Drowning in Ashford Feeder

tmg52

Was given 2 ashford feeders but I find when I loaded both with syrup that some of the bees have drowned. It has a glass cover over the bee access area stuck down with bees glue, the gaps to allow syrup to pass through look too narrow. The feeder is sitting on an Eke to allow space for bees to get up to feeder and I have a crown board on top. Any ideas how to prevent this.

Joe Brennan

Sorry to hear of your plight I have never used the ashford feeder so I can make no comment. I use contact feeders as drowning will not happen with them. I have a poly nuke with a built in feeder & have to be very careful topping it up because I drowned a few bees when I first started

brianmc

tmg52 wrote: »

Was given 2 ashford feeders but I find when I loaded both with syrup that some of the bees have drowned. It has a glass cover over the bee access area stuck down with bees glue, the gaps to allow syrup to pass through look too narrow. The feeder is sitting on an Eke to allow space for bees to get up to feeder and I have a crown board on top. Any ideas how to prevent this.

Hard to visualise what has gone wrong... I've never noticed a significant number of drownings in my ashforth feeders...

Can you take some photos?

MilaMila

I assume you mean they are drowning in the narrow syrup access space, and not somehow gaining access to the main syrup reservoir. Sometimes the sides of the access area can be too smooth or slippery for the bees to get back up. If you prize off the glass cover and put something in that the bees can get a purchase on, it will help them to climb out. Some clean stalks of grass will do the job if you have nothing else. One end needs to be on the floor of the syrup access part, with the other end bent over the top and protruding down into the hive access part.
Hope that makes sense!