POLLEN SUBSITUTE

[BMAC]

What is a good recipe for making pollen substitute?

[rsilver000]

I have this recipe
    3 cups soy flower
    1 cup brewers yeast
    1 cup dry skim milk
    2 cups granulated sugar
    1 cup fructose
    1 cup corn syrup
    2 teaspoons vit C
mix dry goods together first, then add liquids and then hot water as needed to get a very thick paste.

[rsilver000]

sorry I meant
    3 cups soy flour!!

I wonder what a soy flower looks like?

[BMAC]

The soy flowers I have seen are very very small and purple.

[BMAC]

I have this recipe
    3 cups soy flower
    1 cup brewers yeast
    1 cup dry skim milk
    2 cups granulated sugar
    1 cup fructose
    1 cup corn syrup
    2 teaspoons vit C
mix dry goods together first, then add liquids and then hot water as needed to get a very thick paste.

Thanks.  I appreciate it.

[Michael Bush]

The best pollen to feed the bees is pollen.  If you want to make it into patties, then mix it with enough honey to make a paste and press it between two pieces of waxed paper.  If you can't get enough pollen mix the pollen 50/50 with some expellor prcessed soy flour.

[Finsky]

To feed pollen subsitute before winter is not wise. Bees will not winter well.  If pollen content of patty drops under 20% bees do not like it.

I raised colonies with pollen patty and terrarium heater in  autumn and nucs raised very fast. But the losses in winter were enormous. Nosema harvested 50% of them.

[Michael Bush]

I agree on the when.  I'd wait until spring to feed the pollen.  It will do the most good in about February or March, but you could put it on earlier.  By the middle of April, here, they have a good supply of pollen coming in.  Even by March they may have some Maple pollen coming in (here).

[Mici]

what about feeding them this fake pollen when you're stelling their real pollen, wouldn't it be wise?

[BMAC]

Michael, Finsky;  

I appreciate the responses.  My huge concern right now is I have multiple hives with only 2-3 frames of brood.  I am worried if I don't increase the the brood, then they will not winter well.  Here in Missouri I am hoping I still have 8 weeks prior to real cold weather setting in so that should be enough time for 2 more good brood cycles if I can encourage my queen to lay eggs.  

I only have around 3 pounds of pollen so I was thinking that would be enough to give a 80/20 mix and feed the colonies that really need it right now.  I also went through all my spare stuff in the garage last night and pulled out 5 frames with pollen in it.  I have several more boxes to go thru to check for frames of pollen but for right now I just want to get the population of young bees up so they will make it thru till Feb.