Pollen Supplement

A pollen supplement is typically a mixture of pollen and other ingredients used to stimulate honeybee brood rearing in periods of pollen shortage, such as early spring or during a drought.  Supplements are sometimes needed temporarily to feed the bees when a natural pollen source is not available, or when you want to stimulate brood-rearing following installation of a new hive.  However, pollen substitutes are generally preferable to pollen supplements, as they contain more complete nutrition.  Supplements should not be used for long-term pollen replacement.

Note: BeeCARE stresses the importance of using pollen supplements for only short periods, as prolonged, continuous use has been shown to actually decrease brood production.  Instead, use pure pollen or a true pollen substitute if your bees' diet needs to be augmented.

See also: Pollen Substitutes vs. Supplements

Preparing pollen patties
Use a pollen supplement or a true substitute mix.  It is best to store the mix in the freezer until you are ready to use it, since it may contain tiny vermin that like to eat and reproduce within it!  You may supplement pollen by feeding it in dry form.  To prepare it in patty form, follow the directions here.

	Step 1 - Mix the powder Mix the powder with water or sugar syrup in a bowl, per the vendor's instructions.  Be sure to start with the correct amount of liquid, as instructed on the package.  You can always add small amounts of liquid later if you need more.
	Step 2 - Prepare the dough Mix until the dough is tacky and sticky, but not runny.  Only if needed, add small amounts of liquid to get the dry powder to mix in, but be careful -- it's easy to overdo it.  If you add too much liquid, the dough will become thin and gooey and will run out onto the top of the hive frames when you put the patties into the hive.
	Step 3 - Separate the patties Separate the mixed dough into patties, placing each patty onto a sheet of wax paper large enough to fold over onto the top of the patty.  The wax paper is important, since it will hold the patty together while the bees are eating it.
	Step 4 - Shape the patties Fold the wax paper over on top of the patty and press the patty down flat between the paper.  Be sure to flatten out the patty as much as needed across the width of the paper so that it is relatively flat, without allowing it to seep out at the openings.
	Step 5 - Cut the feeder slits Using a sharp knife, cut several parallel slits in one side of the paper.  The bees will eat the patty through these slits and chew more paper off, until the patty is consumed or until they ignore it so long that it molds and turns to pollen concrete.
	Final step - Place the patties There, you're done!  You now have beautiful pollen patties ready to feed to hungry bees!  Just press a patty, slit-side-down, on the brood frame top bars, above the brood cluster.  The bees will reward you with more brood, and therefore lots more honey.

Note: If your hives are infested with Small Hive Beetles (SHB), you should immediately remove and discontinue using all supplemental food inside the hives, including sugar syrup, grease patties, extender patties and pollen patties.  The syrup and patties are a rich food source for the beetles, encouraging their rapid spread throughout the honeybee colony.  The presence of supplemental food within the hive makes SHB control very difficult and endangers both honey production and the colony's survival.  A better alternative is to use an external bucket feeder for dry feeding, in or near the apiary, which may be used to administer dry sugar, pollen substitutes and terramycin soluble powder.

Feeding and Watering
Honeybee Medications
Opening and Inspecting the Hive
Opening and Feeding the Hive
Pollen Substitute
Pollen Substitutes vs. Supplements
Preparing to Visit the Apiary

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