harvest question

[drobbins]

what do you folks do with combs that have a lot of pollen in them when you harvest? I have quite a few where after I extract the honey there is still pretty much pollen. just leave it there over the winter? will the bees use it next spring?

Dave

[Ravenseye]

I just leave it there as well. I guess they use it...I've never really watched closely enough to know. I see "buttons" of pollen come out of the extractor from time to time so I guess that's where some of it ends up.

[Wax Moth]

Is there not some evidence that fresh pollen has a higher nutritional value than old pollen? I guess old pollen is better than no pollen though. How many seasons do you use brood frames for? I do wonder whether frames get congested with old pollen, as well as with the vestiges of brood diseases and perhaps should be discarded after a certain time. What do you think?

[Ravenseye]

I'm starting to rotate out next year. Three years in and then they go. I don't know if that's the right number but it seems reasonable. I plan on pulling three frames at a time and replacing with foundation.

[drobbins]

I think you guys are talking about brood combs
rotating them out is a great idea and a good opportunity to move towards small cell
I'm talking about honey supers
my goal (which I haven't attained) is to have combs in my supers that have never had brood in them or been exposed to chemicals (which I don't use)
but still I have comb with pollen in them
I guess if I just store them over winter with the pollen in them the bees will deal with it next spring, just looking for thoughts from folks with more experience

Dave

[Ravenseye]

Sorry....my first response post dealt with honey comb and not brood comb. I do leave pollen in and let the bees do with it as they feel best.