pollen patties

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It just seems a shame that the appropriate products are not available in the UK, without having to bring them in from Spain.

Pollen may be a little exotic, but surely the soya shouldn't be so difficult.
 
Cleaning pollen is technically challenging. So is weather...

PH
 
re issue mentioned early in thread re GM soya - i presume concern was regarding glyphosate residues. especially given the saturation of market with gm soya.

since max legal residue level is 20 ug/kg we are therefore talking in the order of 2-5 ug/g of patty depending upon recipe.

LD50 for bees is widely reported as >100ug/bee.

i would imagine that it is highly unlikely for individual bees to eat 20-50g of patty each.

unless anyone else has any other specific data.
 
I don't know what all the fuss is about feeding bees they should have been looked after before the onset of winter. I ensure my bees have plenty of stores before the strart of bad weather. Then feed sugar/thymol at beginning of spring build up.

Dam you all make bee keeping so bloody complicated......


Busy Bee
 
Well you have a clear grasp of the issues Busy.

Why do I want to feed pollen is what you might think about asking.

OH!!!!!!!! I am so glad you asked that question.

Stress dear beekeeper is my answer.

Pollen I hear you say, it's there is loads, sitting on the hazel and willow...

So it is I reply peering through the rain. Shame it is getting all washed off.

So to be serious why do I want to supply my bees with what they are more than capable of geting themselves.

Because they canna.

They canna because of our wonderful climate.

I call it insurance. Some years possibly a complete waste of time and others a total essential.

If it pours then I know they have pollen in the hive to boost the brood. If it shines then it may help but for sure winna hinder.

Oh yes and my wee drop of syrup, dilute 1:1 syrup gives them a morale boost of some income and also some water to help dilute honey and to assist in creating brood food.

That is why. Nothing to do with stores as such. A lot to do with making their lives that wee bit easier.

PH
 
:iagree:
But talking to yourself will surely have others talking about you PH. Best done after a wee dram or two.

I'll be giving my bees their patties in a couple of weeks time. Pollen substitute I'm afraid.
 
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Bit of advise would be appreciated. I'm planning to give them some pollen in a month or so to help with the spring push, but I'm also planning to do a shook swarm, probably late march weather permitting. Not much point giving the the pollen beforehand is there? or is there?
 
i suppose if you feed up so they increment before the SS you won't be wasting pollen on brood that will be discarded (unless you are going to be putting the old frames back on top of a QE in which case in doesn't matter AFAIK).
 
spanish pollen

not easy to reliably produce in damp UK conditions (and not big enough beek industry in UK).

PLUS

spanish labour is cheaper - it is very labour intensive picking pollen off one bee at a time as they approach the hive entrance (as hedgerow pete will probably demonstrate in his next video - how long will it take to pick pollen & place individually on smoke alarm whilst doing next bee?).
 
Monsieur Abeille said:
Bit of advise would be appreciated. I'm planning to give them some pollen in a month or so to help with the spring push, but I'm also planning to do a shook swarm, probably late march weather permitting. Not much point giving the the pollen beforehand is there? or is there?
Click to expand...

There's some interesting stuff about nutrition at scientificbeekeeping . com
If you consider the total protein level of the colony, most is apparently stored as "vitallenegin" in the adult bees so pollen suplements fed before a shook swarm could help stock up the reserves of the bees making it easier to get going again.

Its an interesting question and could make the basis of an interesting experiment.
 
Shook swarms aren't always done to dispense with the brood.

Sometimes to get the extra post swarm push that the bees are happy to make. The bees do well, the brood is dispersed elsewhere into other colonies and any winter stores of thymol can be taken away and used for other colonies or the making of nucs.

Nothing wasted and old comb can be removed as a part of the process.
 
I have looked at the Swienty website as suggested by Finman and they are sold out of Neopoll. I also tried ****************.co.uk and they are sold out. Can you suggest another supplier of Neopoll.

Thanks
Tim
 
mbc said:
There's some interesting stuff about nutrition at scientificbeekeeping . com
If you consider the total protein level of the colony, most is apparently stored as "vitallenegin" in the adult bees so pollen suplements fed before a shook swarm could help stock up the reserves of the bees making it easier to get going again.

Its an interesting question and could make the basis of an interesting experiment.
Click to expand...

Thanks mbc, sounds like it maybe worth giving them some before and after then
 
mbc said:
There's some interesting stuff about nutrition at scientificbeekeeping . com
If you consider the total protein level of the colony, most is apparently stored as "vitallenegin" in the adult bees so pollen suplements fed before a shook swarm could help stock up the reserves of the bees making it easier to get going again.
Click to expand...

This is a good read, mbc, thanks for the link.
 
.
scientificbeekeeping guy is not a scientist. As far as I know he has done not a one nutrition reseach on pollen patty. I have read his writings and they are not good.
 
Finman said:
.
I got once feed bee patty flour. Bees did not like it, but however they ate it with 50% speed.

http://www.ecroyd.com/Products/Service/Detail/Product/289/A___Beekeeping_Equipment/Feed_Bee.html

100% natural vegetable ingredients, contains no pollen, hive products, animal products, soy products or chemicals.
This product has been proven 1st ever scientifically formulated pollen substitute created to satisfy a honeybee`s nutritional needs.
FeedBee helps increase colony strength and health when natural food is scarce.
Click to expand...

Same stuff that Maisemore sells, anyone have any experience, i might use this on half my hives with the other half having Neopoll, but due to forgetting to order some sooner i think i will have to try something different.

C B
 
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