Bucket Bee Raft is the easiest and fastest way we have found to feed sugar water to thriving colonies using just a bucket. Simply put sugar water into a prepared bucket and set the Bucket Bee Raft in place with the grooves up. This is not only a great way to feed bees but it’s also great for watering bees as well. This is available in a two gallon and five gallon bucket size. A bucket prepared by scuffing with the included sandpaper, filled with sugar water, with the Bucket Bee Raft in place is considered a feeding station. See the Bee Buffet also made by Revolutionary Hives for and alternate feeding option.
Bucket preparation:
- Scuff the inside of the bucket to be used with the included piece of sandpaper.
- Scuff inside from the top of the bucket to the bottom using a motion parallel to the top and bottom of the bucket to remove all glossiness.
- This gives the bees a better footing as they maneuver the bucket.
Special Instructions:
- When open feeding below an outside temperature of 80f we recommend heating the sugar water from 85f to 95f. This prevents the bees from becoming lethargic having filled themselves with cold liquid in a cold environment. Based on our findings we do not recommend open feeding below an outside temperature of 70f.
- When feeding, once bees cover the Bee Raft so that it’s not visible, another feeding station should be provided.
See this video on how the Bucket Bee Raft works at this link -> YouTube Video
