Layens Frame feeder

01 · HOW IT GOES IN

It takes one frame's place, at the side of the nest

At 365 mm across the top bar, 230 mm high and 39 mm wide, it drops into the gap of a normal Layens frame: no extra height, no empty super needed. Put it at the side of the nest, not in the middle of the brood — in the centre it splits the nest in two, and on cold nights the colony leaves brood uncovered on one side. Refilling needs nothing dismantled: open, pour, close.

02 · DROWNING

The ribbed inside cuts losses a lot, a float takes them to near zero

The inner walls are ribbed so the bee can climb out; against a smooth container the difference is huge. But let us be straight: with syrup you always lose a few, especially if you fill it to the brim. To get near zero, drop in a float: a few sticks, a handful of cork or a twig work as well as anything sold for it. And do not fill it level — leave a good couple of centimetres of dry wall above the syrup.

03 · TWO COMPARTMENTS

Syrup and candy at once, or the same tank split in two

It is divided into two compartments, which gives you options: syrup in one and candy in the other through the autumn transition, or the syrup split in halves so the colony does not throw itself at all of it at once. Clean it with hot water up to 60 °C and diluted bleach; above that the plastic warps, so no boiling water.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It is Layens only: a 365 mm top bar does not fit Langstroth or Dadant, which take their own frame feeders. And it comes without a float: that part you improvise with whatever is to hand.