A frame feeder is a specialized internal hive device designed to replace a standard honeycomb frame within the brood box. It serves as a reservoir for syrup, utilizing the hive's internal warmth to allow bees to feed even during inclement weather. These feeders typically feature a rigid, wide structure that hangs by lugs, offering a large surface area for rapid consumption while employing safety mechanisms to prevent bees from drowning.
Core Takeaway Frame feeders are the definitive choice for rapid, weather-independent feeding. By placing the food source directly inside the hive cluster, they ensure colonies can access essential nourishment during cold snaps or dearths when external foraging is impossible.
Physical Design and Construction
Seamless Hive Integration
The defining characteristic of a frame feeder is its ability to replace an existing frame. It is molded to the same width as a drawn frame and includes standard lugs (ears).
This allows it to hang securely inside the hive body, occupying the space of one or two frames depending on its size.
Material and Durability
Modern frame feeders are constructed from durable molded plastic. Unlike older wax-dipped tin models, these plastic units are rigid and designed to resist twisting or warping over time.
This rigidity is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the feeder when it is full of heavy syrup.
Capacity Variations
Frame feeders are designed to maximize volume within a narrow footprint. While some smaller models hold approximately half a gallon (four pints), larger variations are common.
For deep boxes, capacities generally range from one to two gallons, with widths ranging from 2 inches to 3 inches. Medium box versions typically hold around one gallon.
Operational Advantages
Rapid Consumption
The primary functional benefit of this feeder is the large, wide surface area it presents to the colony.
This design allows a high volume of bees to access the syrup simultaneously. This is critical when a colony needs to build weight quickly before winter or recover from a shortage.
Accessibility During Inclement Weather
Because the feeder is located inside the brood nest, the syrup remains close to the cluster's ambient temperature.
Bees can access this feed during cold or rainy weather when they would otherwise be unable to break the cluster to reach an external or top-mounted feeder.
Contamination Control
The enclosed nature of the frame feeder helps separate the feed from other hive elements.
Specifically, it prevents the syrup from contacting mite treatments or spilling directly onto the bees, maintaining a cleaner hive environment.
Bee Safety Features
Prevention of Drowning
A major design challenge with liquid feed is preventing bees from drowning. Frame feeders address this with solid, rigid inner walls or ladders that provide secure footing.
Some models allow for "open access" without the risk, utilizing texture or specific geometry to give bees a grip.
Supplemental Safety Mechanisms
To further reduce bee mortality, many beekeepers or manufacturers utilize floating aids.
These often take the form of wooden floats included with the feeder. In some regions, beekeepers manually stuff the tank with dried vegetation to create a natural "raft" for the bees to stand on while drinking.
Understanding the Trade-offs
Disruption During Refilling
Unlike top feeders, which can often be refilled without opening the hive, a frame feeder requires you to open the hive and disturb the cluster to replenish the syrup.
Loss of Brood Space
Because the feeder physically replaces a frame, you sacrifice potential space for brood rearing or honey storage. A 2-gallon feeder, for example, removes the equivalent of two frames of comb from the brood nest.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
To determine if a frame feeder is the correct tool for your apiary, consider your immediate objectives:
- If your primary focus is emergency feeding in cold weather: Choose a frame feeder because the internal placement ensures the syrup remains warm and accessible to the cluster.
- If your primary focus is maximizing brood production: Be cautious with frame feeders, as they occupy valuable real estate within the brood box that the queen could otherwise lay in.
- If your primary focus is rapid weight gain: Use a wide (2-3 inch) frame feeder, as the large surface area allows the maximum number of bees to process the syrup at once.
Select a frame feeder when you need a durable, internal solution that prioritizes reliable access over convenience.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Specification/Benefit |
|---|---|
| Installation | Replaces 1-2 standard honeycomb frames inside the brood box |
| Material | Durable, rigid molded plastic (resists warping/twisting) |
| Capacity | Typically 1 to 2 gallons for deep boxes; ~1 gallon for medium boxes |
| Key Advantage | Weather-independent feeding; syrup stays warm near the cluster |
| Safety Features | Textured inner walls, ladders, or wooden floats to prevent drowning |
| Best Use Case | Rapid weight gain and emergency feeding during cold snaps |
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