How Does the Bees Use Pollens as a Substitute
Pollen is a source of protein, vitamins, mineral and some carbohydrates for honeybees. One pollen alone does not provide a bee with all the nutrients they need to stay healthy, so a variety of pollens are needed to provide them will all the nutrients they need. Without these nutrients, bees would not be able to produce the royal jelly required to feed the queen and rear brood. If the weather will not allow the bees to leave the hive for several days to collect pollen, and there is very little stored in the combs, it will be necessary the beekeeper to feed the bees a pollen substitute. At the same time the beekeeper will feed them sugar syrup.
The main ingredient used in making a pollen substitute is brewer’s yeast. The yeast can be fed to the bees dry, but the bees can better utilize the yeast when it is made into patties with the consistency of peanut butter. The yeast is often mixed with 50% sucrose syrup to moisten the patties. The patties are wrapped in wax paper or placed inside plastic bags to keep them moist. The beekeepers that use the high fructose corn syrup will mix the patties using that syrup. Other ingredients can be added to the patties that offer more nutrients than the yeast and syrup mixture alone. Beekeepers will add casein, lactalbumin or soy flour to their mixtures. If the beekeeper use the casein and lacatalbumin it is necessary for them to watch out for lactose and over two- percent sodium. When the beekeepers use soy flour, they try to get the “debittered” soy flour that has been processed and retains some lipids, and toasted to knock out enzymes that interfere with the bees’ digestion. Always make sure to check the data on the soy flour. The beekeeper will want to determine if the soy is a “high sucrose” variety or contains mostly stachyose. Stachyose is toxic to bees. Beekeepers will sometimes add a “feed yeast” like Torula to the pollen mixture to enhance the nutrients in the substitute. Most of them don’t use it because of the high cost.
Pollen substitutes do not increase brood production as well as pollen sources brought in by the bees themselves. Because of the pollen substitute brood rearing will not stop all together should the weather stay bad for a while. A beekeeper will have a fatter bee when using a pollen substitute. There are some areas where pollen is scarce in the late summer and fall. If the beekeeper feeds the bees pollen substitute for a fatter bee, a fatter bee will winter better and rear more brood the next spring than their non-fed counterparts.
Bees are not fond of pollen substitutes. It must be place directly in contact with the bees and as close to the brood as possible. As long as the bees are bringing in a trickle of pollen the substitute will be eaten. If there is no pollen being brought in, the substitute will be ignored and will spoil over time. There are some commercially formulated pollen substitutes on the market that claim the pollen substitute is so attractive to the bees that they will eat it anytime the substitute is offered. No one has investigated those claims.
- Jack Stanley
Three Beekeeping Tips for Beginners
Beekeeping for business is a endeavor that takes some skill and specialized knowledge.
Many experienced beekeepers are a part of local beekeeping associations or they turn to the internet and books to learn more about beekeeping.
thebeekeeper.info is a website that is devoted to teaching beginner beekeepers how to begin beekeeping.
It also provides many articles that include tips on how to increase your beekeeping success.
Some important things that beginner beekeepers should know are the following:
1) Bees go to the nearest water source. When keeping bees, you should always make sure to keep a water source near your apiary.
A pan that is filled with water will do. This is vital because without this water source bees will actively seek out a water source which could be your neighbors pool.
Once they find the water source that they like it is extremely difficult to train the bees to use a different water source which could create some problems for you and your neighbors.
2) Never buy used equipment to start your beekeeping business. Used equipment may be cheaper than buying all new stuff but you also run a significant risk of bringing viruses and mold to your new colony.
Instead of placing yourself at risk for failure from the start, it is best to just get new equipment from the beginning.
3) Make sure to do careful research before buying the equipment that you need to get started. Depending on the beekeeping techniques that you will be using, you will require different equipment.
thebeekeeper.info can help you decide exactly what techniques you want to use and what equipment to decide.
If you are interested in learning more beekeeping techniques and reading more articles about beekeeping visit http://www.thebeekeeper.info.
- Aaron Foreman
Purchasing Beekeeping Supplies for Surefire Beekeeping Success
When you are starting or expanding a beekeeping operation, it can be hard to know where to buy honey bees, hives, and supplies for your bees. After all, you can’t walk into your local Home Depot or Lowe’s and get beekeeping equipment. But, you can use the internet in searching for beekeeping supplies in the soonest possible time. Here are three tips that will help you get your supplies at a good price without getting ripped off.
Starting with beekeeping business is one way to have an extra income especially during these days that a lot of industries are closing. Many people choose to have beekeeping as their profession because aside from earning a lot of money after selling the honey your bees had produced, you can also help to the environment. As you can see, bees are very important in the pollination process of many flowers.
Gathering enough information is a good way to start your beekeeping business and reach the beekeeping success you always wanted. If you are already an established beekeeper, of course one of your goals is to expand your beekeeping operation.
You can rarely see a natural hive these days because they are being attacked by pests. This way, you can surely find a hard time in finding the great place for you to purchase honey bees, hives and supplies for your bees. Walking to your home warehouse to get some equipment you can use in your beekeeping business is never a good idea. But the internet can offer you a better way of getting beekeeping supplies. With the help of the internet, your work becomes easier than before.
There are some ways to save lots of bucks in buying beekeeping supplies which can help you to reach your beekeeping success.
o You should have a list of the things you need to buy. Before buying beekeeping supplies for your beekeeping, you should decide on the size of your expansion. Then, list all the possible things you will need in your operation in the future. When you are shopping, make sure to stick with your list to avoid being distracted. This way, you can save both your time and money.
o Try considering eBay in your shopping. eBay is a famous selling site which is known for great deals on everything, including beekeeping supplies. Here, you have more choices of purchasing the best beekeeping supplies you are looking for at a very good price.
o Check on the labels of the products. When you are shopping, make sure to look at the picture as well as the labels of each of the item you have in your list. You should look closely on your measurement. This way, you can already take a picture of the actual look of the product you are ordering.
Your hard work, determination and commitment are very important to ensure your beekeeping success. So if you want to become a successful beekeeper, make sure to become wise in getting supplies for your beekeeping.
- Wade Giles