Feeding when TBH is full

[mtbe]

• I've been using the baggie feeder on the  bottom of my TBHs. 
  
    This has been easy, as they are only on the first few bars.  However,when they fill out all the bars, how would I get a baggie in there?
  
  
• With a boardman feeder placed in a cutout of a follower/barrier board, how will the bees get there in cold weather?  I've read that they will 'ball' up when cold and may not find the feed if it's at the other end of the hive
  
  So, how to feed in cold weather?
  

[Michael Bush]

The baggies will work as well as any other feeder when it's cold, which is to say they won't. 

[mtbe]

The other questions are:

How to feed a TBH with baggies when the hive is full?  It is harder to get the baggies inside and on the floor if every bar has comb on it.

How to feed in winter if the bees are 'balled' up on one side of the hive?  Opening up the hive is not recommended in cold weather, so what is the best way to feed in winter?

(Modified): Just read M.Bush's website about keeping honey in the hive for winter feeding, no sugar syrup.  I like that idea.  I'm not in it for selling honey, although I will be doing some.  So....is the honey taken in the Spring then?  Doesn't it crystallize in the comb over winter?

[RyanB]

My understnaidn is no, the honey should not crystalize over winter. And looks like you answerd you own question. In a TBH you should leave enough stores for them over winter.  If you do not and you harvest, then your going to have space anyhow.  If you get to the late winter / early spring and the bee's have used up thier stores and you must feed, you can take bars with empty comb out and store them. Then put fresh bas in and you again have space for feeding again baggie style or move your follower feeder closer to the brood comb.

If it's too cold for them to break cluster, then yea you may have a difficult time.  Earlier suggestion was if your "roof" has enough space you could put a temporary top feeder with some wire mesh. just remove a bar, lay down mesh and ut the feeder on top.

[mtbe]

How about something like this?

I use something similar for mountain biking.  When filled, it is relatively flat, so could be placed under the top, above the bars.  The tube could be inserted into one of the top bars, or the side of the hive for feeding.  A feeder/feeding holes would have to be designed for the end of it.  The bag can rest on top of the bars and filled without disturbing the bees.  With the top screwed on, a vacuum is created so flooding of the hive is less likely.  Still could be a problem with cold weather. 

gearforadventure.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CBHydrotanium100&click=27

Or Google for "100oz Omega" if the link is edited out.  Pricey for a feeder, but no waste (no empty baggies).  I'm sure there are cheaper one available.