How to select the best winter or pollen patties

Pollen patties are different from winter patties. Better brood production is the goal of one, whereas the other does not.

You can't compare winter patties to pollen ones. Those two kinds of honey bee feed supplements couldn't be more different.

As an alternative to pollen, you can use a typical pollen patty. Because of its high protein content and complete amino acid profile, it is ideal for bee health. Beekeepers use pollen patties to expand a colony's size since the high protein content encourages the rearing of new bees.

These days, pollen alternatives might have protein levels anywhere from 40 to 50 per cent. The high-protein food is consumed by the nursing bees when pollen patties are introduced into the hive. As a result, their glands release brood food, and the queen lays an additional egg. The brood nest will soon grow, and bees of adulthood will emerge. If a large population is what you require, this will be of great assistance. However, in many cases, a huge population is counterproductive.

Not the best time for pollen patties.

Because it is difficult for a colony to sustain many bees during the winter, pollen patties given in the autumn can be detrimental to the colony. Fertilizing a colony in the autumn can cause it to die of starvation before spring.

The same holds for late-winter pollen enhancements; they can backfire if the colony uses up all of its pollen before the fresh spring supply comes. A beekeeper must not interrupt pollen feeding too soon, or the colony may die of starvation.

Ideal circumstances for pollen patties

In late summer, pollen patties can be used to enhance colonies that are too tiny to overwinter. So long as the beekeeper uses common sense and doesn't overdo it, this could work.

To improve brood development, feed so-called global patties in the spring. These patties are truly abundant in protein.

There is less protein in winter patties.

As a winter feed, winter patties are ideal because they are high in carbs and low in fat and protein. They are primarily carbs with a trace amount of protein and fat. In contrast to pollen patties, which encourage brood increase, winter patties have the reverse effect. 

The modest quantity of fat and protein is just right to encourage healthy growth in the colony without prompting premature population explosions. Similar to pollen patties, winter patties are likely unnecessary for the majority of overwintering colonies. However, they pose no harm if you're still unsure.

A standard tool

If you require them, you can use the winter patties or the pollen patties as management tools. Just because they are available doesn't mean you have to use them. You should assess the current state and prospects of your colony before introducing supplements.

Keep an eye on both kinds of patties. When the bees don't eat all of the patties, you should take them out of the hive to prevent mildew and small hive beetles. If the bees devour them in a flash, though, you can always buy more.