Nice feeder demonstration. I'm glad those stand pipes are painted a bright color. You get someone like me out there and they'd tear their shins up on the ends of those pipes. lol
I just raised my hives one cinder block higher due to a skunk. While in the process of raising the stands I decided to paint them to add a pop of color. I've noticed inspections are a lot easier on my back (less bending). The skunk moved on after he realized he couldn't reach the hives anymore.
Have fifteen hives running these top feeders, the large ones. They are great to use and like you say you don't waist the syrup when feeding. I winter inside in a winter room in Central Canada, considering leaving one feeder on with dry feed to see what happens. Thank for the videos !
Good point on new manufacturer with better designed product having distribution problems. Like the products. Well thought out for the bee's well are and good points on your part on improvements they can make in the design ahead of product production for distribution in North America. Do hope they add them. Thank for a very informative video as always.
Jason. You can use a Petri dish on the bottom of the hive or Nucs for the pollen substitute and the bees won’t get trapped in a deep container. Of course, it’s harder to place that in the hive or Nuc.
Will it fit with the frames in the box? Here a simple dry pollen sub feeder many beekeepers make on their own and all you need is some pvc and fittings carolinahoneybees.com/make-a-pollen-feeder/
Nice video, I'm a newbee, my mentor has been keeping bees for 70 years, I had an ant problem with a hive, my mentor sprinkled cinnamon around the inside edges of the hive, NEXT DAY NO ANTS and no harm to the BEES
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I used to use cinnamon to control ant around the hives. The problem is once you get a bunch of hives (and trust me, beekeeping is addicting, your bee yard will grow) it gets too expensive to buy enough cinnamon to control them. It does work well though. Best of luck with your bees!
The other two non slotted corners are for storing the gates when you are feeding dry stuffs. These is my favorite feeder. I would prefer to just buy the plastic parts without the expense of the wood and see if they could make them less expensive though. I wish they made the 10 frame the same way as the 5s so you can dual feed. I am buying the 5 frame type for my 10 frame hives as a result. Have you tried Tanglefoot insect barrier to prevent to ants?
Makes since on the other corners being holders. Thanks for pointing that out. I have used Tangle Foot but I used the spray and after using it 2 times I will never use it again. The spray smells of chemicals badly. I can't see that being a good thing that close to the bees.
A very slick system, and a very good point regarding opening up all corners for feeding entrances! Until Ceracell perhaps makes this change, do you know if they offer replacement pieces for those corner covers? Then it would be possible modify them yourself by cutting out the corners with a dremel tool or something and slide the extra corner pieces in. Just a thought. Wow, that is some extreme shipping cost. Hopefully things get worked out to help bring those prices down. I would love to help support them by ordering some but right now there is no way that would be possible. Great video J.C!
They sell the corner separate so a person could buy more and cut the uncut corners their self pretty easily. A dremel would probably be the perfect tool too. I think as far as Spring/Summer feeding the way it is is just fine. I'd just like to be able to offer more access points during the winter months to dry sugar. Regardless they are top notch feeders. Glad you enjoyed the vid! Thanks for watching man. 🐝
Jason, instead of the dry pollen maybe a pollen patty; and as far as your ant problem, diatomaceous earth works great. I know you would have to add some after each rainfall, but it will help reduce the ant problem. Great video as always!!! I do have a cerecell 10 frame feeder and it does work great, not a drop left in the feeder.
Great idea on the pollen patty. I will have to keep experimenting and see what works best. I am very familiar with dia. earth, I just usually don't worry about ants unless they are trying to take over. In most cases a strong colony is able to keep the ants away on their own. Thanks for sharing the information for others though, I should have mentioned the product but it slipped my mind.
You can't remember everything, How many times I said"Damn, I should have mentioned this"! I just think if you can reduce the amount of ants, in the winter when the bees cluster...the ants won't take over the frames the bees are not on. Just a thought. Keep up the good work.
I try to get as much information in each video as possible and with that I always forget something. lol I am not sure ants could survive our winters if they tried to live in the hive, it gets pretty cold here. Besides these ants aren't trying to move in, they just want to steal some food. I will probably end up pulling the feeder in the next day or so anyway as I would rather they have Goldenrod for winter stores then sugar syrup.
Yes very important to cover the syrup or pollen side as the bees can get across with a standard hive mat. You will need to put a block between the two compartments if you are using a standard hive mat. I love my Ceracell NUC top feeders.
After the Goldenrod bloom is over you sure can offer patties or dry pollen sub.. As far as how much, that depends on their appetite. Offer until they stop eating it.
Jason, I just found your channel when I saw you were going to demo the Ceracell feeder. I had an idea that might help. We all know that wood can warp, so you may always have an ant problem, on and off again depending on humidity. I wonder if buying an glazed ceramic tile that would fit, putting it on glazed side down wouldn't be an easy alternative that would solve that problem. So long as the plastic itself had no cracks, i think it would be a good fix to your ant problem. and i agree, your idea of a branch might solve your pollen side issue.
Julie, Can I ask where my Ceracell Feeder video suggested to you? I am curious how a non-subscriber got notified of the video. It may help me gain new subs in the future is why I ask. I love the idea of using ceramic tile as a cover for the feeder. All good beekeeper are able to think outside of the box and I'd say you fall right into that category. You get a gold star for the day! Now to run to Home Depot and buy a couple tile. 🙂
Jason, I watch a lot of bee videos. I have subscribed to and watch 628DirtRooster, Jeff Horchow, Barnyard Bees, Vino Farm, JP the Beeman, DFishman76, and Frederick Dunn. I want to get into beekeeping and everyone on that list - including you - are the reason.
Jason Chrisman I can't see the prices for some reason. How much and thanks for responding. Great videos bro. You're one of several channels I watch in the Winter when it's too cold to play with bees lol
I am not sure how much they cost, it was a gift from Ceracell last year. Until recently I though it was a Ceracell product then someone pointed the above site. Guess that explains why I could never find it on Ceracell's site. lol I see you can contact them, you may have to do that to get a quote. Best of luck and if you find out let me know if you would. Thanks for watching man!
If you keep a good seal on the lid then they have no way of getting in there, assuming you are preventing them from coming in the front door via a bee guardian or bettlebuster device.
Looks like a great idea. One thing that would have to be checked is what is the actual dimensions. I have nuc boxes that are 9 inches wide from Kelley beekeeping and 9 5/8 that are from Mann lake beekeeping.
They are alightly wider than a standard 5 frame NUC. So they generally have a slight overlap. Its not enough for a gap between the top and your hive but it means that not rain can get in. You need to buy their lids as well fantastic sprung lids that fits perfectly.
Watching this video, I don’t think it makes a good pollen feeder. Wouldn’t be better to make a wooden shelf, so you could drop the pollen on a tray? The bee could get to it easier. And you could take one of the other Ceracell blue feeder and make a second feeder for another nuc?
Jason can I ask where you purchased the nuc feeders? I the company is in New Zealand but that's way to far just to buy 6 or so sets. Did you get them here in the states? Thanks Bruno
I'm gonna guess you missed the previous video as it mentions that Ceracell sent me some new products. Ceracell is New Zealand based but is trying to build a market in the US. They are working to get these feeder here very soon. I listed the places that will carry them in the video description. Hope this helps!
No. Unless they are just taking over the hive that is. Normally only the weak hives have issues with ants. I used to worry about every single little bug that was in the hives but shouldn't be, then I realized in most cases the bees were able to handle the situation.
There are only two listed, and one of them is not in the US. Not that I have anything against Canada, but getting a shipment through customs can be time consuming.
Actually I spoke with the three contacts you have listed. One is from United States. One is from Canada and Kyle is from New Zealand. He is the one who gave me the $600 shipping quote. When you said there would be 3 U.S. suppliers, I got excited and hoped one might be Mann lake, Dadant, Kelly or Brushy Mountain. Oh well, maybe some day. Thank you for the great videos and for the time you take to answer questions. I'm already waiting for the next one.😊
I never claimed perfection. I can actually claim to have never killed a bee and would not be lying - I am not a beekeeper yet. If you read your note - some of your comments are replies to Jason, some to me but all were addressed to me. So I cant say yours was a nice attempt at anything, especially not your first nasty comment, total fail.
Nice feeder demonstration. I'm glad those stand pipes are painted a bright color. You get someone like me out there and they'd tear their shins up on the ends of those pipes. lol
I just raised my hives one cinder block higher due to a skunk. While in the process of raising the stands I decided to paint them to add a pop of color. I've noticed inspections are a lot easier on my back (less bending). The skunk moved on after he realized he couldn't reach the hives anymore.
Im from Ethiopia africa i love your videos i hope they will change my life thank you
Awesome! I hope my channel helps you learn about keeping bees.
Have fifteen hives running these top feeders, the large ones. They are great to use and like you say you don't waist the syrup when feeding. I winter inside in a winter room in Central Canada, considering leaving one feeder on with dry feed to see what happens. Thank for the videos !
Good point on new manufacturer with better designed product having distribution problems. Like the products. Well thought out for the bee's well are and good points on your part on improvements they can make in the design ahead of product production for distribution in North America. Do hope they add them. Thank for a very informative video as always.
I own 13 Ceracell feeders. They are THE BEST feeders on the market. I will be ordering more.
Wow! You have quite a few of them, that's awesome!
Jason. You can use a Petri dish on the bottom of the hive or Nucs for the pollen substitute and the bees won’t get trapped in a deep container. Of course, it’s harder to place that in the hive or Nuc.
Will it fit with the frames in the box? Here a simple dry pollen sub feeder many beekeepers make on their own and all you need is some pvc and fittings carolinahoneybees.com/make-a-pollen-feeder/
Love the instructions and ideas for improvement
Awesome. Thanks Jason
Nice video, I'm a newbee, my mentor has been keeping bees for 70 years, I had an ant problem with a hive, my mentor sprinkled cinnamon around the inside edges of the hive, NEXT DAY NO ANTS and no harm to the BEES
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
I used to use cinnamon to control ant around the hives. The problem is once you get a bunch of hives (and trust me, beekeeping is addicting, your bee yard will grow) it gets too expensive to buy enough cinnamon to control them. It does work well though. Best of luck with your bees!
The other two non slotted corners are for storing the gates when you are feeding dry stuffs. These is my favorite feeder. I would prefer to just buy the plastic parts without the expense of the wood and see if they could make them less expensive though. I wish they made the 10 frame the same way as the 5s so you can dual feed. I am buying the 5 frame type for my 10 frame hives as a result. Have you tried Tanglefoot insect barrier to prevent to ants?
Makes since on the other corners being holders. Thanks for pointing that out. I have used Tangle Foot but I used the spray and after using it 2 times I will never use it again. The spray smells of chemicals badly. I can't see that being a good thing that close to the bees.
It would be a better feeder if it has a tight plastic cover to keep the ant out, like round rapid feeder. Thank you for the video👍👍👍
Todd, plenty of room in there to put a beetle trap, I’m loving my idea
A very slick system, and a very good point regarding opening up all corners for feeding entrances! Until Ceracell perhaps makes this change, do you know if they offer replacement pieces for those corner covers? Then it would be possible modify them yourself by cutting out the corners with a dremel tool or something and slide the extra corner pieces in. Just a thought.
Wow, that is some extreme shipping cost. Hopefully things get worked out to help bring those prices down. I would love to help support them by ordering some but right now there is no way that would be possible.
Great video J.C!
They sell the corner separate so a person could buy more and cut the uncut corners their self pretty easily. A dremel would probably be the perfect tool too. I think as far as Spring/Summer feeding the way it is is just fine. I'd just like to be able to offer more access points during the winter months to dry sugar. Regardless they are top notch feeders.
Glad you enjoyed the vid! Thanks for watching man. 🐝
Jason, instead of the dry pollen maybe a pollen patty; and as far as your ant problem, diatomaceous earth works great. I know you would have to add some after each rainfall, but it will help reduce the ant problem. Great video as always!!! I do have a cerecell 10 frame feeder and it does work great, not a drop left in the feeder.
Great idea on the pollen patty. I will have to keep experimenting and see what works best. I am very familiar with dia. earth, I just usually don't worry about ants unless they are trying to take over. In most cases a strong colony is able to keep the ants away on their own. Thanks for sharing the information for others though, I should have mentioned the product but it slipped my mind.
You can't remember everything, How many times I said"Damn, I should have mentioned this"! I just think if you can reduce the amount of ants, in the winter when the bees cluster...the ants won't take over the frames the bees are not on. Just a thought. Keep up the good work.
I try to get as much information in each video as possible and with that I always forget something. lol
I am not sure ants could survive our winters if they tried to live in the hive, it gets pretty cold here. Besides these ants aren't trying to move in, they just want to steal some food. I will probably end up pulling the feeder in the next day or so anyway as I would rather they have Goldenrod for winter stores then sugar syrup.
My newest Queen is finally laying, I Guess she had no room so I added another Nuc box & I checker boarded both boxes...now she is laying!
I don't think that I would ever consider placing a pollen patty in there. It would be a SHB nightmare for sure!
Ill definitely be making a order when they get it straightened out. Thanks for the info
I think you will be more than happy with the purchase.
Yes very important to cover the syrup or pollen side as the bees can get across with a standard hive mat. You will need to put a block between the two compartments if you are using a standard hive mat. I love my Ceracell NUC top feeders.
Is it a good idea to apply pollen patties in the fall Jason, if so how much??
After the Goldenrod bloom is over you sure can offer patties or dry pollen sub.. As far as how much, that depends on their appetite. Offer until they stop eating it.
Great idea Jason but the shipping cost to uk may be expensive!
You could check with UK distributors and see if any are in the works of carrying Ceracell products.
Colin Edwards BlytheBee company carries them here in the US
I'm in on these feeders! Construction looks very good also. Are you at liberty to say who's going to carry them. HBM
Jason, I just found your channel when I saw you were going to demo the Ceracell feeder. I had an idea that might help. We all know that wood can warp, so you may always have an ant problem, on and off again depending on humidity. I wonder if buying an glazed ceramic tile that would fit, putting it on glazed side down wouldn't be an easy alternative that would solve that problem. So long as the plastic itself had no cracks, i think it would be a good fix to your ant problem. and i agree, your idea of a branch might solve your pollen side issue.
Julie, Can I ask where my Ceracell Feeder video suggested to you? I am curious how a non-subscriber got notified of the video. It may help me gain new subs in the future is why I ask.
I love the idea of using ceramic tile as a cover for the feeder. All good beekeeper are able to think outside of the box and I'd say you fall right into that category. You get a gold star for the day! Now to run to Home Depot and buy a couple tile. 🙂
Jason,
I watch a lot of bee videos. I have subscribed to and watch 628DirtRooster, Jeff Horchow, Barnyard Bees, Vino Farm, JP the Beeman, DFishman76, and Frederick Dunn. I want to get into beekeeping and everyone on that list - including you - are the reason.
What's the brand of your veil and where did you get it
My veil is from across the pond also but here is where it's from beeaccessories.co.nz/#products
Jason Chrisman I can't see the prices for some reason. How much and thanks for responding. Great videos bro. You're one of several channels I watch in the Winter when it's too cold to play with bees lol
I am not sure how much they cost, it was a gift from Ceracell last year. Until recently I though it was a Ceracell product then someone pointed the above site. Guess that explains why I could never find it on Ceracell's site. lol I see you can contact them, you may have to do that to get a quote. Best of luck and if you find out let me know if you would.
Thanks for watching man!
Great video by the way, and thank you for that.
did you have hive beetle problems with pollen in those feeders?
Nope!
If you keep a good seal on the lid then they have no way of getting in there, assuming you are preventing them from coming in the front door via a bee guardian or bettlebuster device.
Seems to me they can be easily made DIY with some wood, a vacuum former and plastic bits. No shipping.
Thanks for sharing
Looks like a great idea. One thing that would have to be checked is what is the actual dimensions. I have nuc boxes that are 9 inches wide from Kelley beekeeping and 9 5/8 that are from Mann lake beekeeping.
They are alightly wider than a standard 5 frame NUC. So they generally have a slight overlap. Its not enough for a gap between the top and your hive but it means that not rain can get in. You need to buy their lids as well fantastic sprung lids that fits perfectly.
how do you like using these? Are you still using them?
I like them a lot but I did not use to for sugar over winter. I will however be using the this spring.
Yeah I won’t use them for winter either but I love the idea of these for spring and fall
Watching this video, I don’t think it makes a good pollen feeder. Wouldn’t be better to make a wooden shelf, so you could drop the pollen on a tray? The bee could get to it easier. And you could take one of the other Ceracell blue feeder and make a second feeder for another nuc?
Good Idea! I never considered using the 2nd feeder for another colony.
Jason can I ask where you purchased the nuc feeders?
I the company is in New Zealand but that's way to far just to buy 6 or so sets. Did you get them here in the states?
Thanks
Bruno
I'm gonna guess you missed the previous video as it mentions that Ceracell sent me some new products. Ceracell is New Zealand based but is trying to build a market in the US. They are working to get these feeder here very soon. I listed the places that will carry them in the video description. Hope this helps!
Bruno Sulikowski BlyTheBee Company sells them here in the US.
wondering if a little foam weatherstrip around the board would seal it off?
I bet that would work. It's at least worth a shot!
Thanks !!
Do you worry about ants?
I've heard they can make hives abscond.
No. Unless they are just taking over the hive that is. Normally only the weak hives have issues with ants. I used to worry about every single little bug that was in the hives but shouldn't be, then I realized in most cases the bees were able to handle the situation.
Who are the three companies that are going to offer these in the United States ?
They are listed in the video description.
There are only two listed, and one of them is not in the US. Not that I have anything against Canada, but getting a shipment through customs can be time consuming.
Mike, I guess you are correct. There is only 2 in the US and 1 from Canada. I guess I got a little ahead of myself. Sorry!
Actually I spoke with the three contacts you have listed. One is from United States. One is from Canada and Kyle is from New Zealand. He is the one who gave me the $600 shipping quote. When you said there would be 3 U.S. suppliers, I got excited and hoped one might be Mann lake, Dadant, Kelly or Brushy Mountain. Oh well, maybe some day. Thank you for the great videos and for the time you take to answer questions. I'm already waiting for the next one.😊
Amazon is where I bought mine
I would use twigs or rocks for the pollen feed. Oops you just now said they
Great minds think alike.
hey Jason! where is the best place to buy Nuc Ceracell feeders...i need 20.
I was just emailed by Ceracell and they said Peirco is now carrying their supplies. Maybe check with them?
No need for all 4 corners, just rotate both sides so the access is on the downhill end.
I understand the corners should be on the downhill end but I still think all 4 corners would be nice for feeding dry sugar in the winter.
🙋🐝
Nice job killing the bees in the pollen bin! You couldn't have figured that out ahead of time?!!
Sometimes you have to do things this way so others can see what happens. Think of it as a way of making a point.
Sounds like The Hive and Honey Bee person has had bees but never ever killed one. Oh if only we all were that perfect!
I never claimed perfection. I can actually claim to have never killed a bee and would not be lying - I am not a beekeeper yet. If you read your note - some of your comments are replies to Jason, some to me but all were addressed to me. So I cant say yours was a nice attempt at anything, especially not your first nasty comment, total fail.