Feeding pollen yet?

beehappy1950 · February 29, 2012, 12:36:43 PM

Was wondering if or when everybody felt it necessary to start putting on the pollen patties or dry feeding. I ordered my pollen patties today. Thanks Harold

Vance G · February 29, 2012, 12:53:00 PM

I have WANTED to feed pollen sub for a long time. THis open winter and bees flying is keeping me itchy about it. But that said, I am keeping my lids shut til the middle of the month. I think it is just too early for me. Still a long time to reliable pollen and I want them to be within a brood cycle of that before I suppliment. It IS supposed to be a suppliment right? Hard decision.

beehappy1950 · February 29, 2012, 03:04:47 PM

Vance G do you run double deeps or triples out there? I am going on a 8 day vacation and was trying to figure out if I should put on the patties before or after/ Hmmmmmmm

Vance G · March 01, 2012, 01:30:22 AM

I run doubles. Do you do the U of M triple thing? I am tempted to try it . But I am also tempted to try singles. What does it say about me if I try both? That pollen question is relly on my mind too. Yer call sport! I am twitching.

Finski · March 01, 2012, 02:05:05 AM

Quote from: beehappy1950 on February 29, 2012, 12:36:43 PM
Was wondering if or when everybody felt it necessary to start putting on the pollen patties or dry feeding. I ordered my pollen patties today. Thanks Harold

What I see from Waubun Minesota forecast, you have every day snowfall and frost.
If you give patty in this momeent bees get very thirsty and sick.

I start patty feeding 3 weeks before willows start blooming. So new bees get fresh pollen when they emerge.

.

Michael Bush · March 01, 2012, 02:33:17 AM

>Was wondering if or when everybody felt it necessary to start putting on the pollen patties or dry feeding. I ordered my pollen patties today.

I usually don't feed any in the spring and often don't feed any in the fall and never feed any other time. Pollen is usually available when they should be seriously brooding up.

beehappy1950 · March 01, 2012, 10:09:40 AM

Yes, Vance G , I lost all my bees 2 years ago so I had lots of deeps full of honey and sugar syrup. So last year and this year I set a full deep up on top of full doubles in the fall. Seems to work good. I just leave the inner cover with the notch down and I leave the entrance reducers on with the smallest hole. If the get snowed in it is best, I think. I dont do any insulation or anything. Just leave them alone. Yes I went to the U of M school when I first started bees. I didnt like the Idea of 3 deeps at first. But I am convinced now that they want 85 dollars for packages now.

Vance G · March 01, 2012, 12:34:03 PM

A six foot deep snowbank behind a row of caragana is the best winter insulation ever! I use the hive wrap B&B Honey out of Houston MN sell. Has it's shortcomings but the price is not terrible and I think it helps cut the wind which is my biggest concern out here. It blows semi trailers over on the highway and literally blows empty freight trains off the track. Anyone who thinks I am kidding just doesn't know. Do you follow the split and production hive plan U of M promotes?

beehappy1950 · March 01, 2012, 11:03:14 PM

I havent been informed on that yet. Where can I get any info on it?

Vance G · March 03, 2012, 12:31:26 PM

Go to their web site. You may have to buy it. I think it is titled Overwintering Bees in Northern Climates----but I could be totally wrong. My copy is buried in my mountain of books. I need to get my bee literature all together.

CBEE · March 07, 2012, 03:36:55 PM

I don't bother. There are only a couple months that its not available here in Northern Ky. Any time temps get up where they can get out I can watch them bring it in. Yesterday I think every other bee was dragging it in. Don't ask me where it comes from but they pull it in just the same.