WHAT'S THE BEST POLLEN TRAP ON THE MARKET

[honeytaker]

FOR EASE OF USE AND DURABLITY

[riverrat]

i lke the sundance bottom trap

[D Coates]

Ditto Riverrat.  The only issue I have is when I no longer want to use it I have to lift the hive off of it (them)

[BMAC]

I have only used the one made my Dadant.  Works well, but when it time to remove it its a pain cause its on the bottom.

[jdpro5010]

Sundance bottom trap

[Jack]

I need a good design for pollen collection through the top entry. Any help?

[Beaver Dam]

Website?

[Michael Bush]

I have all top entrances, so it's a no brainer for me, but the Sundance II keeps the pollen even cleaner (and the Sunddance is very clean), is cheaper and has the entrance where it belongs ;)

[bee-nuts]

WOW!!  They are spendy.  Is there a cheaper way that works well?

bee-nuts

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/PollenTrap1.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/PollenTrap2.jpg

Here are a couple of pictures of a homemade one.  The concepts are simple enough.

1)  You need to force the bees through #5 hardware cloth so they will lose half their pollen.

2)  You need, directly below where they will lose their pollen, #7 hardware cloth to allow the pollen to fall through, but keep the bees out.

3)  You need the bottom of that pollen drawer to be made of screen door screen so the pollen won't fall through, but air can get in to keep the pollen from molding.

4)  You need some way for the drones to get out.  This can be as simple as a 3/8" hole, which can also let a few of them or a newly mated queen back in without making too much of a bypass.

5)  You need some kind of bypass to insure that some pollen gets in or you can turn off the trap.  If the trap is on top, it's easy enough to remove it.  If you have the 3/8" hole, that seems sufficient.  Otherwise you need some kind of flap that opens up to let in the workers without stealing their pollen.

[rdy-b]

     More plans  :)  RDY-B
 
  http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/pollen-traps-trapping-pollen-from-honey-bee-colonies/

[melliphile]

Here's one I thought of getting, but have not yet. Anyone ever tried it?

http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=543

[bee-nuts]

http://www.bushfarms.com/images/PollenTrap1.jpg
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/PollenTrap2.jpg

Here are a couple of pictures of a homemade one.  The concepts are simple enough.

1)  You need to force the bees through #5 hardware cloth so they will lose half their pollen.

2)  You need, directly below where they will lose their pollen, #7 hardware cloth to allow the pollen to fall through, but keep the bees out.

3)  You need the bottom of that pollen drawer to be made of screen door screen so the pollen won't fall through, but air can get in to keep the pollen from molding.

4)  You need some way for the drones to get out.  This can be as simple as a 3/8" hole, which can also let a few of them or a newly mated queen back in without making too much of a bypass.

5)  You need some kind of bypass to insure that some pollen gets in or you can turn off the trap.  If the trap is on top, it's easy enough to remove it.  If you have the 3/8" hole, that seems sufficient.  Otherwise you need some kind of flap that opens up to let in the workers without stealing their pollen.

Thanks

I think I will attempt to make one that I can use in place of the top cover when harvesting pollen.