Pollen Feeding

[POPZ]

Having only one colony, and having built it up from last seasons nuc, I am looking to divide and increase my stock this coming season. Having hefted the hive, there appears to be plenty of food there still, and capping pieces falling through the OMF in good quantity.

So in order to stimulate brood production I made up some pollen substitute this afternoon with a view to having a peek under the crown board during the week and putting the pollen on the frames. Choosing this time because our worthy weather forecasters are talking about 'warmer' weather mid-week.

I realise this may entail having to feed later on to match the increased demand as brood hatches.

Any thoughts on pollen substitute feeding at this time, or indeed doing it at all???

[gavin]

Ah .. the perpetual fiddling of the beginner! But OK, pump them up early if you want increase - but watch out for getting them too far out of synchrony with your seasons. Pollen *substitute* with no pollen, right? Or irradiated-to-death pollen? Otherwise I could see where the first case of Nosema ceranae in the hebrides could turn up (not that I know pollen to be a vector for such disease, but it seems likely - along with foulbrood).

[rourkie]

Hi popz I would reluctant to stimulate this early, I would wait until atleast mid march preferably to begining of april to stimulate and i would use syrup .Spring is later this year and if you stimulate to early the brood nest may be to large for the bees to keep warm if we get another cold snap. you will have plenty of time to build your colony up and make splits. regards Rourkie

[POPZ]

Scrivens Gavin, you really do know how to scare of a beginner! - Nosema ceranae, out of sync with season, irradiated pollen?? It sounds like a really bad idea!

The pollen substitute does contain honey from my neighbour which means it should be free of any nasties, and that is where my nuc came from in the first instance. Otherwise only soya bean flour and brewers yeast. I do understand about getting out of sync, so does that mean waiting till the ladies are really flying by which time they will be getting fresh pollen and will have no need for a substitute? This could be a long wait and leading up to a slow season start?

What is the best way to optomise colony build up, and without any perpetual fiddling? Actually I have not lifted the roof since November, just talked to them on a daily basis. This, of course, may well have put the little darlings off

[gavin]

Sorry! Your fiddling has been less than mine ....

Non-pollen protein sources and trusted Mull honey - should be fine health-wise. Rourkie is right to urge caution on encouraging too early a build-up, but what you are wishing to do is to get them using their honey stores early to fill more frames with bees so that once the local forage sources do come in you already have a strong colony. March might be a time to try that. Eggs laid in early March will give bees that fly in mid to late April - will you have forage for them then? Mid March would mean flying bees at the end of April and early May, possibly better.

G.

[POPZ]

Hi popz I would reluctant to stimulate this early, I would wait until atleast mid march preferably to begining of april to stimulate and i would use syrup .Spring is later this year and if you stimulate to early the brood nest may be to large for the bees to keep warm if we get another cold snap. you will have plenty of time to build your colony up and make splits. regards Rourkie

Rourkie - sorry I missed out your reply somehow. I take your point, but i was under the impression that one of the main causes of death at this time was shortage of pollen stores. I guess I wanted to make sure they were getting enough protein etc, that they may need.

[QUOTE=Gavin] what you are wishing to do is to get them using their honey stores early to fill more frames with bees so that once the local forage sources do come in you already have a strong colony.[QUOTE]

Gavin, I am not sure what you mean by this? How do we get them to use up honey stores and what relationship has this with pollen? Is it not better to get the queen down into the brood box ( I am brood and a half) then add a super as soon as any flow starts? Am I missing something here and talking baloney?

[rourkie]

hi Popz In my experiance a shortage of pollen will not lead to the death of a colony, but a shortage of stores will(honey ,syrup).Bees will not take syrup if it is to cold better to feed candy.You wish to stimulate spring build up to enable you to increase colonies, Feed syrup as a stimulant when spring has sprung and they will build up quickly. You can still feed your protien it will not do any harm.feeding syrup as soon as is it safe stimulates the bees they think they have a flow on and go for it. You are using a brood and a half if possible switch to double brood its so much easir to make increase if your bees are all on deep frames, and generaly to manage colonies, Regards rourkie