Patties can provide your bees with additional nutrition when natural pollen sources become scarce, whether purchased from high-quality resources or made yourself with pollen substitute and sugar syrup.
Bees need additional food sources in the spring when their population needs to expand and in fall when pollen becomes scarcer, however if sufficient carbohydrates sources are available then feeding should continue throughout summer as well.
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Nutritional Benefits
Many commercial beekeepers employ pollen patties as a supplement during times of low natural pollen availability due to weather, location (monoculture areas), or population size of their colonies. This can include weather patterns or even seasonal changes affecting natural pollen production.
These patties do not contain real pollen; rather, they consist of protein, sugar, lemon juice or citric acid, vitamins, dried egg, oil and yeast designed to mimic it. You can either purchase ready-to-use ones from retailers or make your own using various recipes available online.
These patties should be strategically placed above brood nests so nurse bees can easily access this high protein food source, and should be fed regularly to ensure the colony receives all its necessary nutrition – this is especially essential if beekeepers live in areas impacted by Small Hive Beetles.
Stimulates Brood Rearing
Pollen not only supplies bees with protein, but is also vital in rearing brood. Therefore, adding pollen patties early in spring can be an excellent way to promote brood production and increase brood rearing.
Once natural pollen becomes available outside the hive, it’s essential not to continue feeding patties to your bees as this could make them reliant on them and delaying their natural honey flow.
Patties that contain no pollen are generally consumed more quickly than those with high pollen concentration. Low or no pollen patties should only be fed prior to the anticipated start of natural pollen production in order to avoid overstimulating brood rearing during periods when natural pollen supply has not yet arrived.
Stimulates Queen Rearing
In periods of natural pollen dearth, colonies can take advantage of extra protein supplements to encourage brood rearing and increase worker population; this in turn allows more workers to forage, defend against pests and diseases, produce surplus honey production.
Patties made with pollen substitute powder or dry brewer’s yeast are typically moistened by vegetable oil and/or lard to aid in bee consumption.
These patties should be wrapped in wax paper to avoid dehydration and placed above the brood nests of the hive. In wintertime they should be offered in small pieces (a half pound at a time), and replenished more frequently; when distributed near areas prone to Small Hive Beetles (SHBs), more frequent replenishment may be necessary so as to not attract these pests.
Stimulates Adult Bee Rearing
Pollen patties provide an excellent source of protein, while also being attractive to adult bees. A pollen-laden patty will typically be devoured three times faster than one without pollen particles in its composition.
Supplementary patties should be utilized early each spring in order to maximize brood rearing and increase colony population; they can also come in handy later during a winter dearth.
However, if these patties are fed too soon or too many days prior to natural pollen coming in, bees could over-stimulate brood rearing which could result in an unexpected crash. Furthermore, high pollen patties may attract small hive beetles – therefore ensure these high pollen patties are regularly monitored and promptly removed so as to minimize SHB infestation.
Stimulates Colony Growth
Commercial pollen patties do not contain real pollen; rather, they consist of low-protein feed supplements designed to simulate what honey bees need for health. Due to this fact, their use should be limited as too many patties could speed up consumption of winter stores by bee colonies and potentially cause them to fill their abdomens with fecal matter leading to dysentery or other health complications.
At times when natural pollen supplies are limited, hobby beekeepers may find patties an invaluable management tool to encourage brood rearing and build strong colonies to handle the approaching nectar flow.
