Chicken Feed

[Lone]

Hello,

There have been quite a few bees in the chicken mash, which we feed dry.  They are putting it into their pollen sacks.  I checked and it doesn't contain molasses (there are no bees on the mixed grain which is coated in molasses).  The book I am reading has a short reference to bees picking up flour if it is sprinkled around the hive, and the author speculates that it has the same texture as pollen so they mistake it for pollen, or use it as a substitute if they can't get enough pollen.  Will this food harm the young?  I haven't checked in the hive to see how much flour is being stored.

Maybe the bees just can't spell "flower". :rainbowflower:

Lone

[contactme_11]

Bees will collect all kinds of stuff when there is little or no flow. When my wood shop is open they even come in and collect the fine sawdust, and I doubt they could even eat that. That said I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure they won't collect enough mash to even make a difference in the hive.