How To Make Your Own Pollen Patties For Bees

Pollen is the protein source for honeybees. While honeybees naturally forage pollen, it is beneficial to supplement pollen during times when food sources are scarce and to encourage brood production. Pollen can be given to your honeybees dry or in a pollen patty. In this video, I will show you a quick and easy way to make your own pollen patties.

Recipe:
2 cups of dry pollen substitute
½ cup to 1 cup hot water (may alter the amount to achieve the desired consistency)
1 cup of granulated sugar
**Optional ingredients are Honeybee Healthy, lemongrass oil or spearmint oil.

Instructions:
Mix granulated sugar with hot water and allow sugar to dissolve. Add any additional optional essential oils. Mix in dry pollen substitute until dough like consistency is achieved. More or less water can be used to achieve desired consistency. Place pollen mixture between two pieces of wax paper and roll out to desired thickness. Pollen patties can be stored in a freezer safe bag/container for long term storage. Ensure patties are completely thawed prior to placing in a hive.

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[tiffymike]

As a new bee keeper, I REALLY appreciate this video. Very informative! Thank you❤😊

[parkinsonga]

I've just made a batch following the recipe and I bought all the ingredients from Holland and Barrett Health Foods. And it works out at £6.30 per kilo which is less than half the price of a supplier. Thanks for the recipe unfortunately I ended up buying my wife a new car on the way to the shop.

[parkinsonga]

Your videos are popping up on YouTube via Sky TV in the UK at the moment. Which was handy this morning as one of my hives has decided due to it being warm here 4 degrees Celsius occasionally up to 8 degrees Celsius and they have become very active, and beekeeping suppliers are quoting around two weeks for delivery. So thanks for this video, I've sent my oldest daughter a text asking her to let me know when she goes to the supermarket as I need stuff from the baby aisle.

[kathyhathaway]

Hello I like that you make all from scratch an I use to make my pollen BUT for the money an the great ingredient I have switched to ultra bee pollen sub because of the nutrients in it . I have tried a lot of different types but the ultra bee is the best I think or that is what the bees said they liked the best . LOL . THANKS

[craigkahn]

Where do you put these patties for the bees to eat? Great Video!

[beesandtractors]

Great video Nikki! I normally use ultra bee but I've bought the brand you had at tractor supply in a pinch and they seemed to really go to it. I wld love it if you did one on the sub you make from scratch! I'm glad Kiwi made it thru winter and look forward to more of those cameos that she does!

[joebob]

took me 10 videos on pollen patties to get your simple one that also wasn't an industrial bee farm batch lol

[keithsmith]

I’ve been using soy flour as a pollen sub. Mixed the same as yours. This year I’m trying dry feeding and add a handful of sugar to the soy flour. I put a couple inches in a 2 gallon bucket and lay it on its side. They seem to like it pretty well.

[stevenfry]

Hi, I didnt see the link to make the pollen substitute, can you send me the link please?

[Astroyooper]

No questions about Bees! 😂 but nice video again, and keep those camera batteries charged! 😁

[tomfairbourn]

Helpful, when you mentioned spearmint oil would you substitute that for the lemongrass oil?

[conradriffle]

The Canadian bee keeper which has 1, 500 hive feeds his bee soy beans ground fine and feeds lots of it dry before the maple trees bloom. I saw another video that add dry egg powder to the soy powder to make it even have more proteen. I myself add powered sugar to sweeten it a little. now considering adding a little powered bone meal.

[sunshineapriaries]

FYI if you add a little sunflower oil to your mix it keeps it from drying out overtime especially if your adding in sugar.

[bojaq]

How much spearmint oil would you use. Thankyou for your advice

[janesmith]

Could you do a video explaining how you make your own pollen substitute?

[aperson]

can you drop the links to the products?

[heavymechanic]

Some people do not feed pollen patty because its crazy expensive. I see lots of videos to make pollen sub and its real messy if you make a large quantity.. I just ordered in a 40lb box of bulk patty from mannLake, put it in a bucket and have fed 6lb each week as needed due to a lack of resources from drought followed by a lot of rain.. Here is my theory, the pollen sub powder is expensive and the bulk sub is ready made at a comparable cost of the materials. [I used patty from dadant, the bees like it but I had an awful experience getting supplies]

[mhdzakimlr]

May i know what type of flower is pollen made from?. I found pollen powder made from hibiscus, jasmine etc. Can we use it?.

[bettydrinkut]

Have you done a video on the pollen substitute? I can’t find it!! 😔

[srae]

Can you post your pollen sub recipe please.