Bee Feed

Bee pollen, pollen substitute, and pollen patties are fed if spring is chilly and the natural pollen flows are delayed or interrupted — we feed our bees pollen when we want to encourage brood production just prior to the spring flow.

Feeding pollen should only occur when necessary, as it can be counterproductive to hive health. When you feed pollen, brood-rearing ramps up. The bees need to feed the brood and keep it warm — about 90 degrees F — which puts a strain on honey reserves. If outside temps drop, the bees may not be able to cover the brood and keep it warm, resulting in chilled (dead) brood or a starved hive that's burned through its resources.

When we do feed bee pollen, we place global patties directly above the brood. If global patties are placed too far away from the brood, the bees do not use them very effectively. We also sell MegaBee dry mix, which you can feed as-is or mix with syrup to create a sticky, dough-like consistency.

Honey-B-Healthy is an essential oil preparation that, when added to sugar syrup, boosts the bee's immune system and helps prevent mold in the feeders.

Winter Patties are an excellent emergency bee feed for colonies in late winter. They contain a relatively low protein level that will not stimulate brood rearing. Winter patties provide the necessary carbohydrates that keep colonies from starving.