patties and observation hives

[danno]

this winter I build a OH from plans found on another site.  Its 2 deeps and a med in size.  turned out great all solid red oak.  I still need to extend the enterance with gates so it can be worked.   After I finished it I was thinking that there is really no way of feeding patties if I need to next spring.  I kicked around the idea of a small chamber in the enterance pipe with access but wonder if this would work.  If they would even find it when its needed.   Any ideas would be appreciated

[Kathyp]

i wondered about that when i got mine.  after a couple of years i realized that feeding patties in my area is a waste.  i could see that they are able to pack in plenty of natural pollen early.

that's not really an answer to your question, but just my observation before you feel you have to go making a place for pollen patties  :-D

[specialkayme]

I have been toying with the same idea for about a year and a half now. Unfortunately I haven't really found the answer.

I have four 1.5" screened ventilation holes in the top of mine, and I tried grinding up some fresh pollen and sifting it through the holes, then blowing on it to scatter it around the inside of the hive. I'm sure some of the pollen was used, but most of it was just kicked out the front door (or layed on the bottom of the OH).

So now I just take it outside (usually at dusk), crack it open, put pollen patties in there, wait an hour or so, then seal it back up and move it inside. But make sure you leave it in the shade. If you leave it in the sun (or even where the sun can move to your OH) it will be all bad news. Learned that one myself when i came back to find a pile of melted wax with dead bees inside my "Observation Wax Melter." Live and learn though.

[danno]

thanks all!    My placement will be on my desk, in my office through a window under a 2nd story deck.  No direct sun.   I also have 3 - 1" vent holes in the top that I could sprinkle dry material through if needed.  I was also wondering about doing any treatments to this hive.  I was told by a fellow member on this site that also lives in Michigan that his 3 yr old OH gets SHB.  Although I have seen them in my swarm traps,they are never a problem for  me.  My bee's are also not mite resistant

[specialkayme]

I was more referring to the sun when placing it outside to open it up, but sun placement inside is good to know about too.

I get SHB in my OH, but I don't treat for them. The strength of the hive will keep them out. If the population dwindles, the SHB comes back, but your main concern is with the small population and not the SHB.

I also don't have mites, but I use MH or similar genetics (when available).

[Grandpa Jim]

My OH is two deep frames and I got it from Betterbee. It has screened ventilation holes on both sides.  I found them needing pollen this winter and so I mushed pollen thou one of the screens on the side that the bees could get to.  They take away about a tablespoon of the pollen a day.   The pollen is like a wet paste, it actually came from Viet Nam so I cannot tell what is in it (it tastes terrible!!, but the bees love it)  If I put dry pollen through the screen the bees seem to discard it to the bottom of the hive, but the paste is moved to cells without any waste. 
Jim