Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: mat on June 29, 2007, 04:57:12 PM

Title: storing pollen
Post by: mat on June 29, 2007, 04:57:12 PM
In my strongest hive the bottom deep is full of pollen. I was thinking about taking it away and giving back for winter or in the spring. But how can I store the frames with pollen.
Title: Re: storing pollen
Post by: Mici on June 29, 2007, 05:05:34 PM
same as empty or honey frames
Title: Re: storing pollen
Post by: Apis629 on June 29, 2007, 06:00:00 PM
If you want to store frames of pollen, your best route to take would probably be to freeze it.  Just toss it in your freezer, maybe in a bag or tupperware container.  The biggest threat to pollen storage is mostly mold, so just keep it cold, and it should keep just fine until you need it.
Title: Re: storing pollen
Post by: mat on June 29, 2007, 08:45:01 PM
Thank you for the responses. Yes, I think frozen should be good even to the next spring.
Title: Re: storing pollen
Post by: Michael Bush on June 29, 2007, 09:57:32 PM
Either leave it on the hive or leave it in the freezer.  They will need that pollen next spring.
Title: Re: storing pollen
Post by: Ivan on June 30, 2007, 01:17:51 AM
When it dries out, is it useless to the bees?
Title: Re: storing pollen
Post by: Apis629 on June 30, 2007, 03:39:00 AM
Drying the pollen won't necissarily make it "useless" but, it can cause a greater degradation of the nutritional quality of the pollen.  Put simply, freezing it just keeps it better and makes the bees more willing to use it come spring.