Top Entrance Pollen Trap

[Sundance]

Are there any pollen traps designed for top entrance?

Hives on 4 way pallets and migratory covers.

Thanks as always.........

[drobbins]

Sundance

http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=762

I think I can build one for way less than $50

Dave

edit: BTW, they now have 5 5/8" 4.9mm wired foundation in the catalog

[ March 24, 2006, 06:56 AM: Message edited by: drobbins ]

[power napper]

Sundance--Lloyd of Ross Rounds makes a top pollen trap named after you--Sundance II. I would like buy one just to see how it works. Dadant sells them.

[Sundance]

Looks interesting.

I suppose buying one and copying it would make me an "Evil Do'er" :rolleyes: :headbang:

[drobbins]

sshhhh!! smile.gif

[MichaelW]

I just bought 8 of the Sundance II pollen traps. can't tell you how they work till this summer.

Dave, you can build one for way less than $50 but I suggest you buy one to look at. They are quite elegant in design. It took me some time just to figure out how the bees get through it, and I think it would be very hard to design one without having one sitting in front of you. Just don't sell knock offs. Lyod of Ross Rounds says they are alot easier to build than the bottom mount traps, thats why they are cheaper.

Also, they're $48 at Kelly if your pinching pennies.

I haven't had time this year to build one super much less a pollen trap. I did build 2 top bar hives though.

[drobbins]

MichaelW

indeed, selling knockoffs would make one an "evil doer"
and buying one is an excellent idea
I've been building all kinds of beekeeping dodads all winter and having a grand time at it

Dave

[Sundance]

Honestly, I wouldn't even build a copy. I respect anyone that has gone through the effort to design and market this.

Never done pollen trapping before. But I think I'll order 2 or 3 to try.

[MichaelW]

Bruce, are you going to feed hives pollen in winter to get them ready for pollination in California?

If so, I would collect allot. I'm going to collect and market for health food stores, but I think the most likely outcome, for this year anyway, is that I will be stuck with a freezer full of pollen and be looking to sell it all to a couple north or northwest beekeepers for their spring buildup.

[Michael Bush]

Sundance II. I have one, but I haven't used it yet.

[bleakley]

I noticed in the last issue of BC that RossRounds sells Sundance pollen traps. Although the ad said to check out the RR web site, no links on the site were found for the pollen traps. :(

I'd like to build, rather than purchase, a hive top pollen trap . . . just to evaluate that method of collection. So, if anyone can put me onto plans for one I'd appreciate it! :D

[ March 24, 2006, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: bleakley ]

[drobbins]

beesource has plans for building lot's of stuff

http://www.beesource.com/plans/pollentrap.htm

Dave

[bleakley]

Thanks, drobbins

It seems that I had already added those plans to my "favorites" list . . . duh . . . hope my old age isn't showing too clearly! redface.gif

[Sundance]

MichaelW......... Define "alot". On a per hive basis. What should I anticipate?

[Sundance]

If you have a yard with 30 colonies and 6 traps....

How often (generally) do you empty and rotate to another colony?

I assume you rotate to avoid taking needed pollen from each colony.

[Dan Williamson]

My understanding is you don't need to rotate the traps. I empty my pollen trap(s) daily. You really need to do that. It will get damp and moldy in a hurry if you don't.

Last year I just had one trap. I left it on one colony for 3 weeks and got 5 lbs of pollen from it. I took it off and never put it on another colony as I had as much as I needed at the time. That same colony ended up with as much pollen as the other colonies.

My traps I've bought more are all Sundance traps. I have 3 Sundance I and 1 Sundance II.

I haven't tried the Sundance II yet. It should work well with your top entrance config. The other advantage is they are cheaper.