Mike, what kind of lids are you using? The metal ones have a gap in them so they fit around the spigot, but if you're using plastic lids,I think they cover the whole surface area and the spigot too. Just don't know if you want the lids flipped up, you'll get bark and bugs and possibly critters in there too. Tales of squirrels found drowned in sap pails are common. (And if that ever does happen...dump that sap and give the pail a really good cleaning before putting it back into use.)
And don't worry I'm in the same boat as you, only my smallest trees, the bush maples, are doing any real work, the big trees are still pretty froze up.
Last edited by Galena; 03-20-2019 at 08:34 AM.
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup
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