Winter patties provide an efficient way to supplement honey bee colonies’ diet during the coldest times of year, especially for weaker colonies or those lacking stored pollen reserves. They’re especially useful in aiding weaker colonies with limited pollen storage capabilities.
Pro Winter patties combine carbohydrates with small amounts of protein so as to not encourage an early brood rearing cycle. Once spring arrives, switch to pollen substitute pattie to increase brood production.
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Pollen Patties
Pollen patties are an effective solution to help honey bee colonies weather the cold winter weather, lasting several weeks depending on supplemental feeding requirements. They can be purchased from beekeeping supply stores or made at home; beekeeper KAMON REYNOLDS shows an easy method in this 1:30-minute video using an artificial pollen substitute known as AP23 that closely resembles natural pollen’s nutritional composition.
Beekeepers can utilize commercial products known as “Pro Winter Patties.” These sugar-based patties offer honey bees carbohydrates while only providing minimal levels of protein, to discourage early brood rearing in winter months.
Once the lid has been replaced, place the patty over a cluster in the outer cover of the hive and make sure the bees have consumed it. Monitor periodically to make sure all are eating it up!
Grease Patties
Grease patties provide your bees with sugary nourishment during winter and also offer protection from mites. Once placed in your hive, these grease patties create a slippery surface on bees that discourage tracheal mites from attaching themselves; in addition, their ingredients include essential oils such as wintergreen, spearmint and thyme that repel or kill varroa and tracheal mites.
Patty mix, offered by various companies, provides a quick and cost-effective solution to providing your colony with food when its supplies run low in fall or early winter. It contains sugar as well as an artificial pollen substitute called AP23 which closely replicates natural honey pollen’s nutritional composition while simultaneously supporting colony health with probiotics – perfect when coupled with fondant for providing them with more variety as seasons advance.
Fondant Patties
Many commercial beekeepers make their own fondant patties, but pre-made versions such as Mann Lake’s “Pro Winter” fondant patties are also readily available for use.
Bee fondant patties are sweet-based meals containing pollen substitute as protein source to provide bees with essential protein that they require in order to begin rearing brood. Bees receive them during fall and severe winter periods when resources may run low within their hive.
To create a fondant patty, combine equal parts of sugar and hot water in a pan and bring to a boil. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, slowly incorporate oil, then slowly mix in pollen substitute until everything has been mixed together. If desired, a bit of vinegar can also be added to help turn sucrose into glucose and fructose that bees will consume. Form the mix into hockey puck-sized patties before wrapping each one in wax paper to prevent sticking together during cold weather storage or use. Place them in your top brood box of your hive for ready use during cold weather storage conditions!
Sugar Patties
Winter patties are pre-formulated feed mixes designed for quick supplement feedings in late autumn or early winter. Made up of sugar and water with just a trace amount of pollen, winter patties provide quick supplemental feeding solutions.
Bees won’t need to leave their winter cluster and 7-ounce patties should last 14 days in your hive if regularly checked throughout winter – just remember to replace when needed!
The syrup contained within a patty is designed to absorb moisture from the hive and maintain bee body temperatures during cold conditions. Furthermore, this treat also assists mite control as its essential oil mixture serves as an effective natural repellent against mites. Lastly, vegetable oils help retain bee fat stores – something essential in maintaining their body temperatures.
