Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: tincan on May 02, 2013, 07:43:58 PM

Title: pollen patties
Post by: tincan on May 02, 2013, 07:43:58 PM
last year I put pollen patties in hives and they never touched them did I feed them wrong or did they not need them         thank mark
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: Highlander on May 02, 2013, 08:14:51 PM
I am too new to answer the question, but will be interested in the answer.  I put pollen patties in with my packages, no comb what so ever and syrup. I was expecting them to really dig into it, but they have taken some, but not much, Now we have a lot of flowering trees and plants and I am thinking its time to remove the patties.
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: Steel Tiger on May 02, 2013, 08:51:16 PM
 I put patties on this morning. A couple hours later I had to go back into the hive for something and quite a few bees were returning with pollen. I'll check in a couple days and if they're not messing with them, I'm pulling them off. Wish I put 1/2 a patty on each hive instead of a full one.
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: AllenF on May 02, 2013, 10:24:07 PM
Patties work in late winter and very early spring before there is much  blooming.  They like the real stuff better.  Also, patties are a buffet for SHB.   It does not take much for you to lose the hive.   
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: Michael Bush on May 03, 2013, 01:37:12 PM
>did they not need them 

They did not.
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: rdy-b on May 04, 2013, 12:57:52 AM
Quote from: tincan on May 02, 2013, 07:43:58 PM
last year I put pollen patties in hives and they never touched them did I feed them wrong or did they not need them         thank mark

what about the hives --are they well today- :) RDY-B
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: tincan on May 04, 2013, 08:49:20 AM
packages coming today things are just starting green up here 150 miles west had 17 inches of snow thursday nicer weather this coming week 60 s and 70 s
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: fshrgy99 on May 04, 2013, 12:19:29 PM
Quote from: tincan on May 04, 2013, 08:49:20 AM
packages coming today things are just starting green up here 150 miles west had 17 inches of snow thursday nicer weather this coming week 60 s and 70 s

Amazing transformation in the last 48 hours here. Flowers up and blooming, trees are leafing, neighbors are waxing their car :)
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: tincan on May 04, 2013, 02:30:22 PM
no flowers here yet in wisconsin  but popple trees are starting to leaf out
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: rdy-b on May 04, 2013, 05:50:51 PM
Quote from: tincan on May 04, 2013, 08:49:20 AM
packages coming today things are just starting green up here 150 miles west had 17 inches of snow thursday nicer weather this coming week 60 s and 70 s

yes but what about the hives you tried to suplement with patties--did the come through winter
or are the packages to replace lost hives- 8-) RDY-B
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: tincan on May 04, 2013, 05:58:03 PM
lost all hives last fall but dont know to what thinking maybe pesticides
Title: Re: pollen patties
Post by: rdy-b on May 05, 2013, 02:12:28 AM
pollen paties are a great tool for me when checking condition and quality of hives in
the fall -i give them all a patty and if the bees dont eat or are slow to take the patty
those are the ones i check-and they are the ones that are queenlees or have pms from varoa
it saves alot of time when there is many hives to check-its a great indicator -if they dont eat the sub they wont make it through winter--- :) RDY-B