Feeding dry pollen substitute is an easy and efficient way to support bee populations when natural sources become scarce. Simply place dry powder in an automatic feeder or form into patties – either way will work!
Ultra Bee is a widely popular dry feed option that can be mixed into patties or used as bulk pollen feeder. You could also use this product to fill a winter feed board.
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1. Extend Brood Rearing
Honeybees begin their preparations for spring emergence by eating pollen throughout winter. At this stage, it may be beneficial to promote brood rearing by providing low-protein feed such as pollen patties.
Studies conducted in Oregon and California concluded that colonies fed commercial pollen substitutes gained weight while control groups lost it, as well as having higher sealed brood areas than colonies receiving other treatments.
Regarding how best to administer this supplemental feed, I advise making your own dry pollen feeder at home for about $10. Just ensure you use a container which keeps powder dry, keeps livestock out, and allows bees easy access. A 5 gallon bucket or Pro Nuc box with its entrance slide cut off works fine – just be sure not to overfill it so as not to create crusting issues! Finally, limit how much pollen goes inside at once so as not to crust over.
2. Prevent Nutritional Deficits During Pollen Dearths
Bee colonies require both proteins and carbohydrates for proper functioning. When faced with poor forage conditions (a drought for instance) or rapid brood rearing early Spring colonies may run short on stored protein reserves and be at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Feeding high-protein pollen substitute supplements during these times of low pollen can help alleviate deficiencies by providing extra protein for bees to consume. The powder is mixed with sugar syrup and formed into patties before being placed atop hives where bees consume it as natural pollen would, processing it through their saliva before turning it into “bee bread,” stored away within the cells of their comb cells.
Whenever using patties like these, it is wise to cover them in tin foil or place them in a feeder that has been specially constructed to block out small hive beetles – this will prevent bees from polluting them with their waste products and spreading bacteria onto other bees’ wings. This also protects them from becoming contaminated with foreign bee feces from other colonies of bees and help keep contamination to a minimum.
3. Prevent Cannibalism
Bees that have run short of pollen may resort to cannibalism as a last resort to stay alive; providing protein supplements as one way of keeping their numbers intact during summer dearths of natural forage is one solution to ensure survival of their colony.
Your bees will forage on this pollen substitute as they would on natural pollen and bring it back into their hives, just as if it was natural pollen itself. This powder serves as an effective diversion from aggressive foragers late in the summer as well as discouraging interhive robbing for food resources.
Pollen substitutes should not be necessary for hobby beekeepers living outside of tropical regions; however, during periods of severe drought, freeze or winter it can come in handy to boost colony health and help boost brood rearing rates before natural pollen flow resumes in early spring. It also allows colonies to prepare themselves ahead of the season by stimulating brood rearing before natural pollen flow starts.
4. Increase Honey Production
Pollen collection accounts for much of a bee colony’s foraging activity; in times when this may not be sufficient, dry pollen substitutes may help ensure colonies continue foraging and laying eggs.
Early use of commercially prepared high protein pollen substitute pattie or powder, like Feedbee or Ultra Bee, can assist with increasing brood production and strengthening hives for spring. Feedbee can also be used during a weather event to encourage foraging activity and brood rearing within their colonies.
Your bees will appreciate this solution in either a feeder or large open, dry container outside their hives, rather than in individual colonies for pollen robbing. By starting earlier than normal with high quality and well formulated products, this strategy can increase honey production from your bees.
