A frame feeder is a specialized in-hive device designed to hold sugar syrup by replacing a standard comb frame within the hive body. Typically made of molded plastic, this "faux frame" creates an internal reservoir ranging from one to two gallons, allowing bees to access nourishment directly from within the brood nest.
Core Takeaway While frame feeders excel at preventing robbing by keeping syrup inside the hive, they introduce significant management challenges. The primary trade-offs are the necessity of disturbing the colony to refill the feeder and the loss of valuable brood-rearing space within the hive box.
Anatomy and Function
Internal Hive Integration
A frame feeder is designed to slot seamlessly into the hive box, taking the physical place of one or more frames. While older versions were made of wax-dipped tin, modern commercially available units are almost exclusively molded plastic.
Capacity and Consumption
These feeders typically hold between one and two gallons of syrup, depending on whether they replace a standard or extra-wide frame. Because they offer a large surface area for access, they allow the colony to consume syrup rapidly, which is critical during inclement weather or resource shortages.
The Critical Drawbacks
High Risk of Drowning
As noted in the primary reference, the most immediate danger of a frame feeder is bee mortality. Because the container is open-topped, bees can easily fall into the syrup and drown if the feeder lacks a proper flotation system or ladders for them to rest on.
Intrusion and Disturbance
Unlike top or entrance feeders, you cannot check the syrup level of a frame feeder from the outside. You must physically open the hive to inspect or refill it. This disturbs the colony, releases hive heat, and can provoke defensive behavior.
Sacrifice of Real Estate
Using a frame feeder requires you to remove a functional frame from the brood box. This reduces the total surface area available for the queen to lay eggs and for the colony to rear brood, which can be a significant disadvantage for smaller or growing colonies.
Contamination and Sanitation
The open nature of the trough makes it susceptible to contamination. Debris from the hive can fall into the syrup, and without a lid, the stagnant sugar water can become a breeding ground for mold, requiring frequent cleaning.
Cold Weather Limitations
In colder temperatures, bees cluster tightly to maintain warmth and may not break the cluster to travel to the side of the box where the feeder is located. This renders the food source inaccessible precisely when they might need it most.
Understanding the Trade-offs
While the drawbacks are significant, it is important to weigh them against the security a frame feeder provides.
External feeders, such as entrance feeders, can incite "robbing"—a frantic state where bees from stronger colonies attack a weaker hive to steal the exposed syrup. Because a frame feeder is fully contained within the hive, it eliminates this visual and aromatic lure to outsiders. The trade-off is clear: you gain security against robbers, but you lose the convenience of non-intrusive management.
Making the Right Choice for Your Goal
- If your primary focus is preventing robbing: The frame feeder is an excellent choice as it keeps the food source hidden inside the hive, safe from pests and neighboring colonies.
- If your primary focus is maximizing brood production: You should avoid frame feeders, as removing a frame reduces the available space for the queen to lay eggs.
- If your primary focus is ease of management: Consider a top feeder instead, as frame feeders require you to fully open the hive for every refill, disturbing the bees.
Ultimately, the frame feeder is a secure but intrusive tool best reserved for seasons when robbing pressure is high and hive disturbance is acceptable.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Frame Feeder Characteristic |
|---|---|
| Placement | Internal (replaces a standard comb frame) |
| Capacity | 1 to 2 gallons of syrup |
| Primary Benefit | Prevents robbing by keeping syrup inside the hive |
| Main Drawback | High drowning risk & requires hive disturbance to refill |
| Best Use Case | High-robbing seasons or when external feeding is unsafe |
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