> Here in the finger lakes region of Central NY > > I feed by placing an extra deep super on top of my 2 box overwintering > hive. Then using gallon jars inverted (12-15 small holes in the lid) over > the hole in the inner cover I can feed without disturbing the colony. I > leave this setup in place with the outer cover on the extra deep super so > first thing in february or march I can start feeding as needed. However I > leave a heavy rock or cinderblock on the top to prevent wind blow outs and > use a small patch to cover the hole during the deep dark winter(also > prevents mouse entrance). > > Mike > > > >I have two colonies in E TN that are a bit weak on stores and feel I may > >need to feed them possibly thru the winter. Having just returned to > >beekeeping I have no frames of honey to give them. I seem to recall a > >discussion some months ago about in-hive feeders 'on the cheap'. I don't > >have division board feeders. Are there reasonable (all opinions > >appreciated) home-made alternatives for providing in-hive feeding during the > >winter. > > > >Logan VanLeigh > I USE BOARDMAN FEEDEERS W/ HALF GALLON GLASS JARS (ON BOTTOM BOARD). EASY TO SEE WHEN MT--NO HIVE DISMANTLING NEC. ON WEAK HIVES (DETERMINED BY HEFTING) I'LL USE TWO. STARTED ON SEP 1, ALL 20 HIVES WILL BEE FED THE 50-50 SUGAR SYRUP UNTIL IT IS NO LONGER TAKEN. PROCESS WILL BEGIN AGAIN AROUND MAR 1 JUST AFTER SKUNK CABBAGE BLOOMS (FIRST AVAILABLE POLLEN AROUND IDES OF FEB) AND WILL END AT BEGIN OF HONEYFLOW HERE NEAR BALTO AROUND 1 MAY WHEN BLACK LOCUST AND TULIP POPLAR BLOOMS COME IN. Jack the B-man ************************************************************* John Iannuzzi PhD | "Singing masons building roofs 9772 Old Annapolis Rd | of gold." Ellicott City (founded 1772) | --Shakespeare Maryland usa 21042 | Hobbyist - 20 hives! | Italian bees (19oct95 0900) [log in to unmask] | 3-1/2 decades a B-man ************************************************************** *********************************************