Stan,
 
I believe that open feeding is the safest way to feed if you are concerned
about starting robbing.  Keep the barrels a decent distance away so that the
bees must fly to it, not within the yard.  I agree with Eric.
 
Dean,
 
If you're still out there could you comment on requeening hives that are on
pallets using cells during the fall honeyflow.  I remember you mentioning
that you requeened this way with a success rate of about 75-80%.  I don't
know if you're on pallets or not but I was thinking about giving this method
a test this fall.  I'm wondering if there is going to be a high % queen loss
just due to drifting, coming back from mating flights because of the pallets.
 Any thoughts, anyone?
 
Brian Tassey
Alta Apiaries
Merced, CA