Mann Lake Hive Top Feeder Follow Up S4E63

This is a follow up review on the Mann Lake hive top feeders after I've been using them for a couple of weeks. Looking at the pros and cons of this style feeder.
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[@jacktomberlin7976]

I had a lot of the same problem with the ants. Then I heard about “Tanglefoot”. It comes in a container that looks like a pvc glue container. It has a brush on the lid to spread the very thick substance. I wrapped some duct tape backwards around the 4x4’s on each end of my hive stand and painted the Tanglefoot on the tape. (I could have applied it directly to the wood). No more ants!!! Even better, I put it on in the spring and only had to reapply it once over the summer. And it’s waterproof. I’ve only had a couple of bees get caught in it. Great product!

[@jamestownsendjrtbees3226]

I am in northwest NJ and have had good luck with these feeders. I only fill it a 3rd full at a time and the bees take it down before the ants find it. So far very happy with these feeders.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Yeah, I don't fill them up unless it's a really strong hive. Even then, I only fill about 3/4 full. They hold a bunch. lol Thanks for watching.

[@donbearden1953]

Darren, thanks for the update! I think you will find a dead bee occasionally in every feeder, it doesn’t mean they drown I think they’re time just ended while they were working. After all they work their self to death. I would have no problem trying that feeder.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Yeah, it's hard to keep them out of there once they get a wiff of it. lol Thanks for watching.

[@graceetimes9610]

Your silicone looks to be helping a lot , I have to do that with mine, because when the syrup gets low a lot of bees get in and die.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi, yeah, I don't think I have any bees that got through. Thanks for watching.

[@437AlBig]

I have one of the new mann lake ones and one old one. I will be using the rapid round feeders again soon. I used them last year and really liked them. Maybe I'll make time to put the video on my KZbin channel. Thanks again.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I'd like to see those rapid round ones. I don't know who made that old one I have.

[@kevinkult]

Hey Darren, wiping a bead of Vaseline around the legs/ cinder blocks of your hive stands works like a dream. The ants won't, or can't, cross the Vaseline. Thanks for all the great content!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Kevin. I'll give that a try, that's so easy and never heard of it. Thanks for watching.

[@kevinkult]

@@JeromeBeeFarm It worked great for me until I let grass grow to high and the ants used it like a bridge. I solved that by killing the grass around the legs with a bit of salt, and the rest with a bit more diligent trimming. All the best!

[@426superbee4]

Now you got a fork lift out of your tractor. Bucket forks clamps for a tractor. i found them cheap for ya. Walmart got a set for 106 bucks Type this in your browser, fine what ya want >> bucket forks for tractors> Mine are rated at 6,000 lbs on my 555 FORD backhoe. can pick up a car

[@426superbee4]

That the reason i'am going long boxes. Less time out in the heat, fast, easy, and save the back VS all that lifting, sweating, working 40 min on a hive. can work a hive in 10 min. Open the top and your in the hive! Just take off the cover on each compartment

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Yeah, but when you decide to move one, you need a fork lift.

[@426superbee4]

You can use a fork lift ! 1.) That the fastest easiest way. Or this is the next easiest way ! if your going to move them. 2nd. i move them with a 2 wheel dolly, with them standing up! Push the dolly to it . use 1 ~ 8'L 2 X 4 to hold the legs, and use rope to tie them to the dolly! Pull back and move em. 3rd.) I stand them up on END EMPTY, on the dolly, and take them out to the apiary. then use my wheel barrel for the frames, divider boards, and tops. It more stable up on end, for long distances, rather than out for long distances. They teeter taller more Or use a flat bed trailer to slide them on! It easy either way

[@rtoledo2]

I'm not buying another Mann Lake "improved ", just switched to ceracell. the 2 Mann lakes I have are the new ones. the screen rusts and bends on the corners "improved" one. once bees get past it they are trapped and the dying begins. Mann Lake needs to make that screen out of solid plastic that locks in tight.

[@mandog2142]

Darren - I wonder if some foam weatherstripping with the adhesive on the back would help seal the top? Might have to experiment with multiple thin strips and maybe a wide strip.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Yeah, that would probably work. Some of my hive tops are made out of OSB and are rough on the bottom, so that probably leaves cracks for them to get through. Thanks for watching.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

I treat the ground around the hives with ant granules and have very little ant issues. The pro health does promote robbing so I just use syrup and it seems to stop that behavior. This time if year they are a challenge to keep fed up with the populations we have here in the south. You should have accepted the jacket so you could pass it on as a promotional giveaway. Great video!!!!!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Thanks Rodney. I definitely avoid the pro-health with entrance feeders. I generally try to avoid entrance feeders completely. lol About 1/3 of my hives needed a boost this fall. Strong populations this late coming out of derth, they depleted their stores and the fall flow isn't enough to sustain them. I wonder if the ant granules take care of the hive beetle larvae in the soil as well. hmm. Thanks for watching.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

@@JeromeBeeFarm It might because I have very few of them also. Didn't associate the two. Great thought.

[@wayneshoneybees5439]

I like those feeders. With the improvement it looks like a winner. One question. When you refer what happens to the bees trapped on the too of the screen. Can they get out?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Bees under the screen are from inside the hive and that's how they go in and out of the feeder. If they are on top side of the screen, they are trapped inside with the syrup when you put the lid on, unless you can get them out. That's why it's best to fill these in the evening when most bees aren't flying. Thanks for watching.

[@marcusmontoya8352]

Would it be beneficial to put a thin weather stripping along the tops of the feeders to help control ant entrance?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hi Marcus. That would probably work. Some of my covers are made of OSB and aren't a smooth surface. Thanks for watching.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Jer I've had great results pouring lots of cheap cinnamon and diatomaceous earth around my hives. Was quite surprised. Not feeding during a dirth?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

You don't want to feed with pro-health during a dearth if you can help it, it incites robing.

[@colettejo]

I've been looking for tips on cleaning my hive to feeder (same type you show in your video). I'm new and have two hives located 30 minutes from home so I have to bring everything with me. How can I clean them on site?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I would just bring some warm water and a brush. Mine really don’t need cleaning. Maybe a little sugar residue and I leave that. It will dissolve next time I fill it. If they put burr comb on the bottom, I just scrape it off.

[@robinfrazier9763]

Well J . if you get that neck cooler you will be suprised . Rob.

[@MikeChamplin]

I can’t find the CeraCell link you mentioned.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Sorry about that, I forgot to put it in there. www.pierco.com/

[@capebee4839]

Any problems with small hive beetles hiding in the gap between the wooden side of the feeder and the plastic?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I don't recall seeing any in that gap, but there were definitely some up in the top part of the feeder. Thanks for watching.

[@stevenpalmore4299]

Put vasoline between frame sections keeps the ants out.damn smell check changed it to gasoline ppphhhhttt!

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Interesting, I've never heard of that.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Ha! Yeah, I was kinda wondering about the gasoline. lol I'll try that vaseline trick next year. Man those ants are a PITA. Take care.

[@SylantBill]

Had the same problem with ants. Stopped using for that reason.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

The only feeder I've found that the ants don't get into are the internal frame feeders.

[@russellkoopman3004]

Are you going to have a follow up on hive 29? Seems it doesn't want to take off. That's a young queen in there right?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Ugh, I shot a video of 29, not sure I want to post it. I don't remember on the queen. She was either a late supercedure, or a 3 year old (green)

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@JeromeBeeFarm Kind of sounds like an old queen that was wore out. Don't want to show to many loses. Can't help loses but they're downers. LOL

[@samanthac.3404]

Has anyone had issues with SHB breeding in there?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I haven't noticed any SHB up in the feeder. Possibly underneath it if the bees can't get in there to chase them out, but I haven't noticed that either. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@jeffcotton526]

Darren - a resourceful person as yourself should be able to correct the handle issue on the one syrup feeder that you don't care for. Remove the screws, if glued, then use a wood chisel to pop the handles and relocate them. As you said earlier in the video though... nothing in perfect. Regarding ants, use the tanglefoot other people mentioned. Besides... are the ants really that much of a problem or just a nuisance? If you don't recognize my avatar it's because I changed it, it used to be W.T. Sherman. Apparently some PC folks from the Deep South got offended... gee I wonder why?

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

Hey Jeff. I'm gong to look into that tanglefoot. I've never heard of it. I could put it on the cinder blocks on my stands sounds like it would do the trick. The little ants are more of a nuisance, but I have some of those big black ants that will beat up a weak hive and drag the larvae out and rob it just like a bunch of robber bees. Yeah, I almost went commando with my hive tool on that feeder. As resourceful as one is, I can't create time, so likely a winter project. I noticed you changed to Curley a while back. You could have switched to General Jackson or Lee, but then you would offend the north. lol I think I may have told you that General Jackson is my cousin and his grand parents home is still standing in The Plains VA, not far from Bull Run.

[@mitchellcampbell3521]

Does youtube pays pretty good for videos you do.

[@JeromeBeeFarm]

I don't make a whole lot off of it. I save enough to buy equipment and I saved all last year (along with some honey revenue) to buy a new video editing computer. Probably not making close to minimum wage for sure. lol It takes a lot of time and effort to build up a channel, and you have to be half way interesting and entertaining, which I lack in that area sometimes I'm sure. Thanks for watching.