Pollen patties are protein supplements designed to assist colonies in producing an abundance of young bees.
Bees cannot lay eggs or build comb without protein, which is why beekeepers supplement their hives at different points throughout the year with protein-rich supplements.
Winter bee colonies require protein feedings to survive through long, cold months, but occasionally there can be shortages or patches of bad weather that make pollen unavailable for consumption.
Contents
Protein Supplement
Protein supplements make a fantastic addition to homemade bee pollen patties. By providing honey bees with a balanced diet that improves their overall health and helps them cope with mites or any environmental challenges, protein supplements help provide protection.
Protein feedings in spring are particularly essential in areas lacking natural forage, aiding beekeepers in increasing brood production and colony expansion.
A three-year trial conducted in Southern Alberta, Canada evaluated the efficacy of commercially available protein supplements formulated into patties as part of beekeeping management practices. A variety of different protein substitutes in patt form were compared against an industry standard 15% pollen patty from Global Patties Inc. of Airdrie for brood stimulation purposes.
Easy to Consume
Pollen patties are easy to consume and an ideal emergency winter food source, providing bees with protein, sugar and natural ingredients designed to increase brood production.
However, it should be remembered that bee food products are just one component of an effective strategy to increase bee populations. Bees need sufficient protein in their diet in order to survive and successfully rear their larvae broods. Without it they cannot do their jobs as effectively.
Bees try to maximize colony size before their first anticipated nectar flow arrives, such as winter or spring, to take advantage of any limited pollen availability nearby and expand their numbers before nectar flow begins. Unfortunately, this can create problems if there are limited pollen sources.
Easy to Store
Bee pollen patties are an effective way to enhance brood production and strengthen colony strength, plus they’re easy to store. Plus, making one yourself requires only minimal ingredients!
Pollen patties are protein supplements designed to support brood development. Although pollen patties can be fed any time of year, it’s especially crucial that they’re provided when bees need them most.
At the start of spring, when colonies are looking to reach maximum size, bees need protein for brood production. Feeding them pollen patties helps them grow large and strong before the first nectar flow arrives.
Easy to Prepare
Pollen patties provide an easy and cost-effective solution for feeding bees. Simply prepare in minutes before freezing for later use.
Bees need both protein and carbohydrates in their diet to survive and flourish, with carbohydrates coming from honey or sugar syrup and proteins coming from pollen, larval brood, or adult worker bees respectively.
Bees feed on pollen as part of their diet, but also consume fat-rich food products to aid with metabolism, protect from disease, and develop stronger bodies as adults.
beekeepers frequently use solid sugar (granulated, fondant or winter patty) to provide their colonies with calories during winter and early spring. As brood production naturally increases around late winter and early spring, beekeepers may wish to supplement their colonies with protein for maximum hive growth.
Organic
Bee pollen patties are protein supplements designed to stimulate honey bee brood production. Used in spring and autumn to prepare hives for winter weather and build stronger colonies for the future season, they provide an ideal way to stimulate brood production in bee colonies.
An effective bee pollen substitute must contain essential vitamins and minerals essential to colony development as well as live enzymes essential for pollen production.
VitaHive Power Feed protein powder can be mixed with water to form patties, or placed in bee feeders to encourage bees to collect it. Containing 65% crude protein, Power Feed is designed to assist hives in increasing brood production.
