Patties provide protein for nurse bees to feed brood rearing and increase brood rearing rates and colony numbers, and may help weak or queenless colonies recover more quickly.
Pollen patties are used in early spring or late fall/winter to supplement bees’ diet when natural or stored pollen becomes limited. Global Patties has pioneered a paper sandwich patty design which makes handling easier for beekeepers.
Contents
Nutritional Needs
Bees require both carbohydrates and proteins for their survival as colonies. Carbs can easily be provided through honey and sugar syrup; protein however is much harder to obtain; as such many beekeepers employ supplemental patties in early spring and late fall/winter to fill any nutritional gaps that arise.
Protein supplement patties are made using relatively inexpensive but high protein ingredients like brewers yeast products and soybean flour (both must be approved by beekeepers), combined with some syrup and pollen trapping devices, then covered in honeycomb-shaped molds. Some beekeepers create their own homemade mixes in order to reach a specific percentage, while others opt for ready-made commercial proteins already on the market.
Patty consumption by each hive is an accurate reflection of colony health and strength. If one or more colonies consumes very little patty, this may indicate weakness that can make them susceptible to diseases, poor foraging habits and overwintering issues. Conversely, higher consumption indicates strong colony health.
Pollen Substitutes
As spring unfolds and pollen production revives, bee protein patties can provide a boon to colony preparation by stimulating brood development and aiding brood rearing. When to start feeding pollen patties varies depending on where one lives; weather and natural forage availability play a part.
Protein supplement patties can either be purchased ready-made, or made at home using various recipes. It is important to remember that pollen patties do not actually contain real pollen but rather consist of various ingredients designed to replicate its characteristics and provide all of the nutrition honey bees require.
Protein patties should ideally be placed directly inside a hive near the center of its brood nest for nurse bees to access easily without leaving their nest, thereby helping reduce spring swarming. This technique also can reduce swarming.
How Many Patties Per Hive
The amount of patties fed to each hive will depend on both beekeepers and regions. Some areas experience continuous pollen flows throughout summertime and may not require using any patties at all.
Patty food supplies can help supplement a colony’s protein requirements until natural pollen returns in autumn, usually by placing it atop of the top brood box where bees can easily access it; some beekeepers wrap the patty in cardboard or paper plate so it stays put during transport.
As summer feedings take place, be wary not to overstimulate a colony. Too much protein can prompt bees to consume too quickly and take brood cells from themselves for themselves, in addition to patties attracting Small Hive Beetles that could present problems in certain regions. For that reason, any uneaten patties should be removed immediately in the event that SHBs become an issue in your region.
Availability
While many beekeepers make their own protein patties, purchasing them is also easy and can be found in most beekeeping supply stores or online. Ingredients vary for these amber-colored supplements; some even feature essential oils, amino acids and probiotics!
Pollen patties should be added after honey flow when your beehive needs a boost, during bad weather or drought conditions, or in monoculture areas where there are few or no natural protein sources available to them.
Global Pollen Patties are high-protein feed that contain proteins, lipids, minerals, carbohydrates and B complex vitamins to provide bees with all of the nutrition they require to produce brood efficiently. Simply place one on top of your beehive and gently smoke it while leaving its paper wrapping intact – bees will consume it faster this way! Plus! Our new Bee-Pro patties contain Pro Health for added digestive support!
