The ever present need for environmentalism and sustainability has made beekeeping a blossoming trend. Individuals are taking on the responsibility of raising and maintaining their very own hivein an attempt to keep our beloved pollinators alive. Keeping your own hive requires a lot of careful, dedicated work, and part of that process is ensuring that hive has access to a healthy bee waterer or feeder.
Even if you aren’t keeping your own hive, providing the local, natural inhabitants with a consistent water source will help sustain the natural population. This is especially important in response to recent news of pollinator populations withering due to humanity’s environmental impact. So, whether you are keeping your own hive or not, finding the perfect bee waterer or feeder is important if you wish to help our buzzing little friends.
This article is going to dive into what bee waterers are best for your hive or for the bees naturally living nearby. We will go over the different functions each waterer provides and which one you should consider using, depending on the reason you want to purchase a waterer.
Product FAQ
1. What Is A Bee Waterer?
A bee waterer is a receptacle designed to hold water in a way that is appealing to bees. This same receptacle can also be used to feed your bees as well, depending on which one you choose.
2. How Does A Bee Waterer Work?
A bee waterer will hold a small amount of water in a shallow bowl. It will provide a place for bees to stand in the middle of the water so they may drink without falling into the water. They are often simple in design.
3. Where Can You Buy A Bee Waterer?
You can either make one yourself relatively easily or you can find them online at Amazon. They may also be found at any large farm supply store or general home improvement store.
4. Do You Always Need A Bee Waterer To Maintain A Population?
This is a tricky question. Usually, bee hives are entirely self-sustainable. This means that even though their hive stays in one location, the workers bees are capable of traveling many miles to gather the resources they need. So, while most hives will not need a waterer to survive, providing one still helps substantially. Investing in a waterer that ensures a natural hive or one your are maintaining is consistently supplied with fresh water will keep the population vigorous and healthy. Access to clean water is hard for hives nowadays, so providing them with clean water will make a difference for these little pollinators.
How We Reviewed
The following products were reviewed based on features, pros and cons, price, and where to buy. All of our choices are unsponsored and are simply the result of extensive online research. We sift through customer reviews, testimonials, and professional articles to determine which product does the best work at the best price.
The more affordable, practical models on this list sell on Amazon for only $, while the more expensive, intricate feeders sell for around $$. It is a wide price range, but most of the options on this list will fall between $ and $$.
What We Reviewed
Key Features of this product include an easy-to-use design that can work as both a feeder and a waterer. It also has a shallow bowl designed specifically for bees. It is easy to switch between feeder and waterer.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $8.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Simple, practical design
Ease of Use
Incredibly easy to use, you can stick it anywhere you see a lot of wild bees gathering or where your hive traditionally goes to access water
Effectiveness
Relatively effective waterer and a decent feeder
Durable
This product was noted for its overall durability
- Very affordable
- Can put anywhere for the bees to access
- Easy to clean and take apart
- Made in the USA with very durable materials
- Can be built and replicated at home; don’t have to purchase
- Some reviews said the product was simply ‘ok’.
Key Features of this product include 10 small cups in a fan display that can be used nearly anywhere you wish. This product is specifically designed for entrance feeding use, although it can be used for watering as well.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon from third party sellers for around $.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Interesting design quality that serves a practical purpose of keeping the feed and water compartmentalized and clean, but it isn’t very attractive
Ease of Use
Incredibly easy to use. Stick anywhere your hive or wild bee population goes to gather water
Effectiveness
Moderate effectiveness according to multiple customer reviews
Durable
Relatively durable. Plastic was reviewed to be of weak construction
- Comes with 10, small individuals cups
- Incredibly easy to use
- Very affordable
- Can’t buy directly from Amazon; must go through third party sellers
- Made of cheaper plastic
- Fan design might not go with everyone’s personal design motif
- Relatively expensive
Key Features of this product include inner ladders and grooved sides that help your bees access the syrup while keeping them from drowning. This product is designed specifically as a high quality feeder. Do not try to use as waterer.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $15.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Design is practical and meant to replace board frame
Ease of Use
Relatively easy to use
Effectiveness
Moderately effective
Durable
Relatively durable
- Fits into any standard deep body hive box
- No tools needed for assembly
- Very affordable
- Can only be used as a feeder
- Customers complained about stickers being hard to remove
- Some customers also complained about bees drowning despite feeder construction
Key features of this product include a hive top feeder with floats. This model fits a 10-frame hive.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $50.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Beautiful, traditional wood design
Ease of Use
Easy to use
Effectiveness
Relatively effective; will sometimes drown bees
Durable
Incredibly durable
- Simple design can fit any standard 10-frame hive
- Made with wood
- Simple, attractive design
- Not meant as a waterer
- Most expensive on the list
- Reported to sometimes drown your bees
Key Features of this product include a shallow bowl with a simple design that can be used as a bee waterer or feeder. It has a white, ceramic bowl with a wooden stand that makes for an attractive product.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $5.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Simple design that will look good anywhere
Ease of Use
Easy to use
Effectiveness
Overall effective product
Durable
Relatively durable if the package made it to the customer in one piece
- High quality materials
- Incredibly affordable
- Great for both water and feed
- Doesn’t come with the jar to convert into feeder
- Some customers received the product broken during shipping
Key features of this product include one shallow feeding or water bowl that is easy to install in any hive set up. Also, this product gives you the ability to view the water or feed level in the bowl so you don’t have to disturb the bees to check the level.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $10.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Simple, boxy design that was made for practicality, not aesthetic
Ease of Use
Incredibly easy to use
Effectiveness
Overall, effective product
Durable
Relatively durable
- Incredibly easy to clean
- Very affordable
- Can be used as both a waterer and feeder
- Can be put anywhere
- Not the most attractive design
- If you want to convert it into a feeder, it doesn’t come with jar
- Customers complained that it didn’t fit any jars they had at home
Key features of this product include one shallow feeding or water bowl that is easy to install in any hive set up. Also, this product gives you the ability to view the water or feed level in the bowl so you don’t have to disturb the bees to check the level.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around 12 dollars.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Poor design aesthetic but practical in use
Ease of Use
Incredibly easy to use
Effectiveness
Not very effective
Durable
Leak makes product not durable
- Practical, durable design
- Two gallon pail holds a substantial amount of feed
- Can be used with or without a hive box
- Could be made at home
- Is nothing more than a bucket, so it isn’t too attractive
- Lid leaks
- Many customers lost bees
Key features of this product include a jar for conversion from a waterer to a feeder. It is a clean, beautifully designed bee waterer with a shallow bowl for ease of access, and it is all made with high-impact plastic.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $14.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Design is simple, clean, and a wonderful addition to any porch.
Ease of Use
Incredibly easy to use
Effectiveness
Relatively effective
Durable
Incredibly durable product
- Functions as both a bee waterer and feeder
- Extended tray makes feed or water more accessible
- Easy to clean
- Some products were shipped with missing parts
- A few customers complained about leaks from the bottom of the bowl
- Relatively small, so won’t feed or water a large population
Key features of this product include a bee waterer or feeder that is designed to go on top of a standard bee hive box. The small hole design makes for a super easy way to provide a water injection.
Buy on Amazon
This product can be found on Amazon for around $25.
Where to Buy
Design Quality
Medium design quality with little thought to aesthetic
Ease of Use
Incredibly easy to use
Effectiveness
Due to lack of customer reviews, this question is hard to truthfully answer. This product seems to be relatively effective; however, as it was designed for professional bee keepers in mind.
Durable
Relatively durable
- Keeps your bees from drowning
- Easy to refill
- Lightweight yet durable
- Made of plastic only with no BPA-free notice
- No customer reviews yet so it is hard to gauge actual effectiveness
- Not the most beautifully designed
Overall, a majority of these products made the list for already providing a consistent supply of food or water to your bees at minimal risk. In other words, they are all decent, but only a few had customers universally satisfied with performance and hive health.
The MANN Lake Entrance feeder, despite looks and jar compatibility, made customers incredibly happy with its performance. The bee waterer didn’t drown their bees, and as a feeder, you didn’t have to take it apart to check the feed levels. If you are looking to help out our pollinator friends, take a look at this list to help you find the perfect bee waterer or feeder for your goals.