While explaining that he has never collected pollen, Mike also said "From
what I can gather from what I have read, the procedure is to trap pollen for
a day or two and then let the bees bypass the trap for a couple of days.
 You keep alternating the trapping days and the free pass days so that the
colony is not seriously deprived from the in gathering of pollen."

Please, PLEASE, do not do this!  Listen to what Peter, Brian, Dave and I
have said.  Pollen collection does not deprive bees of pollen!  Turning the
trap 'on' and 'off' every few day WILL HARM YOUR BEES!  Whomever gives out
that advice has never collected pollen!

When you start collecting pollen you will note lots of confusion.  The bees
formerly had an unimpeded path to the brood, and suddenly there is a maze in
their path.  It takes 3-10 days for the bees to settle down and, of course,
as new foragers go forth their only experience is with the maze so they
proceed with aplomb.  But, if you have the trap 'on' for 3 days and then
'off' for 3 days, etc.  the bees are in a constant stage of confusion.
Collection of nectar and pollen plummet.  The hive gets demoralized.

One beekeeper who tried this told me his foragers all absconded to an
adjacent hive with a pollen trap.  (I am dubious, but that is what he
reported.)

Remember, all it takes to be an 'expert' at beekeeping it to hold forth as
such.  Listen carefully, and take the path that makes the most sense.

Lloyd


-- 
Lloyd Spear
Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacture of equipment for round comb honey sections,
Sundance Pollen Traps, and producer of Sundance custom labels.
Contact your dealer or www.RossRounds.com

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