Thanks for the video. I had a few hives with 8-9 frames of pollen (2 deeps X 10 frames boxes) really is helpful I never know what to do with pollen bound frames now I know. I have a whole deep freezer of pierco frames pollen bound. THANK YOU Chuck!
Just stumbled across this and I have never had a pollen bound frame in the eight years I've been keeping bees, but I have had plenty of honey bound frames and I'm curious if you have any recommendations for how to handle those, especially since the ones I had were treated with OA and formic strips. Thanks so much!
This is a wonderful tip, Chuck. Here in southwestern PA we are having a banner year for resources so this is very useful info. Off subject for a second I was wondering how you handle colonies that are busting at the seams this late in the season. If I would split them, they may not have time to rear a new queen this late but I don't want to risk a swarm taking this years queen away with them. Could you do a video on managing this or any advice would be helpful.
Balancing can be helpful. Move brood into hives that are a bit weaker. Otherwise just let it ride if you don't have a way to give them a queen. it is a bit late now to let them make their own queen in September.
TEK here in south-east Queensland Australia. I have experimented with pollen frames and it has worked - the bees WILL use the pollen. By placing my pollen frames above the an excluder in the centre of the next Super, I have found that Bees will clean them out very very quickly sometimes within 48 hours to place nectar in those frames.
Thanks. Great idea. I have a few of these frames. I always wonder if the bees could use all of that pollen or not. In my area it seems there are pollen sources year round. I guess I will mark the pollen frames and give them to the smaller colonies and see if they ever use them. If not, I will clean them out with your method 👍
That is a good number to start with. But if they get really dark, you can even tell that the cells are getting smaller due to all the cocoons stacking up.
I would freeze them and give them to bees from a cut out or swarm catch. Resources like that can be invaluable to a new freshly cought hive. I get my bees from catching swarms and doing cutouts or splitting. Brood comb and frames with resources are necessary to jump start swarms, with that they build up much faster. I cought a good swarm last year in March and was able to harvest some honey from them the same year and left them plenty to overwinter on.
OMG you just saved my bees so much work. I have a box or 2 in the freezer to kill any moths and will be soaking them in some lightly bleached water tomorrow I was about 4 hrs to late for the other frames but was wondering about getting the pollen out of the cells on the foundation to re wax. Thanks from Panama City
❤ Caring for bees is an amazing hobby!!
It really is!
Terrific video! Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the video. I had a few hives with 8-9 frames of pollen (2 deeps X 10 frames boxes) really is helpful I never know what to do with pollen bound frames now I know. I have a whole deep freezer of pierco frames pollen bound. THANK YOU Chuck!
Glad it helped
This is helpful, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Another great video .... Chuck ..... thank you
Thanks for watching
Just stumbled across this and I have never had a pollen bound frame in the eight years I've been keeping bees, but I have had plenty of honey bound frames and I'm curious if you have any recommendations for how to handle those, especially since the ones I had were treated with OA and formic strips. Thanks so much!
I used a comb packed with pollen when I am starting a split. It is resources for them. Two-three frames of brood, one with pollen and one with honey.
This is a wonderful tip, Chuck. Here in southwestern PA we are having a banner year for resources so this is very useful info. Off subject for a second I was wondering how you handle colonies that are busting at the seams this late in the season. If I would split them, they may not have time to rear a new queen this late but I don't want to risk a swarm taking this years queen away with them. Could you do a video on managing this or any advice would be helpful.
Balancing can be helpful. Move brood into hives that are a bit weaker. Otherwise just let it ride if you don't have a way to give them a queen. it is a bit late now to let them make their own queen in September.
TEK here in south-east Queensland Australia.
I have experimented with pollen frames and it has worked - the bees WILL use the pollen.
By placing my pollen frames above the an excluder in the centre of the next Super, I have found that Bees will clean them out very very quickly sometimes within 48 hours to place nectar in those frames.
Great video. Learned a lot. I have the same issue with one of my hives. It will give my queen more room to lay. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks. Great idea. I have a few of these frames. I always wonder if the bees could use all of that pollen or not. In my area it seems there are pollen sources year round. I guess I will mark the pollen frames and give them to the smaller colonies and see if they ever use them. If not, I will clean them out with your method 👍
Thanks for the comment. Drawn comb is a beekeepers best asset.
Do you find mold growing on the comb in a few days following the washing out of the bee bread.
Not usually, but i keep my empty frames in a well ventilated area.
No more scrapping. Question when should the brood frames be scraped, every 3/4 years?
That is a good number to start with. But if they get really dark, you can even tell that the cells are getting smaller due to all the cocoons stacking up.
Great video Chuck!
Glad you enjoyed it
I would freeze them and give them to bees from a cut out or swarm catch. Resources like that can be invaluable to a new freshly cought hive. I get my bees from catching swarms and doing cutouts or splitting. Brood comb and frames with resources are necessary to jump start swarms, with that they build up much faster. I cought a good swarm last year in March and was able to harvest some honey from them the same year and left them plenty to overwinter on.
Great story! I agree, I don't have much freezer space, so that solution doesn't work well for me, but I am sure others will benefit from your comment.
OMG you just saved my bees so much work. I have a box or 2 in the freezer to kill any moths and will be soaking them in some lightly bleached water tomorrow I was about 4 hrs to late for the other frames but was wondering about getting the pollen out of the cells on the foundation to re wax. Thanks from Panama City
Drawn comb is gold to a beekeeper. Glad to help.
Very useful
Glad you think so! Thanks for the comment.
👍👍👍