Pollen substitute

[thomas]

Hello

I have some brood builder which is pollen sub. for my girls and was wondering when i fix it do i cover the whole thing up in wax paper. And can i also freeze it for the spring time so far my girls are doing well and it is cold here but i kno that maple will come into bloom in march would it hurt to give them some pollen sub. before them maybe the middle of febuary or the end so they can build up more and wwill grown bees eat pollen or just the brood.

Tom

[Edward G]

You can roll it out between two sheets of waxed paper. This is so it doesn't stick to everything and rolling is easier. (A lot easier)

As far as I know, there is no problem freezing it in patty form.

I think feeding pattys is Feb is a good idea. I'll probably feed mine toward the end of the month.

Worker bees eat pollen and make "brood food" out of it to feed to brood. Brood doesn't eat pollen directly.

Guys, correct me if I'm wrong here.

Ed G.

[Edward G]

Just realized I'm now in my fourth year!

Four years and still don't know anything.

[drobbins]

Edward

in more southern locals everyone is worried about pollen patties/substitute being like snickers bars for shb
I wonder if this is true if you feed them when the weather is still "cold"
I'd like to think the bees could nibble on em during the day but at night the cold would stop the shb from breeding
anybody have thoughts on this??

Dave

[thomas]

Mr. Drobbins i see you are not to far from me i live near Clarksville virginia. Any way i have not seen any signs of SHB in my hives and i have scraped the bottom boards and my hives are strong as far as i have seen during the warm weather what ever comes into the hive are killed instantly i did fix them some candy mixed with pollen substitute and they are having a field day eating it. I am going to make some patties tomarrow and store it away and near the end of this month i am going to give them all they want till the maples come into bloom.

Tom

[Edward G]

Drobbins,
Good point. I had not considered SHB and I don't know anything about it. I guess there are a few benefits to cold weather beeking.

Ed.