The new web interface to BEE-L makes amazing things possible.

I was wanting to post about the fact that we are realizing a dream from
some time back and are feeding pollen patties right now.  We made some
extra in the spring when we were set up to do so and had time and are able
to now put them on when we visit to remove the last supers.

I could have started a new thread, but instead, I went to
http://listserv.albany.edu/archives/bee-l.html and searched
for 'supplement'.  That brought up 50 articles including the current
subject and I was able to pick up where I left off in 1997.  I am writing
this using the web posting interface.  Only problem: how do I include a
huge long obnoxious signature with ASCII graphics? <G>  (Note: see PS at
end for another problem)

Moreover, since I have joined the IBRA, I think I will now request a
literature search on the subject of this thread.  I can now get the
reprints by email, including the one Trevor mentioned, the one that I found
so hard to lay my hands on, so maybe we will have more to chew on soon.

FWIW, The online bee discussion searches can be reached from the top, of my
home page at http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/ , as can the IBRA search
form.

Here's the post:

On Wed, 23 Apr 1997 07:44:47 -0600, Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>> >When can I quit giving them patties?  Do I just put them on til the bees
>> >refuse to eat them (seems wasteful)?  Or will they eat it from time to
>> >time right thru the spring if I leave it on?

We find that good colonies will eat a pound in a week anytime of year if
they have a little pollen and lots of sugar.  Without pollen in the mix,
consumption is about 33% reduced.

>It seems that the weak hives are much less inclined to eat it.  I noticed
>many hives this year with eggs but no brood right up to two weeks ago.
>Pollen shortage?  They did not seem to be eating the supplement either.

We have found the patties a great non-intrusive way to spot poor hives and
the the strong hives that have recently gone queenless.  They don't eat
patties nearly as well.

>> Once natural pollen is available none of the hives will touch the
patties, even if there is poor flying weather.

Subsequent experience has proven that the patty formula determines
consumption rate.  Patties without much pollen and/or sugar are not as
enthusiastically eaten -- or even refused -- when there is any alternative.

>What about the fall?  We have *some* pollen into October, even after
>frosts.  I had hoped to try supplement in September.

This was my dream, but we never had time to do it.  Now we are feeding and
the bees make a 1 pound patty disappear in less than a week.  Bad hives
stick out like a sore thumb because the patties are not eaten.  That is our
experience after limited trials, anyways.  More later.

We hope to get an idea whether the supplementation improves wintering, but
if we have enough patties, we will likely feed all 3,000 hives, so there
goes the controlled experiment.  Knowing us, we are bound to miss some
hives, and that way maybe we will have controls and we can compare.  Or
maybe will just give half the outfit 2 patties.

Any one else trying this?

allen

PS: Another problem: the first time I tried to use this web interface
for    posting, I had to get a LISTSERV password to be able to post after
writing my epistle.   After I did that, the post did not seem to get sent.

Fortunately I had copied my work to the clipboard (Ctrl+a, then Ctrl+c) as
a precaution and pasted it (Ctrl+v) into my word processor.  Therefore I
did not had re-type the whole thing again for this attmept.

My advice: if you are going to use the web interface to post, get your
password before going through all the work.