Use of Spring Pollen Patty

[jalentour]

For those of you who use pollen patties, do you have timing or an event for spring use?
I want to use it to build the population for early splits/nucs.
In my area, metro Cincinnati, the middle of May is considered the last day of frost.
I usually see drones mid to late march.

[cao]

I don't use patties but I have dry pollen substitute out for them when they have flying weather.  They are hitting it hard when it is warm.

[Michael Bush]

I never feed pollen in the spring.  The outcomes are never good.  I fool them into raising brood too soon.  Then either they explode and swarm too early or they get caught in a cold snap and die because they won't move off of the brood.  I only feed pollen in a failed fall flow.

[Oldbeavo]

It has to be a terrible spring if you are thinking of any pollen substitute.
Bees will not use a substitute if there is any pollen available, no matter what quality it is.

[Hops Brewster]

"The last day of frost" doesn't really mean anything.  You will have blooms and pollen long before then.  Also, the tree blossoms can be much more significant than ground blooms in early spring.  It's likely that several tree species bloom before you get dandelions.

[Michael Bush]

Here, the first pollen is Red Maples followed by pussywillows then maybe henbit and after that maybe dandelions.  But the fruit trees sometimes bloom between there somewhere depending on how fast it warms up.

[jalentour]

Thanks Hops.  I was providing reference points for pollen patty in the spring.  Since many of us live in different areas, a calendar date may not be of much use. 
Maple is starting to pop here, other trees as well.  No dandelions. 
I'm just trying to get a jump on production for splits. 

[trace.3820]

For those of you who use pollen patties, do you have timing or an event for spring use?
I want to use it to build the population for early splits/nucs.
In my area, metro Cincinnati, the middle of May is considered the last day of frost.
I usually see drones mid to late march.

I?m a newbie so my opinion is meaningless but wanted to say welcome to another Cincinnati beek. East Walnut Hills here.


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