Beekeepers use pollen patties to provide protein supplements when honeybees cannot forage for themselves and/or promote brood production. Pollen patties can be especially useful during drought conditions or regions with limited foraging opportunities.
To create a pollen patty, mix dry pollen substitute with sugar and hot water until a dough-like consistency is reached. Optionally add essential oils like spearmint or lemongrass before shaping into a patty for long term storage in your freezer.
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How to Make Pollen Patties
Homemade pollen patties come in all kinds of different flavors. Most use soybean flour, brewer’s yeast, sugar, honey or another sweetener as key components.
Idealy, bees should eat the pollen patty. For this to happen successfully, the patty must be placed within the hive where bees can access it easily – usually above or near to brood nest.
Pollen patties may not be necessary in every area of beekeeping, but they may prove invaluable if weather conditions prevent natural pollen flow or when trying to increase brood production. Bees transported to warmer climates for overwintering or pollination contracts might especially benefit from protein supplements; similarly, beekeepers with weak colonies might find pollen patties helpful; however using them too frequently can lead to overcrowding and starvation; therefore it’s important that beekeepers monitor their colonies closely so they only feed when necessary.
Feeding Pollen Patties
Pollen patties provide protein to bee colonies during winter and early spring that don’t have enough nectar to feed their brood, helping increase brood production, expand populations and foster strong colonies.
Use of an appropriate amount of patties is vital. Overstimulating can cause overcrowding and starvation in colonies; underfeeding leaves weak colonies susceptible to parasitic mites.
To create a pollen patty, combine brewer’s yeast with sugar syrup until it forms the consistency of wet peanut butter, then mix in pollen. Flatten this mixture using a rolling pin into large rectangles before wrapping each rectangle in wax paper to protect its contents. Place one above each cluster of bees within your hive; this could take several weeks but regular monitoring ensures all patties have been consumed by bees; in summer pollen patties may attract beetle infestation so should only be given as emergency relief measures if necessary.
Keeping Pollen Patties
Pollen patties must be strategically positioned within a hive for maximum effect; otherwise they risk going uneaten by bees. Patty placement is especially crucial as bees can easily dismiss poorly situated pollen patties as their priority sources.
Beas will quickly devour moist mixes; if the patties become dry or hardened simply dip them in water before placing into their respective hives.
Pollen patties can be an invaluable aid for beehives during times of pollen dearth. Their protein-rich composition stimulates brood production and thus allows the colony to build populations during cold spells and weather a wintery spell. If fed too frequently however, their overpopulation could leave it incapable of producing drone brood in time for spring – it is therefore vitally important that food consumption and feeding schedule are closely monitored so as not to overload your colony and reduce its viability.
Storage of Pollen Patties
Pollen patties can be an effective way to increase brood production during late Winter and early Spring, especially if your colony lacks access to natural proteins like eggshells. If this is the case for you, however, then feeding pollen patties should stop by mid Summer at least.
Patties made with sugar syrup should be stored out of direct sunlight to avoid bacterial growth that could harm bees and kill them, and stored in a cool location to keep from drying out and becoming hard to eat. They should have the consistency of peanut butter; if necessary, quickly dip them in water to soften prior to feeding.
Commercial patties containing digestive health aids will assist bees in breaking down their food more quickly, speeding consumption and increasing nutritional value for colonies in regions with limited spring buildup. However, beekeepers should use their judgement when supplementing with patties; any decision to do so should not be made lightly.
