in my opinion not the best way to feed. Over a hole in the center of the hive body I like better using glass jugs so the amount of feed being taken can be seen at a glance. The over the center method is used by many non migratory when on winter holding yards in home states ( and some use feeder buckets up to 5 gallon size) but on the road most use the inside feeders. The ease of the inside feeders is hard to beat although not the best way to feed in cold weather. I have been in many discussions about which method is best but the different views basically end up migratory use inside feeders for ease of feeding while on the road and the stationary beekeepers prefer the top hole method. >Also, good luck with your changing business strategy and hope you fell >better soon! Thanks Bill! The list knows about my several hernia and rotator cuff surgeries from years of heavy lifting but the current issues involve my heart (two leaking heart valves). I expect (under pressure from my family and my doctors) i will get valve work done or a couple *pig* valves installed this fall ( after all the bee and farm work is completed of course!) Oink! oink! Sincerely, Bob Harrison Missouri *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm