Last summer when I got my extractor (the little wonder one) I also received a bag of BeePro from Mann Lake. The friend no longer keeps bees and didn't need it. I need to know the shelf life of this product, it is frozen right now, does it have to be kept in the freezer. I tried to look on Mann Lake's site to see if there was any information, found nothing. I would like to mix some in with my pollen patties that are all sugar and pollen when I make them. I understand it is a pretty good product....comments please. Have that great, most wonderful day. Cindi
I freeze my left overs and no problem. I use beepro in a bucket turnede on its side for the bees to dust themselves in very early spring as a small boost. I put some out last week when they flew, so they didnt fly in vain.
My understanding is that if you keep it in the dry form and keep it dry, it is pretty stable for quite awhile.
Cindy (and others),
Is a supplemental product like BeePro really beneficial? I hope I don't upset John with this question but I have talked to local beeks and the responses seem to run from "really a great benefit" to "I don't use any supplemental stuff because you don't need it."
I know there are several products and several forms of these products on the market. If you use one of these products, which does the best job if you only have a couple of hives?
Thanks!
They definitely use it. How much benefit is arguable. I like these products for spring particularly when it can rain a lot, preventing bees from foraging early, delaying brood production leaving not enough bees for honey production. Also, take into account where you live. Some places its not needed, other it may be needed.
KONASDAD:
Sure love your tag line..............
"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".
Cindi, I used the same container of bee pro for two seasons. The guys at Mann Lake told me to just put it in the freezer and it should be good for a really long time. All this talk about feeding makes me hungry..... :-)
Sean Kelly
OR....you could ship me what ever amount you don't think you will need. Got some Gals that will be glad to insure it doesn't spoil!! :bee: :bee: :bee:
Thanks for the answers. I talked to a bee pal and he began to feed pollen patties at the beginning of this month. He needs to build up his colonies for the pollination contracts for the blueberries. He said that he would like the entire bag.
So much discussion on whether to feed pollen patties or not. Personally, I would much more prefer that my bees are well fed by giving them pollen patties with POLLEN and brewer's yeast or other beneficial products within.
I live in an area where the small hive beetle is not present so there are no worries about pollen patties attracting this pest. I know that it is a real issue with that pest with so many in the lower states. Have a wonderful and most awesome day, health. Cindi
This brings up a question. Which would be the better patty? Global Patties from Betterbee or Beepro Patties from Mann Lake. Global has more pollen but I can't find any info on what else is in it.
Thanks,
bobb
The ingredients that cause spoilage are fat and moisture - neither of which are high in bagged beepro products.
So, as long as you keep the product dry, it will store fine (probably for a few years) like any animal feed.
As for the questions if it is needed? Well that depends on each persons individual situation. Bees can put up enough of natural pollen if the conditions were right during the flow. However, sometimes the conditions are less then ideal, or there are more than natural stresses that beekeepers impart upon their bees. In such cases, its not just an insurance policy to increase their protein/pollen stores, but a duty of proper management to provide for their best health.
Debates had raged long before most of became beekeepers and longer after we cease to beekeep, about natural pollen, suppliments, and replacements. Ask any group of beekeepers what is best and you are likely to get about 5 or 6 answers of commerical diets, and another half dozen homemade reciepes (some people hold it in more secret than 11 herbs and spices of KFC).
I will say that my experience is that nutrional needs vary from hive to hive and from year to year depending on the weather and blooms of the previous year. Some hives will refuse moist products, others avoid dry. Some folks swear adding sugar increases the uptake, others say they are just stripping the sugar and wasting the suppliments. I have used commerical diets and attempted my own. Each has had its own success and failure, but nothing on a scale in which I can say with any certainty.
My advice would be to be prepared to offer any suppliment in several forms and possibly with different amounts of sugars/syrups. I would consider a couple different brands, as each has its own flavor. I like what I see in the MegaBee product. I like that it appears from publications to be a highly researched and tried product. It does lack in fats, but that can easily be compensated in patty form by adding 1/2 cup of canola oil per # of mix. It can not be compensated for when fed in wet syrup forms. Realize that fat begins the spoilage clock.
I would try to avoid most soy based products. There are chemicals that decrease the life expectancy of bees found in soy and the chemicals used to produce some soy products. I have used a good soy product before without noticing immediate issues, but it doesn't mean longer term issues weren't possible and unseen.
Caution should also be used as to when to feed suppliments. Fed too soon and hormonal balances that increase the longevity of winter bees begins to decrease and can cause a premature crash. Too late too few brood cycles will be had to be of benefit and natural pollen will become the preference, leaving your patties worthless. Ideally in the spring, one should try to aim for 2 to 3 brood cycles before the major flow.