pollen traps

[pdmattox]

Does any one use these and which one do you recommend?

[Michael Bush]

>Does any one use these and which one do you recommend?

If you're willing to go with a top entrance, I'd buy the Sundance II.  It's cheaper than the regular Sundance and the pollen will stay even cleaner.  If you're not willing to do a top entrance, then go with the Sundance.  I've met many people who bought other brands only to get rid of them and buy a Sundance.  I've never met anyone who got rid of the Sundance to buy something else.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beestopentrance.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#topentrance

[KONASDAD]

W/ top entrances, can you still use an inner cover and telescoping top? What about hive top feeders?

[Michael Bush]

With or without a pollen trap?  If you put shingle shims under the inner cover you will make a top entrance.  If you put the pollen trap on IT will make the top entrance.  If you put a top feeder on you put the shims under it to make the entrance.

[Brian D. Bray]

Is there a pollen trap available for 8 frame hives.  I don't recall seeing one in any of the usual places.  dadant, Mann Lake, Bushy Mtn, etc.

[Paraplegic Racehorse]

Is there a pollen trap available for 8 frame hives.

http://www.beeequipment.com/products.asp?pcode=509

[Michael Bush]

That's a new product.  I would be curious to see how well it works.  I've also been meaning to try an experiment that was inspired by someones homemade SBB.  They said the hardware cloth extended out front and the bees would land on the hardware cloth and loose their pollen.  That's an interesting idea.  If you could avoid forcing them through a grid of some kind it would seem easier on the bees.

[Paraplegic Racehorse]

It is an interesting idea. I do believe I will incorporate a simple mesh landing board into my hive designs. Forcing them through screening has got to be distressing to the bees. Should have two effects: (a) beekeeper collects enough real pollen for winter/spring feeding; (b) doesn't significantly reduce amount of pollen available for brood and winter storage at time of collection. Or am I wrong?

[KONASDAD]

SOOOO, you replace the wooden landing area w/ screen, place a container of some variety beneath the landing are and collect pollen.Got it. How do you keep it dry, and how do you close it off occassionally to avoid over harvesting?

[Kirk-o]

you know I've been thinking of getting a pollen trap
kirk-o

[Paraplegic Racehorse]

SOOOO, you replace the wooden landing area w/ screen, place a container of some variety beneath the landing are and collect pollen.Got it. How do you keep it dry, and how do you close it off occassionally to avoid over harvesting?

I suppose you would have to build some sort of roof to keep the rain out. Why bother closing it off? I don't believe you could over-harvest with a screened landing zone like with other pollen traps. The landing zone would not scrape off nearly so much as the entry-screens in current use. Probably only get carelessly packed balls or the ocassional ball scraped off by the occassionaly mis-step taken by the returning bee.