Question: When To Feed Pollen Patties

Bee’s don’t need to be fed pollen patties all the time. Pollen is used to feed larvae. Therefore you only need to supply pollen to your bees when they are producing brood. Spring time, after nectar starts flowing, is a good time to add pollen patties.

When should you feed pollen patties?

Bees will benefit from protein feeding at any time of the year. However, they are best fed with pollen patties in spring. As mentioned prior, the main purpose of pollen patties is to stimulate brood rearing but to do this earlier than required can impact the bee colony negatively.

Should I feed pollen patties in winter?

The reason we as beekeepers should NOT feed pollen patties in the fall, going into winter is because the queen will continue to lay eggs as long as she perceives that pollen is still coming in. It is vital that the queen stops laying or slows down dramatically, as I will explain shortly.

When should I start feeding my spring bees?

In Spring months – March | April | May Honey is always the best feed for bees! It’s the healthiest and most natural, of course. If you do not have a source of local, raw honey, you can feed a simple syrup solution.

Do I need to feed bees pollen patties?

Bee’s don’t need to be fed pollen patties all the time. Pollen is used to feed larvae. Therefore you only need to supply pollen to your bees when they are producing brood. Spring time, after nectar starts flowing, is a good time to add pollen patties.

When should I feed my honey bees?

If you know early enough in the season, like in the fall, you can begin feeding them. Even if you don’t feed until winter and early spring, you can still feed the bees. You might want to use granulated sugar or fondant during cold winter days.

Should I feed pollen in fall?

Q: Should I feed my bees pollen/pollen substitutes in the fall? A: Pollen substitutes are typically unnecessary in the fall, unless there has been a severe dearth. Pollen/pollen substitutes are the colony’s protein source. Protein is critical for brood production.

When should I start feeding my bees for winter?

When to Start Feeding Your Hives for Winter If you live in a region that does not have a heavy dependable Fall nectar flow, begin feeding 6 weeks before cold weather arrives. This is heavy syrup that encourages the bees to store it in their comb. This is plenty of time to get the hives ready.

Should I feed my bees pollen in the fall?

And the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team recommends feeding pollen in the fall if it looks like the colony has fewer than 3-6 frames of pollen going into winter. “I was advised years ago to feed pollen in the fall if you plan to use your bees early the following spring to make nucs or early splits,” says Higo.

At what temperature can you feed bees syrup?

Q: What should I feed my bees, sugar syrup, fondant, or hard candy? A: Both liquid feed and solid feed have their place. Ideally, a solution of 2:1 syrup can be fed in the fall until the syrup itself reaches about 50°F (10°C). In colder temperatures solid feed (either fondant or hard candy) should be fed.

When should I give my bees 2 1 sugar syrup?

For late winter or early spring feeding, make a 1:1 syrup using 1 pound of water (2 cups) to 1 pound of sugar. If feeding in the fall (if not enough honey was left on the hive after the honey flow), make a 2:1 syrup using 2 pounds of sugar per pound of water.

When should you stop feeding bees sugar water in the spring?

While it is common to feed sugar water to new bee colonies, it is also important to know when to stop feeding bees in spring. Sugar water lacks the nutrients that bees need to strengthen their immune system. You should stop feeding bees when there are honey supers on and when there is enough honey stored for winter.

How long will pollen patties last?

“The shelf life of the patties is 6 months in the dry,cool place after that the pattie loses the protein level. You can store it in the freezer for a longer period but when you defrost the pattie is going to be very soft.”Jan 11, 2010.

Do you leave paper on pollen patties?

Bees need to touch the pollen patty. Leave the wax paper on both sides of the patty. Once pollen patties are put on the hive they need to be replaced before they are all gone. The bees will increase brood production and they will need the pollen.

How do you feed bees pollen?

Feeding the bees in this way just involves opening the bag of dry sub and dumping it in. For small scale beekeepers with a few hives, a simple feeder can be made from a plastic juice jug or other container set on its side with the bottom cut out.

When should you replace bees with pollen?

Encourage natural pollen collection whenever possible. In times of pollen dearth when bees are flying, provide a dry substitute the bees can collect if they choose. Use little, if any, substitute in late fall and early winter when colonies are clustered and small.

Do honey bees drink water?

Yes, bees drink water. They also use it to regulate the temperature of the hive, feed young bees, and dilute stored honey. Some research suggests bees receive nutrients from water as well.

Should I feed bees in summer?

Remember the bee keeper code; never feed the bees while honey supers are in place. spring to stimulate the queen to lay eggs and helps the bees draw more comb. to feed brood larvae in spring and summer or to get the bees to draw more comb.

Should you feed bees sugar water in summer?

Bees don’t need to be fed, but feeding them a bit of sugar water from a spoon won’t do any harm provided this is a one time thing. The problem is that people have expanded on the myth. If a bit of sugar water for an exhausted bee is good, then a lot of sugar water for all the bees must be better.