Make sure you order enough patties – order at least two, and preferably four, patties for each hive.

Order early to avoid disappointment (and to get the best freight rates).

Start feeding patties one month before the first reliable pollen flow is expected. (Last week of March in Alberta)

Locate the center of the cluster (where brood is being raised) smoke the bees down gently, then place one patty on the top bars right in the center of the cluster. On large colonies, use two or three patties, covering the whole brood area.

Make sure that the paper with the holes is down and that the bees have access to the patty through at least some of the holes. Strong colonies will chew up the paper quickly. For very weak colonies, removing the bottom paper may be advisable.

Return in a week and replace any patties that are consumed. Move any patties that weren’t centered into the center.  Inspect and diagnose any colonies that are “off their feed”. They may be diseased or queenless.

Continue to visit the yard regularly and replace patties until all are used up, even after pollen is coming in.

Bees will still use patties when pollen is coming in, and need them on days when late snows, rain and wind confine the bees to the hives.

Bees need both protein and carbohydrate for good build-up and to produce large honey crops.

Feed protein patties in spring to ensure colony health, maximum build-up and maximum production

Patties ensure a balanced diet when bees are

	unable to forage due to weather
	short of stored pollen
	in monoculture areas where only a few pollen sources are to found
	too weak to forage
	subject to competition from stronger hives in the yard
	stressed by weather, pesticides, mites and diseases

Save labour checking queens: Patty consumption gives a quick indication of queen and colony condition.

We can make your patties cheaper than you can, and the job is done without mess or effort on your part.

We can supply standard formulas or custom manufacture your own special formula.

We use quality factory-fresh certified ingredients

Our patties have been tested against other patties -- both commercial and home made -- and are equal to any.

Patties are packaged in convenient 60 lb boxes (weight when packed)

Patties are quick, easy, and neat to handle.  Feeding goes quickly, and each patty is one pound

All pollen in our formula is carefully electron-beam irradiated by Iotron for disease prevention.

Once supplementary feeding begins, it is important to keep feed on the hives and not let them run short of patties until there is lots of reliable pollen coming in and good flying weather.

Once the hives begin to build up, shortages of honey or pollen (syrup or substitute) will result in lost brood and colony stress.

Patties may be stored at room temperature for months, even years, but ideally should be used soon after purchase for best results.

Bees will not eat patties in spring unless the patties are within 2” (5cm) of the brood.  Make sure the patties are centered over the brood, and on the brood box where the cluster (and brood) is located. (Not on a super).

Patties make colony inspection easier.  Colonies that do not eat their patties well may not have brood, may be diseased, or not have a viable queen and need attention.