An artificial pollen feeder can help strengthen an otherwise weak honeybee colony. It is particularly helpful during late winter and early spring when natural pollen availability decreases; additionally, preparation takes less time compared to pollen patties; additionally, beekeepers need not suit up and disturb every hive when placing or moving them around.
Contents
It is easy to distribute
Last summer was an especially trying one for many beekeepers due to hot and dry conditions, as the bees did not have sufficient food sources to support themselves and quickly reduced in colonies. Many beekeepers have found that supplemented feeding is essential to keeping their bees healthy in many parts of the country.
Pollen substitute is an easy and cost-effective way to give your bees the protein they require, whether in dry form and placed into feeder boxes or made into patties and fed through hive tops. Providing pollen replacement early in spring will encourage brood rearing.
Priddy Acres Sweet B Fondant is an easy and convenient protein boost solution, packed with 4% Iso-leucine for bees during periods of drought. Place it outside in an appropriate container to ensure dry feed delivery while protecting livestock access to it.
It is a good source of protein
Beekeepers use protein patties to facilitate colony build-up early in the spring and ensure their colonies have enough fat reserves for overwintering. Protein patties may also prove useful during pollen dearth or adverse weather conditions that prevent bees from foraging; however, this method may present its own set of challenges; such as mold growth that attracts Small Hive Beetles as well as difficulty in calculating how much protein the colony is actually getting.
Pollen substitutes should contain essential amino acids to support bee health and development. Studies have revealed that bees fed pollen substitute diets containing these additives had larger fat bodies compared to control diet bees (Ricigliano & Simone-Finstrom, 2020). Fat bodies play an essential role in endocrine regulation, immunity, vitelloidogenesis, and nutrient storage. Ideally, pollen alternatives should contain multiple proteins for an ideal amino acid balance as different proteins contain differing levels of amino acids.
It is a good source of vitamins
Bee pollen offers an abundant supply of essential vitamins and nutrients, such as antioxidants, amino acids and enzymes. While it is generally safe for most individuals to consume bee pollen, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and those allergic to bee or honey products should refrain from doing so; additionally it could interact with blood-thinning medications and should be avoided by those living with chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease.
Beekeepers feed their bees dry pollen substitute in powder or granule form or patties for easy distribution to their bees and to protect it from other animals or the elements. Feeders placed outside the hive provide easy distribution without disrupting it from being properly distributed to all their colonies.
Studies have demonstrated that feeding honey bees a dry pollen diet can increase their fat body size; however, further investigation must be conducted on this strategy in terms of colony strength.
It is a good source of carbohydrates
An automated dry bee pollen feeder is an efficient and straightforward way to give your colony protein during winter. Prep time is reduced compared to pollen patties, and no special suits or disturbance of the hive is necessary – simply place a powder or patty in the feeder, and bees will forage upon it just like they would natural pollen sources.
Throughout winter months, it is vitally important that beekeepers provide their bees with a high-protein supplement in order to support queen production. Without protein supplements, bees cannot create new queen cells, making them weak and disease prone.
Carbohydrate feeding of bees is also vital, and can be accomplished by administering sugar syrup diluted in water from cane, beet or isomerized corn sources. Beginning supplemental feeding prior to bloom and continuing until you have strengthened low-population colonies to their optimal strength for honey flow or pollination service is key for success.
