How much pollen patties or substitute

[Kev]

Among you northern beekeepers who are still hoping for warm weather, who is supplementing with pollen or pollen substitute?

And how are you determining how much to give a hive?

kev

[Brian D. Bray]

I'm still hoping for some consitant weather in 50 degree or above range--right now its hovering in the mid 40's.  The bees are working, bringing back pollen and nectar.  Some of  the pollen loads on the bees are the largest I've seen in years.  My bees are also have not been taking the syrup from internal feeders so I went back to my communal feeder.   The brood nests are slowly enlarging and 1 hive has even begun to draw new comb. 

As long as the bees bring in pollen I don't feed patties, I'm only feeding syrup to get them started and once they've gone through what I've made up I will stop and let nature run its course. 

In nearly 50 years of beekeeping I've feed patties twice, 2 consectutive springs, and decided it was money down the drain as every hive was bringing sufficient pollen for their needs and ignored the patties both years.

[Kathyp]

i am.  we are getting one day in 5 that the bees fly.  snow tonight.  i put 1/2 a patty on each hive and replace as needed.  on hive is really eating them down.  two have been slower.   with the new hives i have not had a chance to check.  until it warms a bit and they are flying consistently, i'll feed them.  i also have syrup on all hives and they are taking it.

[Michael Bush]

I put real pollen, dry, in an empty box on a solid bottom board with a lid and open feed.

[Joseph Clemens]

I stopped feeding pollen supplement since the Winter rains we received this past season has inspired good bloom of many wildflowers that we only see when the weather cooperates, as it has this time. I am continuing to feed pollen patties, not supplement, to my cell builder colony. Plenty of build-up pollen and nectar -- the days are now in the 80's and it only drops to about 50F at night.

[Kev]

i am.  we are getting one day in 5 that the bees fly.  snow tonight.  i put 1/2 a patty on each hive and replace as needed.  on hive is really eating them down.  two have been slower.   with the new hives i have not had a chance to check.  until it warms a bit and they are flying consistently, i'll feed them.  i also have syrup on all hives and they are taking it.

Sounds like your weather is like mine. Snow tonight, here, too.

kev

[vabeeguy]

It's been a fairly warm winter here in Virginia. I put pancake size pollen patties on in the first week in February (1 in each hive) and was able to feed sugar water. As soon as the peaches and bradford pears started blooming here (mid march) the sugar water stopped, supers went on and I noticed almost all of the patties were gone, and I had boxes exploding with bees. I had to open up the hive entrances a bit to allow for the conjestion from loaded down bees, but I do still have the screened bottom boards sealed off.

[Moonshae]

I put on a patty at the first 50+ degree day in Feb, then check every two weeks or every 50 degree day after that, until I see they're bringing in pollen of their own. I'd be hesitant to supply pollen if there aren't abundant honey stores still in the hive, though. No point having a larger population going into the nectar flow if the bees can't support the population to get there.