Pollen patties

Schoon · July 03, 2010, 10:08:18 PM

I was checking my bees today. This is a new hive so I have been feeding sugar water and pollen patties. When I checked today I seen small hive beetles running around and I seen larva in the pattie. How do you feed them without the shb getting into the pattie.

iddee · July 03, 2010, 10:13:51 PM

By feeding only a 7 day supply at a time.

Jim134 · July 03, 2010, 10:57:33 PM

You can feed dry pollen if small hive beetles are a concern.

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Bighead · July 03, 2010, 11:35:28 PM

I feed megabee mixed in the sugar water.

Paynesgrey · July 03, 2010, 11:52:43 PM

I'm gun-shy of using them at all right now. From painful new beekeeper experience, I would say if you are going to use patties, only use very small patties. Lost a split that was too weak - the beetles laid in the patty, and we had a mess in less than 5 days. Use only squashed meatball sized, not like those big patties you see the commercial beekeepers using on much stronger hives in books an videos to get them ready for almonds and such :-\ Only as much as they can use in 3 days, which is how long it took those little monster larvae to hatch on us. I'd say be sure to remove any leftovers too, in case they have been laid in, and add a fresh 2nd meatball the next time you inspect.

Jim 134, I am glad to learn that we could put out dry pollen without risking a repeat of that learning experience. Thanks.

specialkayme · July 04, 2010, 12:02:03 AM

Quote from: Paynesgrey on July 03, 2010, 11:52:43 PM

Jim 134, I am glad to learn that we could put out dry pollen without risking a repeat of that learning experience. Thanks.

I tried dry feeding once, the ladies just threw out the pollen like it was trash. Never tried it again. I guess that may have been a fluke though :roll:

qa33010 · July 04, 2010, 02:15:51 AM

The longest I have left a patty, if I use them, is about five days. They are a shb buffet. I now only dry feed in the open and then only enough of the protein supplement for about two to three days. When it gets warm enough I have to really keep an eye out. But I only use this stuff in the early spring/late winter if it is needed for early brood buildup. I also have moth traps around when it gets warm and these do get a lot of shb, but not enough, they will still cause a hive to abscond. Then I have a mess.