Pollen Patties and Feeding Syrup

Bees need to touch the pollen patty. Leave the wax paper on both sides of the patty.

It is almost time to put on pollen patties. Anytime starting this weekend should be OK. Always put the patty where the bees are. The bees need to be touching it. They will not travel much of a distance to get it. A strong overwintered colony should get a full patty and may eat it all in ten days. Once pollen patties are put on the hive they need to be replaced before they are all gone. The bees will increase brood production and they will need the pollen.
 If they bees have not moved up, the pollen then needs to go between the boxes where the main cluster is.
 Feeding. Feeding can be done now if the bees need it. Do not overfeed. The bees will plug the hive with syrup if the beekeeper keeps feeding pail after pail of syrup. This will leave no place for the queen to lay. and will impact the hives population.
 Lift up the top box off the hive. If it feels light feed, if it feels heavy don't feed.