Pollen Substitute vs Patties

josbees · August 12, 2008, 06:43:53 PM

For Autumn Feeding. Any preferences?

bassman1977 · August 12, 2008, 07:02:35 PM

Honey. If I must (and I must with 3 of my hives) then syrup.

Moonshae · August 12, 2008, 09:26:22 PM

Personally, I don't think substitute measures up. It's like calling nutrasweet sugar. IMHO, for a small time beek, get real pollen patties with the most pollen you can find. Bees need the nutrients in real pollen that are lacking in substitute.

That said, I'd only feed pollen patties if their pollen stores are deficient.

HAB · August 13, 2008, 02:05:19 PM

Who is a reliable supplier of US or Canadian (definitely not Asian) Pollen? :)

Giddy-up · August 13, 2008, 05:54:48 PM

MegaBee product performed better than pollen in trials that were run in California by four USDA labs. One can make their own patties or Dadant has patties made with MegaBee. Earlier this year a ban was placed on pollen imports from Canada. I think that there is a ban on imported pollen for anything other than human consumption, period.

HAB · August 13, 2008, 06:15:41 PM

Does that mean that there are no US suppliers of Bee Pollen?

Michael Bush · August 13, 2008, 08:21:08 PM

I've bought it from Brushy Mt. in the past.