Ultimate Hive Feeder for Beekeepers

Ultimate Hive Feeder for Beekeepers Review

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Quick Overview

Our rating

Okay

Flawed design causing spillage prevents the Ultimate Hive Feeder from being truly great.

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Regular monitoring of colonies is necessary to determine when and how much supplemental feed is necessary. When starting a new hive, bees should be initially fed to support comb building and brood production. Additionally, the hives may need to be fed during Spring to prevent starvation if early flowers are delayed due to bad weather. Feeding is necessary to supplement the honey stored to provide the bees with enough food supplies during winter when they cannot get their own.

We are reviewing the Farmstand Supply Ultimate Hive Feeder. Farmstand Supply is one of New Zealand’s largest farming co-operatives established more than 50 years ago, with intentions to provide some of the best supplies in the farming industry at an affordable price.

About the Ultimate Hive Feeder for Beekeepers

The Ultimate Hive Feeder is designed to fit inside a 10 frame-frame box. It sits on top of the frames in the hive. One or two can be used in one hive at a time. It comes with a one-gallon translucent tank that can easily be filled or replaced and then added to the base.

The reservoir/tank of the Ultimate Hive Feeder can hold one-gallon of water or syrup. The feeding area has many small channels and specially designed caps to allow many bees to feed without crowding or drowning, ensuring the bees’ safety. It comes with an automatic valve that prevents spillage, maintaining uniform syrup or water level. Unfortunately, the valve doesn’t always work as intended and sometimes spills the feed into the hive.

The Ultimate Hive Feeder is more expensive than traditional ones. Its one-gallon tank lessens the amount of time you’ll need to refill. As mentioned, the sugar syrup may spill at times down into the hive, thus, using this design requires following the instructions carefully.

Refilling can sometimes be challenging because the bees may invade the base when you take out the tank. So, when you remove the tank, you have to take it carefully and when inserting it back, you have to see to it that you return it without crushing any bees. As always, for your own protection, make sure you’re wearing your beekeeper suit.

Conclusion

The Ultimate Hive Feeder isn’t perfect by any means. If not set up properly, a lot of spillage can occur which leads to bees dying, and that’s a major issue to contend with. Other the other hand, when it works, it works well.

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About Michael Simmonds

Michael Simmonds is an American beekeeper with more than two decades of experience in beekeeping. His journey with bees began in his youth, sparking a lifelong passion that led him to start his own apiary at the tender age of 15. Throughout the years, Simmonds has refined his beekeeping skills and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge concerning honeybee biology and behavior. Simmonds' early exposure to beekeeping ignited a fascination with these pollinators, influencing his decision to establish BeeKeepClub in 2016. The website was created with the aim to serve as the ultimate resource for beginners interested in beekeeping. Under Simmonds' guidance, BeeKeepClub provides comprehensive information to novices, including the basics of beekeeping, the different types of bees and hives, the selection of hive locations, and the necessary beekeeping equipment. In addition, the site offers detailed reviews of beekeeping tools to help enthusiasts make informed decisions and get the best value for their investment​​. His contributions to the beekeeping community through BeeKeepClub are substantial, offering both educational content and practical advice. The website covers a wide array of topics, from starting an apiary to harvesting honey, all reflecting Simmonds' extensive experience and passion for the field. Simmonds’ approach is hands-on and educational, focusing on the importance of understanding bees and the environment in which they thrive. His work not only guides beginners through their beekeeping journey but also reflects a commitment to the well-being of bees. Michael Simmonds has dedicated a significant part of his life to bees and beekeeping, and through BeeKeepClub, he has made this knowledge accessible to a broader audience. His work undoubtedly embodies a blend of expertise, authority, and trustworthiness in the realm of beekeeping.
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Melissa Whitmire
Melissa Whitmire
4 years ago

So many of my bees drowned inside the feeder…it was disgusting. This is a bad design. ?

Melissa Whitmire
Melissa Whitmire
4 years ago

So many of my bees drowned inside the feeder…it was disgusting. This is a badly designed product ?

Brian Rader
Brian Rader
3 years ago

This is a bad design. Messy, and bees can get through the hole while the plunger is down to release syrup! I had around 40 bees drowned inside the feeder.

Last edited 3 years ago by Brian Rader
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