1/2 Gallon Jar and Foxhound Entrance Feeder with UV Inhibitor

The standard entrance feeder — a mason jar inverted over a Boardman base — is fine until you're managing more than a couple of hives or running through syrup quickly in spring. Then the refill frequency becomes genuinely annoying. This kit addresses that directly. The ½ gallon jar holds 8.75 cups of syrup, which is roughly twice the capacity of the quart jar most entrance feeders ship with. You fill less often, and the bees have access to more syrup between visits.

We redesigned the feeder base at the same time. The step feeder inserts into the hive entrance and lets bees walk down to drink from the perforated lid — the same basic Boardman mechanism, but updated so the jar fits properly and the vacuum seal holds without adjusting the jar position. Syrup stays in the jar until bees draw it down; it doesn't leak through the holes unless the seal is broken. The jar also works as an internal hive feeder when you drop it inside an empty brood box with the lid facing down — useful for situations where you want to feed without advertising the syrup at the entrance.

The jar is made with a UV-inhibitor additive in the plastic. Direct sun exposure is the main reason plastic feeders go brittle and crack, and it also creates conditions where mold grows faster inside the jar. The UV additive extends the service life of the jar significantly. The walls are also thicker than standard feeder jars, which means less flex and longer durability over multiple seasons.

Key Features

• 8.75 cup / ½ gallon capacity — more than double standard entrance feeder jars. Fewer refill trips, less colony disruption.
• UV-inhibitor plastic — resists brittleness from sun exposure, reduces mold conditions inside the jar.
• No leakage — vacuum pressure holds syrup in the inverted jar. The perforated lid only releases syrup when bees draw it through.
• No bees drowning — the step feeder design keeps bees positioned correctly at the feeding slots.
• Dual-use jar — works as an entrance feeder OR as an internal feeder inside an empty brood box.
• Thicker walls than standard — longer service life, less flex, more durable over multiple seasons.
• Sold as a 2-pack — enough for a new setup or a hive split. Larger packs available.

How It Works

Fill the jar with sugar syrup (1:1 spring/summer ratio; 2:1 fall/winter ratio — see our Sugar Syrup Math for Beekeepers guide). Screw on the perforated lid, invert the jar over the feeder base, and slide the base into the hive entrance. Vacuum pressure holds the syrup in place. Check and refill when the syrup level drops below the perforated lid. For internal use, place the inverted jar directly inside an empty brood box positioned above the hive.

Watch: Redesigned Bee Feeder That Works For All Types of Beekeepers

Watch: Boardman Feeding Redesign

When to Feed

Feed in spring during package installation and colony buildup. Feed in late summer or fall when nectar flow ends and you're preparing for winter. Feed in winter only as emergency feeding when stores are critically low — in most climates, winter feeding is less effective than topping up stores in fall. Avoid feeding during active honey supers; syrup can contaminate honey. For more detail, see A Survey of All the Ways to Feed Bees Sugar Syrup.

Product Details

Related Reading

• Sugar Syrup Math for Beekeepers
• A Survey of All the Ways to Feed Bees Sugar Syrup
• Feeding Bees During the Winter

You May Also Need

• Foxhound Entrance Feeder Base (Feeder Only)
• Plastic Half-Gallon Feeder Jar (Jar Only)
• Granulated Bulk Sugar

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