Pollen patties are protein supplements designed to foster brood rearing. Often fed as springtime approaches to give colonies a headstart and hasten build up.
Hive Alive products may also be fed during the winter to promote brood rearing and encourage honey production. Optimally used when combined with carb-rich sources like nectar or sugar syrup with Hive Alive added.
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How to Make Pollen Patties
Many beekeepers utilize pollen patties during late winter and early spring as an aid for brood production. They provide crucial protein that allows queen bees to lay more eggs and form strong populations ahead of honey flow season.
Making these patties is straightforward. Mix your dry ingredients – bee pollen supplement, soya flour, white granulated sugar and brewer’s yeast – then incorporate water until it forms a dough-like consistency.
This mixture is then formed into patties and placed inside the hive. Patty placement may differ depending on which beekeeper it comes from; it’s recommended that they are positioned near frames with direct access to cluster. Nurse bees will quickly access this source of protein; also placing close to entrance helps deter robbing bees.
Pollen Substitutes
Many beekeepers use pollen substitutes to ensure the nutritional health of their hives during periods of dearth. These may occur in late winter and early spring as colonies increase to peak population for the forthcoming nectar flow, when protein requirements spike significantly and may result in low larval survival and nurse bees cannibalizing eggs or larvae from within their colony. Without sufficient supplies of protein the bees could experience lower larvae survival as well as nurses cannibalizing eggs or larvae that they find.
Wijayati et al. (2009) conducted research into different pollen substitute formulations for honey bees, including Wijayati’s own study on their impact. They tested three forms of pollen alternatives such as roasted bean seeds, boiled winged beans and fermented winged beans before concluding that roasted beans seeds are most suitable.
Pollen patties should only be fed during spring and summer for maximum effectiveness; otherwise they may encourage brood rearing, leading to overproduction that leads to starvation of bees.
Feeding Patties
Bees in areas with limited natural pollen in late winter and early spring can use supplemented feedings such as pollen patties to increase brood production and build strong colonies that are better equipped to forage for food, resist pests and diseases, produce honey, and produce more honey than their competitors. Pollen patties provide essential nutritional support that allows bees to be more productive and healthier colonies.
Knead the mixture using your hands to break down clumps and evenly distribute moisture. Add vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar for additional moisture retention and to prevent black mold spores that might form during storage of patties.
Roll your mixture into an approximately 2-by-6-by-1 patty and wrap it with wax paper before placing it directly over the hive, as close as possible to where brood clusters reside. It should be completely covered so SHB cannot access it; avoid placing directly onto brood clusters as that could be rejected by the hive.
Storage
Pollen patties do not contain actual pollen but instead mimic the protein-rich nectar required for honey bee development. They are especially helpful in areas with limited natural pollen sources during spring and fall building-up periods; however, beekeepers in regions with an abundant supply of natural pollen typically don’t require pollen patties as supplemental feeding options.
Place a large dollop of the mixture on the center of a square of freezer paper to prevent it from sticking to your hands and make handling it easier. Lightly dust a rolling pin with white flour so the patty doesn’t stick, then flatten to approximately the size of a playing card.
Store it in a cool, dry location (not refrigerate it) until it is time for use. If it has not been consumed within 72 hours, throw away as it will provide food for small hive beetles; the nutritional value will also rapidly diminish due to prolonged drying and storage times.
