Dar: You made a wise decision, because 2:1 syrup is tough to make.  1 3/4 :1
will do fine for you bees.
 
However, entrance feeders should be avoided.  For the most part they DON'T
work when they are needed; i.e., when it is COLD, bees will not break their
cluster to get feed from the feeder even though it might be just one inch
away.  Further, in sunny flight weather, that feeder is well exposed to ROBBER
bees, and if the colony you are feeding is not real strong, it may not be able
to defend itself against a strong robbing colony and hence be killed.
 
The best way to feed, is get a gallon GLASS (not plastic) jar from a local
deli (pickles and hot sausages come in these bottles and deli's throw them in
the trash).
Using a FRAME NAIL (Wire size 17 or 18) punch about 5 or 6 holes in the lid,
fill the jar with sugar syrup, and invert it on the center hole in the inner
cover so the bees can easily get to the syrup and suck it out of the jar.  Put
an empty hive body or 2 empty super bodies around the jar to protect it and
put the top on.
 
Someone else might write about division board feeders in place of 2 frames in
the brood chamber.  I have never cared for them for several reasons: bees tend
to fall in the syrup and drown - lots of them.  More important, you have to
open the hive on a cold day breaking the propolis weather-stripping seals the
bees have installed to prevent cold drafts of air n order to refill an empty
feeder with syrup.  I don't like to let a tight cluster of bees be exposed too
long to cold air.  Lastly, just as the entrance feeder, let us see you have
put the division board feeder in the space occupied by the #2 frame.  If the
bees are clustered between (or around) frames 4, 5, 6, & 7, if it is real cold
they may not be able to leave the cluster and go over to frame #2 location to
feed on the syrup, and STARVE with that food right in sight, but that 2-3
inches away is TOO FAR AWAY.
 
If you find your bees are TOTALLY out of food and they are about to starve to
death in the next 2-3 days, make up 2,3, or even 4 jars of syrup, remove the
inner cover and invert the jars right on top of the frames, then put an empty
hive body and top on around the several jars.
 
Let me finish this simply:
The BEST feeding is putting the feed right UP AGAINST the bees where they
really don't have to move hardly at all to eat.  Further, keep the syrup
INSIDE the hive where your bees can protect it against robber bees.
 
Good luck, Dar.
                                                                                        George Imirie
                                                                                Starting my 66th year in beekeeping