I would appreciate any information and testimonials anyone might have related to new equipment offerings in the catalogs or that you may have constructed yourselves. I am presenting a discussion this upcoming Saturday on “New but useful equipment”. I could use some help.
Thanks
jtew
Jim, I built an electric wire “embedder” that I hook up to my battery charger, to embed frame wire into wax foundation. I love that little device! …and it’s neat to watch in 2 seconds that hot wire sink into the melted wax then see the wax dry over it.
Jim, I like the punch tool for transfering larva with out having to graft. Quail waters make great syrup feeders.
Steven, I was re-reading your post. I, too, use quail feeders as a syrup feeder. However, when they became nearly empty, I had a problem with significant numbers of bees entering the near empty feeder, becoming trapped and dying in un-nerving numbers. Maybe – 3-4 inches of dead bees within the feeder. Have you ever seen anything like that?
Jim, if you are using the type of feeder I think you are referring to, get some fiberglass window screen from the hardware store and trim a piece to fit over the “water hole” in the base. I would suggest glueing it to the inside of the base. This should keep the bees from being able to enter the feeder (if you are using the same type I use for my chickens).
I saw your article in the Jan. Bee Culture. I don’t have any bees yet (my package will arrive in May) but I’m trying to absorb as much as possible before they arrive (meaning the above suggestion might be totally worthless!)..
I liked this in-hive feeder (I put it in an empty hive body on top of the inner cover):
http://www.beeworks.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=14
I also made a gabled roof for the bees for winter:
http://www.honeybeesuite.com/the-best-ventilated-gabled-roof/
And placed that over a medium super filled with wood shavings (small animal bedding).