This past season I have had to unite several of my colonies, the downside. This was not because of disease, clean hives, but the devastation from the varroa mite. So the upside I see it is: I have many frames of pollen that are pretty much full, both sides, frames with pollen in the centre and capped honey along the upperside. These were frozen. I put two frames to a package and used Glad's Press and Seal to seal these frames tightly. It is a very convenient product, rather expensive, but I love to use it for many things.
I have an idea and wonder if others think it pretty good too. Robo has a device called a sugar board that he makes for his colonies, as an emergency feed, in the event of course that the bees do not have enough stored food for the wintertime.
What I was thinking was: making the sugar board, but instead of having the entire board sugar candy, only doing half the board with sugar, a division board separation and on the other part of the sugar board placing a frame of pollen laying down so the bees can have access to the pollen as well when they need it.
In the spring time here, about the middle of February, when the colonies are starting to rear brood big time, pollen patties are generally placed above the brood nest. I wonder if these pollen frames would be a superior product to use. If that is the case, I am in luck. I don't think I will have to bother making pollen patties. They are fun to make, but I would imagine that "real" 100% pollen gathered by the bees would be the choice for the girls. Input? Great day. Cindi