In the clear?

[stanisr]

Firsts 60 plus temps here in eastern Oklahoma today, so I walk through my yard to find one of my hives starved out within the last two weeks. The weather is supposed to remain above 60 for the next week. My other hives are very active bringing in a lot of pollen. My question is because they are bringing in pollen, are they in the clear as far as starvation is concerned? I understand that pollen is their primary protein source, so they should be able to store and then consume the pollen as they need it when we go below 50 degrees and they cluster again. Or do they need to store honey as well as pollen to survive.

[iddee]

First, honey is their main food. Pollen is mostly for larva.

Second, Pollen coming in means they are adding mouths to feed every day. From now until bloom is when 90% of starvation happens. Get into them and check. If you have to feed, do it constantly until bloom. They can starve in 2 to 3 days if you quit feeding.

[Vance G]

I agree with idee.  I would only elaborate that you should feed until the bees have a frame or two of capped honey.  Then you can stop.  If they use that up and don't have two frames of capped honey, start feeding again until they do.  Bees starve in the spring more easily than the winter.

[Joe D]

I would have to agree also, and it would be really bad to get them this far and they starve now.  Good luck




Joe

[Michael Bush]

As Idee pointed out, pollen is for brood and brood eat a lot of pollen AND honey, so what it means is you have MORE mouths to feed, not less.  Adult bees can't live on pollen.  They live on honey.