On Mon, 4 Oct 2004, Andrew Dewey wrote:
"Can anyone suggest a type of container in the 5-7 gallon capacity that has
been used with success for corn syrup being fed to bees?  I figure I need
to be buying syrup about 30 gallons at a time - and I have a source - I
just need to provide my own containers."

In my opinion the solution to your requirements and your query is
contained within your question, a "container in the 5-7 gallon capacity".

Most of the larger grocery stores have complete bakery departments and
they use icing/frosting for their cakes and stuff that comes in 5 gallon
buckets, with tight sealing lids! After use of these buckets the employees
will usually send them out to the crusher or dumpster by the end of the
day. My suggestion is for you to stop by their department and ask if you
can have some of the empty 5-gallon pails after they have been emptied.
There are some frostings from some suppliers that come in smaller sized
buckets, but by far the majority used is the 5-gallon bucket. Most of the
time just a smile and a kind “Thank you” will find that you’ve got a
couple of buckets and tight fitting lids. After you have been stopping by
a while and you have accumulated enough buckets and lids to not only take
care of your syrup requirements, but also your honey storage requirements,
give each of the ladies that have been so kind a jar or two of your best
honey. Not only will you have your container problem solved you will also
have made a friend and developed a good marketer for your honey.

When feeding I suggest that you use pine needles or something that will
float, keep the bees from drowning, and still allow access to the syrup.

Short of obtaining free 5 gallon buckets, you can find new 5-gallon
buckets and lids in the paint departments of most larger hardware stores
for under 5 bucks. If you store honey on loan, unused buckets except that
used for honey are required.

Regards,

Chuck Norton

Norton’s Nut & Honey Farm
Reidsville, NC

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