As a result of it’s extremely valued by way of nutritionists, some beekeepers experience amassing bee pollen from their hives. Whether or not you wish to have it for private use, or to promote to shoppers – it may be a treasured hive commodity. Right here, I talk about one easy solution to acquire uncooked pollen in conjunction with some guidelines and tips to make your pollen harvesting a hit.
Everybody acknowledges honey as being a treasured product from bees – and it’s. However, in lots of circles – bee pollen is much more treasured – the bees understand it’s value as smartly.
Harvesting Bee Pollen
Foraging staff start the cycle by way of amassing pollen from thousands and thousands of blooming crops. In all probability, you have got noticed the ones colourful little balls at the legs of bees as they fly from flower to flower?
However, they may be able to no longer retailer pollen within the comb in a uncooked state. It will ruin. The enzymes in bee saliva adjustments the chemical composition of this uncooked subject matter – into bee bread. A solid protein supply.
How Bee Pollen is Harvested
Usually, the bee pollen is harvested from the employee bees returning to the hive. There are a number of other types of pollen traps to be had to beekeepers.
A few of them mount below the hive and acquire pollen in a field. Others use a spacer to carry the lure between two packing containers of the hive – forming a unique front the bees will have to use. And, you’ll be able to use a entrance front fastened lure.
Should you wish to acquire pollen out of your hives, you will have to believe the professionals and cons of the traps to be had. The ones working towards beekeeping as farm or industry would possibly make investments extra money and time into the mission of harvesting pollen – in hopes for a monetary go back.
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For many newbie beekeepers, the affordable plastic pollen traps that mount at the hive entrance are continuously the most suitable option.
Sure, they’re affordable and is usually a bit annoying to paintings with. However, they get the task executed and don’t price so much. They’re more straightforward for brand spanking new beekeepers to regulate with minor disturbance to the colony.
Affordable Plastic Lure Choice
Those plastic traps are readily to be had from many corporations with beekeeping provides. If that is your first time to assemble pollen, I feel they’re a good selection.
They typically include a few little hooks to allow the beekeeper to connect them to the entrance of the hive. Those are a ache within the (neck) – I don’t use them.
I choose to make use of a bit of of haybale cord (to make loops within the facets) and a bungie wire or two to safe the lure across the hive frame.
This permits me to briefly position the lure at the hive and simply as briefly take away it – with out tense the hive an excessive amount of. You’ll use whichever approach you prefer-using what you have got to be had.
Recessed throughout the entrance of the lure is a panel with small grid holes. Employee bees will have to wiggle thru those holes to get inside of.
As they pressure their manner thru, one of the crucial pollen pellets will fall off and into the gathering tray. When you wish to have to assemble bee pollen, this panel must be driven firmly down till it clicks in position. (Realize the blue tape on most sensible – affordable factor sags a bit of however the tape works nice!).
Need to acquire pollen most effective right through the morning however go away the lure on all day? You’ll do this too. This grid panel must click on into an open place.
However, I’ve had mine for a number of years and it by no means labored that fab anyway. No downside – a clip or clothespin saves the day. Whilst on this open place, all bees can come and move – no pollen is accumulated.
The small brown assortment tray slides out of the entrance for day-to-day harvest. Do put on your protecting beekeeping garments when running on the entrance of the hive. A bit of little bit of white smoke on the front could also be effective as smartly.
Honey bees sting for cover and so they would possibly take exception at your interference in entrance of the hive.
Pollen Lure Repairs
Even the most straightforward pollen lure calls for some repairs. If truth be told, that is one explanation why I infrequently trouble with pollen assortment – however each and every beekeeper must take a look at it as soon as.
- traps must be emptied day-to-day – extra continuously if rain is threatening
- relying at the taste – rain can create issues on your assortment drawer
- periodically, take away the lure and provides it a just right cleaning soap and water tub
Harvesting Bee Pollen Responsibly
The beekeeper will have to additionally believe the consequences of amassing bee pollen at the colony. Honey bees acquire pollen as a protein supply – if you are taking an excessive amount of you might be hurting your colony. By no means go away pollen traps at the colony for lengthy sessions.
One approach is to assemble pollen for brief sessions – 2 days of the week. Or possibly, two morning of every week – letting the bees stay the efforts in their laborious paintings at different instances.
Those traps too can save you drones (male honeybees) from leaving and coming into the hive. Usually, they do motive a bit of of a disruption to hive existence. So don’t be grasping and check out to attenuate the inconvenience for your bees.
Blank and Retailer Pollen
After emptying the gathering chamber of your pollen lure, it’s time to blank and dry the contents. Uncooked pollen could be very damp and can mildew.
Yellow and orange are two of the most typical colours of plant pollen. But, a handy guide a rough inspection of the hive unearths a number of other colours within the honeycomb cells.
Many alternative sun shades of yellow, in addition to, inexperienced, white or even purple could also be provide. Other crops produce other sun shades of pollen. In a similar way, their nectar leads to more than a few colours of honey. Oh… the variety of nature.
Take away any bits of trash, wings, bee legs (sure it down occur) and unfold the pollen on a display screen floor in one layer. Then, permit it to dry for a couple of days prior to sealing in a jar with tight becoming lid.
Why You May Need to Gather Bee Pollen
There are a number of causes a beekeeper may wish to acquire pollen. Many of us consider it has a lot of dietary advantages and devour it regularly.
Relying at the plant, pollens have other ranges of proteins, amino acids, crucial fatty acids, nutrients and micronutrients.
Because of its reputation, there’s undoubtedly a gross sales marketplace for uncooked hive merchandise. Along side honey gross sales, uncooked pollen may lend a hand offset one of the crucial annually prices of retaining bees.
Cautions for Beekeepers
As with every side of beekeeping, pollen assortment must be approached with care. New colonies (similar to newly put in bundle bees) must no longer be matter to trapping.
Truthfully, they have got sufficient laborious paintings to do right through their first season and want all of the pollen assets for their very own use.
Sturdy established colonies with 1000’s of foragers are the most efficient applicants for assortment. But even then, don’t overdo it. Simplest small quantities of pollen must be taken from the bees.
FAQ
Beekeepers use traps with a grid of twine or plastic to scrape pollen pellets off the legs of returning bees.
No, the hind legs of bees are used to move it to the hive. There it’s saved within the honeycomb.
It’s transformed into bee bread and saved within the wax cells till wanted for brood rearing.
With maximum traps, some bees are broken however the quantity must be low. The colony itself must undergo no unwell results if the beekeeper acts responsibly
Sure, your colony will consult with many several types of crops – you’ll be able to take a portion.
Completely, feminine staff acquire all of the meals wanted by way of the colony.
Uncooked pollen may also be bought on-line, at native well being meals retail outlets and possibly from native beekeepers. It must have a slight nutty perfume and no longer be rainy or moldy.
Ultimate Ideas
Sadly, any pollen assortment lure does perform a little injury to bee wings, legs and so on. That is one more reason I don’t trouble with it so much. However, it is vitally fascinating to look the other colours and enjoy the result of a days or part days paintings by way of the hive. Harvesting bee pollen from your individual hives is a groovy enjoy.