Pollen Traps for Beehives FAQ 28 What Trap is best for Pollen Collection, Super Food? Bee Stock

Sundance Pollen Trap compared to Landing Board Pollen trap, how to use them and which may be best for your backyard beekeeping system. How to keep bees for beginners, how to collect honey bee pollen without restricting your honey bees too much.
Pollen traps in this video can be purchased here, we support small business owners: blythewoodbeec...
Shop with confidence, we receive no part of your purchase from the Blythewood Bee Company. Simply the best made, most practical pollen traps available.
Things to remember:
Pollen traps do let some bees get past with their cargo/pollen.
Only use pollen traps when plenty of pollen is being brought in from the environment and hive population is STRONG.
Use momentarily - some pollen traps do not allow virgin queens or drones through, it's important to use your traps in "bypass" mode a few hours a day so those bees can pass through.
I do not collect pollen and store it for later use by the bees. In my opinion, you're better off using Ultra Bee Pollen Substitute during periods of dearth. (Do not collect pollen when feed substitutes are being offered outside the hive)
Storing your own pollen - keep in the fridge, or freezer, I don't recommend drying it out as the original composition is near perfect. You can take your dose directly from the fridge or freezer container. Pollen can keep fresh when refrigerated for 3 years. There is no pollen fresher than that which you collect from your own bees.
CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN: If you have allergies, local pollen "can be" a wonderful way to reduce those seasonal sensitivities. Start small 1/4 tsp until you know your tolerance.
Most bee pollen users report that they find a single teaspoon daily to be the best dose.
"Honeybee Pollen is the richest source of vitamins found in nature in a single food" - it's reported to be a true super food.
Remove pollen from the traps a couple of times each day! Pollen is plant protein that has been mixed with bee enzymes and nectar, it's ready to ferment! At room temperature, pollen can grow moldy very VERY fast. Freeze/Refrigerate asap.
Fresh pollen melts in your mouth and is not hard or "chewy".
Use pollen RAW, never cook or heat it for the best benefit.
Here is a link to the storage tubes I show in the video: amzn.to/2Ymrib0
As an affiliate member we profit from qualifying sales

[@FrederickDunn]

Just for your curious minds! If you're thinking of this as pollen spores alone, this is not what we're talking about. We're talking about "Bee"Pollen which is what honey bees have done to the pollen to make it usable for baby bees. We're intercepting the pollen packs before they are further processed by the bees in the brood cells/frames. "Bee" pollen goes through several stages inside the hive which includes, among other things, fermentation. Microscopic pollen spores by themselves may not have much nutritional value, it's the bees that make it something more. Here is an interesting article for those wishing to know more: www.healthline.com/nutrition/bee-pollen#section3

[@mohammadsalah3319]

Thank you very much for this great video my friend. You know what I kind of liked the first one more than the second complicated commercial pollen trap

[@tomcrynock37]

Frederick Dunn thank you I need to requeen one of my hive. They are hotter than I like. I also want to try treatment free if possible. Thank you.

[@FrederickDunn]

@@tomcrynock37 Definitely go with the Bee Weaver Bees - tell them Frederick Dunn sent you :) www.beeweaver.com/bees/2019-queens/

[@steel1583]

The article you linked says that "Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax and bee secretions". But how can it be "processed" by bees if it is: 1 Carried by bees on their legs, not in their stomachs (like nectar); 2 Collected by the beekeeper before they bring it inside the hive. Now, if the pollen is removed from the frames, I can understand. But with traps, when do bees "process" it so to make it digestible (for their brood and for humans)?

[@LarryLeesBees]

Very cool contraptions!!! I had no idea that, this was a thing (collecting pollen). And then this week someone also asked me if I was collecting pollen? I stated I wasn’t and didn’t know I could. And then you post this amazing video on the very subject I was asked about! Thank you Sir!!! 😃 Now I’m researching more. Always something else. LoL!

[@danskisbees7348]

Larry, you might have to clear your landing strip, Lol!

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

I'm with you Larry if it weren't for fred i'd be behind on so many beekeeping practices! right on time

[@weasleoop]

A lot of people collect pollen just to reuse it in a dearth period. Or use it in products.

[@LarryLeesBees]

Carlos Murphy, I heard that today too. Also didn’t know that was a thing! LoL!!! Thanks Carlos.

[@LarryLeesBees]

The Hive and the Honey Bee, you are not wrong! I am on the opposite side of the country from Fred, but I have no one on this side giving me as good of information as he does. And his temperature is pretty darn close to my temperatures, so the info is always spot on for me.

[@mihaiilie8808]

The first polen trap its what comercial beekeepers use here but they are better designs. 1- they have bottom metalic screen on the drawer and there is no wood under that so that the pollen in the drawer stays dry. 2 -they have 2 , short hoses mounted on the sides for the drones to get out if they wish. 3- the plastic screen from wich the bees have to come through ,slides up to reveal the entrance so that way they dont get confused . Bees pollen its verry healthy but tell wife to tell the doctor if she visits a doctor,that she ate bee pollen,because it will show on the blood tests. After eating bee pollen ,the body has a lot of antibodyes wich can confuse a doctor to think they are caused by an infection or otther problems.Those antibodyes are good to have and prevents you body from getting cold,prevents infections,etc. Per weight,pollen costs 5 times more than honey here and somme pollens are more expensive than otthers just like the honey types.

[@abimael1839]

Hi just curious though, What kind of source that makes the pollens healthier then? & why? any opinion?

[@danskisbees7348]

Great video Fred! Thank you for explaining the pollen traps.

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

Another example of your so very well reasoned approach to a topic! Thank you mr dunn again and again i've thought about this many times and really didn't understand how that would go. thumbs up as always and i really do appreciate you!!!!!

[@barbwellman6686]

I thought I'd like pollen but in our area the source is from alfalfa. I Magic Bullet blended the packets back into pollen dust to see if my neighborhood bees would be interested in it. I put the pollen toward the back of a guart size canning jar layed on its side. Within 15 minutes of finding the pollen, the bees were in such a frenzy they were covering each other in it. Very enjoyable to watch!

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Just finished cleaning up 2 deep supers.. going to harvest another round shortly! :) Loving the slow-motion shots! Thanks for the excellent pollen info!

[@danskisbees7348]

Heck yeah, me too!

[@Merlin.Twiggles]

❤the slow motion

[@ridingvenus]

For me and my Venus bees it 🐝apimaye bottom boards with built in pollen trap(s). I should 🐝 showing how they are so great for pollen hopefully next year…as far as showing how great the bottoms boards its possible to check most of my videos…not always commenting about them but yea they are great!!! …only possible better Apimaye products are the top feeders and the queen defender…Ive yet to get a “regular” apimaye box…but I’m considering it.

[@framcesmoore]

Ha Mr Dunn another great video. I knew about folks that collect pollen but tell u I never knew what they did with it. I thought they gave it back to the bees at a later date I never knew u could eat it for allergies this was great thanks Thanks for the video

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks Frances, it's always nice to see your comments! One of the largest beekeepers in my association apparently sells a lot of pollen for consumption. It's definitely a strong health-food category.

[@framcesmoore]

Ha I looked this up it is made for 10 frame, I use 8, u recon it will work on my hives thanks and have a great day

[@allglad]

making the pollen collection only for hours sounds smart.

[@goodenoughhoney1667]

Thanks for the information my hives are doing great and I’m adding stuff to them!

[@FrederickDunn]

You're very welcome!

[@danskisbees7348]

First comment, woohoo! Now time to watch, hahaha!

[@robertmathurin2544]

Happy Friday to you too Mr Dunn..been waiting for a video like this one...🇱🇨👊🙏🔥❤

[@justinleland1669]

Thank you again for another informative video. Keep up the good work. Can't wait until you get some tshirts up to go with the mugs.

[@FrederickDunn]

I should be adding those designs in October or November.

[@justinleland1669]

@@FrederickDunn Awesome! Your videos have helped us so much. Thank you.

[@wendybachman6224]

Thank you!!! (Adds yet another item to shopping cart, hahaha)

[@danskisbees7348]

Lol! Hello Wendy, how are the Caucasians and BetterComb?

[@FrederickDunn]

You are very welcome Wendy, thank you for giving me a nice topic to cover :)

[@tinacalifano5023]

Hi Love Your Video❤️🕊❤️ I was wondering if you did a video of the pollen collected all year long and the difference in Them❤️🕊❤️Thanks So Much

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Tina, I didn't make a video of that, but I put them in large plastic test tubes with twist caps and write the date of collection on each cap. It's a great way to keep track season by season.

[@larrycollar1322]

Another great video. Learned a bunch about a subject I thought I had no interest in. The sign of a great teacher. I’m not sure if you are still accepting questions for your “Frequently asked questions” series but here goes. I enjoy watching the landing boards and saw something recently that was very disturbing. Undertaker bees were hauling out the carcasses of nearly full term bees. These pupae were completely white, complete with legs. I have not seen anything like this before. I assume the workers are removing them because they were dead. Or were they? Have you seen this before? Some additional background, I recently treated the hive for mites using OAV which required closing the screened bottom board. It’s been hot here as always in central California. Temps in the high 90’s and low 100’s. The hive is in direct sun till noon and then shade from then on. The field bees are bringing in pollen now and sugar syrup is available for this colony to help them draw out new foundation frames. This colony was trapped out of a tree in early June and re-queened the last week of June. My other hives are housed in the same conditions and are not exhibiting similar behavior. Any ideas?

[@FrederickDunn]

HI Larry - it's normal and I will explain this activity on Friday! :) Thank you for the question! it's generally associated with hygienic behavior and I share about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZrWiK2MmayHgNE

[@larrylosciale9656]

Great vid Fred. You're absolutely right , checking out bee pollen and its properties can really become a deep rabbit hole. I just had an opportunity to pick up some "used" frames and boxes. I should say pre-owned because they weren't actually put into service. They were stored where some insects were able to get at them (no signs of wax moth though) . So my question is how would you go about cleaning them. They are wood frames with what seems to be waxed plastic foundation. Thanks for all the knowledge you impart .

[@FrederickDunn]

HI Larry, I personally never accept any used "unoccupied" equipment. As inexpensive as frames are, I don't think the risk is worth it. Boxes can be superheated if they are really nice and worth the time. I just put them in thick black plastic trash bags and "bake them" in the hot summer sun. But those are my own old boxes.

[@larrylosciale9656]

@@FrederickDunn , Thank you, the boxes are indeed very nice and after some scraping torch them I will. The frames w/ foundation turned out to have never been used and after looking more closely the only thing on them was dust. However I have decided to loose all the foundation and I'm going to sanitize the frames just in case. Thanks again for all you do.

[@ShotgunAndAShovel]

This was insanely informative. I'm going to aait to collect pollen until possible next year. This is my first year with bees. I just got ohio goldenrod to add to the other plants in the apiary. My son will love watching the pollens change color through the year.

[@FrederickDunn]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shaunroberts9361]

You are just amazing.

[@julieenslow5915]

Wonderful video Fred. I was wondering - it would seem that if water was a potential problem for keeping your pollen fresh and viable - Florida would not be a good place to use a pollen trap. Except in the winter. We do have a lot of winter vegetables grown here, so yes there is pollen available here in the winter. Citrus is also available then too, in South Florida. So perhaps it is a seasonal thing for Florida beekeepers - what do you think? In any event - I learned a lot, and one thing I got right away was the potential harm you could do your bees by overdoing this. But then - that's the same with the honey. If you take it all - you kill the colony eventually as they cant survive the winter if they have no honey stores.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Julie, I think that in each location any pollen removal/trapping should be a measured activity and sounds like Florida may have provisions year-round, but I"m sure there are low-pollen periods when leaving it for the bees would be a good practice. Even hive by hive, their pollen demands are wide and varied. When the pollen storage load seems high, that's probably a good time to collect some for those who wish to do that. :)

[@julieenslow5915]

@@FrederickDunn Good to know that you sir.

[@Tay58382]

Great video, Thanks ! Could you do one on the Ross Rounds ?

[@FrederickDunn]

Sure, I'd be more than happy to: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3iXh5KbqMeph6c

[@Tay58382]

Well now that was fast 🤪

[@yohjokromwood2327]

very nice i dont remember the name puth the is plant that wild version of sun flower i have in my back garden and it produce way more flower then normal sunflower

[@kevmo7773]

If you have an upper entrance open during a heavy nectar flow, wouldn’t you want to have a landing board for it?

[@FrederickDunn]

not generally as we don't want raiders and robbers to have a staging area... annnnd generally upper entrances are temporary in my case.

[@mrcreditunion1]

Is there such a thing as too many drones? Will the colony self correct? Thanks Fred!

[@FrederickDunn]

I like seeing plenty of drones as I want my bee genetics out there mixing it up with neighboring colonies. If they started producing full "drone frames" I'd possibly do something about that, but for now they are still fringe cells.

[@danskisbees7348]

Do you have capped worker cells also?

[@mikeries8549]

I collected pollen on one hive for about a month. I tasted it too. Some is sweet and some is not. I was separating the different types and sampling. I'm not that into pollen.

[@TheSamba37]

Do you have a video reviewing the Saskatraz bees more? I'm very interested in them but would love to hear more about how they compare.

[@FrederickDunn]

They did not do well for me here, and had the highest mite counts of any line I've worked with. BUT, they did produce lots of honey.

[@shayaj]

I'll be collecting pollen this season with the front-mounted Blythewood trap. One question comes to mind. In addition to the pollen, do you also find all the resins that bees are collecting for propolis in the trap? What else do you find in the receptacle?

[@FrederickDunn]

Actally no, I don't get much propolis in the trap, and that's because it really sticks to the bee legs and doesn't scrap of as easily as the pollen does. Bees need the help of other bees to get propolis off of their legs.

[@davidsolt426]

I didn't understand how it went from "The bees lick the pollen that falls on the entry board" to "the bees carry of the pollen that falls to the entry board and take it away from the hive".

[@FrederickDunn]

The basic point I was making is that they won't use dropped pollen, and eventually it's treated like any other debris that needs to be removed.

[@6Deep6]

Hi Fred, Unrelated to this video, but related to the FAQ. Do you think having a feeder on (most of the year?) will make the hive too humid and create difficulty for them to regulate the humidity of the hive? With warm regards, MK

[@FrederickDunn]

FAQ 29 tomorrow :) I'll address this. Thanks 6Deep6

[@robertraatz2030]

I just did my first bee wash to check for varroa on my colony that I started from a package of Italian bees. (Scientificbeekeeping.com method, 1/2 cup of bees from a brood frame). It was traumatic for all of us. No varroa washed off. How likely is it that my hive is varroa free? Should I still treat with oxalic?

[@FrederickDunn]

Did you collect the sample bees directly from the brood frames? Particularly with the alcohol wash there should have been a couple at least. BUT, if they are clear or just one or two, I personally wouldn't treat.

[@robertraatz2030]

@@FrederickDunn, yes I collected them from a brood frame, the brood was mostly closed I think. Maybe there are some good hygienic genes in this colony, they were actually removing a pupa from a drone cell on the frame I shook off. I didn't specifically order a named hygienic line, but maybe those traits are becoming more common (fingers crossed). Thanks for reviewing pollen collectors, I'm hoping to try one out once I have a strongly established colony.

[@walid055107]

The entrance is narrow, why !?

[@FrederickDunn]

The entrance size is appropriate for the activity going in and out. It can be widened at various times throughout the season when it becomes necessary. If the entrance is too "open" for the resident activity, then robbing can be more difficult for the resident bees to defend against.

[@billgreen4592]

Hey there, this is not about pollen traps, but that was a good video. It looks like I will need to re-queen one of my hives and have wanted to try a hygienic queen. I know that you have used both Bee Weaver and Saskatraz. If you were to chose one or the other which would it be? Thanks in advance.

[@FrederickDunn]

HI Bill, right now I would endorse the BeeWeaver queens over the Saskatraz line... the Saskatraz colonies are definitely going to need varroa treatment while the Weaver line continue to hold their own.

[@billgreen4592]

@@FrederickDunn Thanks, I was leaning in that direction. Glad to have your confirmation.

[@jbeebuchanan2136]

I used one of the yellow plastic front mounted pollen traps that all of the suppliers sell this summer A couple of benefits over the one that you tested Fredrick is that there are larger side holes that a lot of the bees use as well as drones and virgins. Also when you want to allow the bees free access you just flip up the screen. I like this design because i think that with tested product everytime you take the tray in and out the bees would get confused again. I do wonder if the pollen traps reduce honey production though. I have 2 hives side by side they're both about equal strength. One hive are Saskatraz bees from OHB in California and the other are Italians. I had the pollen trap on the Saskatraz for a few months this summer and early fall. The populations of the 2 hives are still very similar but the italians produced about twice as much honey. Has anyone had a similar experience

[@FrederickDunn]

Thanks for that information and for sharing your observations. I only used it for a few hours during high traffic days. I didn't notice any honey production reduction, but then, it wasn't on for a meaningful amount of time. I do hope others chime in with their experiences.

[@jbeebuchanan2136]

Thanks for the response Frederick and also for your fabulous video's. I love the way you delve into the fascinating life of the creatures on your property. My daughter has Allergies so I was actively collecting pollen. I did a cycle of 3 days on and 3 days off.

[@FrederickDunn]

@@jbeebuchanan2136 Does the bee pollen improve her allergy issues?

[@jbeebuchanan2136]

Actually it seemed to exacerbate it. We stored a bunch and plan on micro dosing and hopefully building up a tolerance after the allergy season is done.

[@FrederickDunn]

@@jbeebuchanan2136 I've heard that is a possibility. What about RAW Honey? Any luck with that as a treatment?

[@SpiritBear12]

Do you think that thing could be used to help scrape off varroa mites if you water proofed the drawer and put oil in it? If the bees exit via the small holes, would anything the bee might have on it get scraped off and fall into the drawer, or does it only work when the bees go in the hive from outside and not on the way out? Would the plastic holes wear down the wings of the bees like a Queen Excluder might?

[@FrederickDunn]

Definitely not adequate for varroa removal, even small packs of pollen make it through the holes. On the way out, any varroa would drop on a flat board and not into the tray/drawer. As I mention in the video, I personally would not leave these on for extended periods of time.

[@SpiritBear12]

@@FrederickDunn Got it.

[@davidpatrick1813]

Thanks Frederick ... this was helpful for me to learn how to treat pollen. The model I gave for Mannlake website is quite different and I had already purchased it. It has four pieces of wood I guess goes above the brood chamber super and a super on top of that. Then the unit sits on front of the two longer pieces that are longer than the depth of the hive box. I am using 10 frame (two hive). I called them and they don't have instructions other than what is on their site. I was wondering if it made sense to you and I can try to understand from you. I'll have order something else and can burn this one in the wood stove... It has been very frustrating and makes no sense to me.

[@FrederickDunn]

HI David, I don't personally like the pollen traps that are situated under the brood box. The reason I much prefer the landing board version is that you can put it on any hive that is looking very strong, and it's not hard at all to remove and place elsewhere. With the bottom board units, you have to lift all hive equipment to move it to another hive. Yes, they have a bypass mode, but that means you need several units.

[@davidpatrick1813]

@@FrederickDunn I agree I bought this before I knew anything... I am thinking of simply modifying it to have it work at the main entrance at the bottom board... or wait another year.

[@WildRice281]

This was interesting, but I have no plans on taking my bees pollen.

[@FrederickDunn]

Most keepers will not be removing/trapping the pollen. As I've shared here, I hope that if people do it, that they will do so sparingly.

[@mikeries8549]

What's bizarre is how much pollen is stored in a double deep hive in the late fall. They use it up that's for sure.

[@MeyerTribe7]

What is the size of the holes?

[@FrederickDunn]

Not sure, but you can purchase pollen trap inserts separate from the actual mechanism. Sorry, I don't know the optimum dimension.

[@gregwaskom552]

Where did you get your saskatraz bees

[@FrederickDunn]

Through Mann Lake, but I recommend buying them directly from the California Breeder and bypassing Mann Lake.

[@gregwaskom552]

@@FrederickDunn were they from olivarez.

[@FrederickDunn]

@@gregwaskom552 Yes, Olivarez honey Bees Inc.

[@mfilipe77]

Is your bee hive visor made by you and if so, is it made from wood? Does it really help?

[@FrederickDunn]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2WXh5mqadmIqck

[@wolfdogg28]

What are your thought on this device possibly causing wear on the bees wings? I have heard people don’t like to use queen excluders for that reason.

[@FrederickDunn]

Queen Excluders definitely put physical wear and tear on the bees passing through them. Queen excluders are on throughout the season, so for me, they are a much larger issue. These are on, at least the way I would use them, for only a few hours a day when the pollen is really coming in and therefore any additional wear on the foragers is greatly reduced. If it is tearing the wings, then you should notice that damage on the exiting bees also, close up slow-motion video will reveal that if it's occurring. There are other designs which may be more harmful to the bee bodies, but I'm not personally familiar with them.

[@wolfdogg28]

Frederick Dunn thank you for the insight, I appreciate you sharing you knowledge to help us all at being better bee keepers

[@portersmith3405]

So, my question is, what do the male bees do? Are they beneficial to the hive?

[@FrederickDunn]

They carry beneficial genetics into the wide and wonderful world - critical to future honey bee colonies :) and, they are fun to pick up!

[@mikeries8549]

The males are free to go to peaceful rallies but tend to congregate in certain areas hoping to get lucky and get a girlfriend. 😉

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Drones (Males) don't have a Sting ! Beekeepers can 'practice Marking Queens,' on drones as they won't sting you.... However, when "Marked" squish them... Or you will think their are loads of Queens in your Hive ! 😱 A bit of a Drag, finding Who Is the Real Queen. 😉 (Drones in drag Marker Paint Colours, with "thorax Dots" splodges of trial and error.... trying to out-queen the genuine Queen...🤣) 🐝🐝🐝🐝👑🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@tomcrynock37]

Great video thank you. I have a question off topic what genetics do you prefer? I know you a variety and have some that do not require treatment.

[@FrederickDunn]

My favorite line of bees are from BeeWeaver in Texas, their survivor stock is the best I've managed.

[@mikeries8549]

@@FrederickDunn what are you comparing with? There's a California apiary that I've heard the best things about but right this second I can't remember their name. Strachan. Had to do a search.

[@makkdot1]

Hello, Frederick. I have a question about a past vid post info I can not seem to find. The post was about queen marking, you used a paint set, could you post a link or the exact brand to look for, please. Thank You

[@FrederickDunn]

Any testors model paint is fine. They sell testors paint markers. Just make sure it's nice and dry before returning the queen to the workers or they may chew the mark off.

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

In the UK Queen Marker Pens are made by "Posca." Sure they are available World Wide. Or use a dot of Artist's Acyrlic Paints. . . A Colour* is used per Year ! [Now days, Queens don't really live for say x5 years or more.] So Colours are used and determined over x6 Bee Season Years* ! Eg White Year ending either 2021, 2026 ! We say "Will" (White) Year ending : 1 or 6. "You" (Yellow) 2 or 7 "Raise" (Red) 3 or 8 = "2023" is a "Red" Mark pp Queens ! 🥳 "Great" (Green) 4 or 9 "Bees" (Blue) 5 or 0 Posca Pens come either individually, or as a complete Set : White, Yellow, Red, Green, and Blue. 👍 Some Colour Blind Beeks may use a bright Neon Pink or Zesty Lime Green as these 'Glow' over it being a Hue ! (Grey ?? More Grey ?? ) Hope this Helps 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2023 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Tip :. If you want to practice "Marking a Queen" do so on a Drone (Boy Bee!) BUT do use a Colour NOT of the current Year. . . Or you might think you have x10's of Queens in your Hive ! Oops! Which one is the actual Queen ? 🙃 Use a practice Colour x5 Years away from current Year ! To stop confusion over your Grand Dame long lived Queens. 🤭

[@allglad]

how does a person know what type of honey it is? follow the bees or by asking them....maybe esb?

[@FrederickDunn]

Some can tell by the smell... I'm not one of those guys who can taste a honey sample and pause and say.. hmmm "a touch of aster with underpinnings of goldenrod"... I'm not that refined. BUT, spring generally brings heavy loads of light colored and light flavored clover honey.... but then, there are also apple blossoms, cherries, and crabapple trees.... it's a complete bouquet...

[@mikeries8549]

Our hives are in the city so our honey is a mixture of sources. With experience I've learned to taste each super, grade it, and test moisture ....every box. I've found that I can find the boxes that were filled with basswood honey and boxes with clover honey. Of course it's not perfect but there are subtle differences. Basswood is slightly minty. We've had honey that tastes like "juicy fruit" gum. Clover honey stings the back of your throat. Goldenrod honey is dark and you know when it's coming in. Your yard will smell like a gym. Dirty socks. It's stinky but that's the smell of money.

[@ME_MeAndMyBees]

Here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 UK they grow a lot of Oil Seed Rape (Canola.) It's Field after Field of Bright Yellow mid height Flowers. OSR sets and becomes a very smooth Set (also known as a "Creamed" Honey ! It sets easily, so Beeks stir it back to a thick smooth honey. (Creamed Honey, isnt allowed on a UK Label. Or some think it may contains Cows Cream !) Doh... 🥴 If you live in an Area* that covers x100's of square Miles : Honey can get determined as from 'one' main floral Source ! Like Heather Honey, Clover, Manuka, Orange Bloosom, even 'Honey Dew' (stick plant secretions.) Legally if any Honey contained say a little wild Flower, near a designated Heather Crop (on the Mountains, and maybe a meadow by a River Bank,) it could 'stated' to not to be 100%* Heather !?! Get the idea. I would state here, those Jars of Honey Sold at say 70p UK, 88c USA can't possibly be real genuine Honey !!! More Faux (Fake) Honey made from 'hive stored Syrup' Sugar Feed Bees : especially in China ! That stuff has flooded the cheap Grocery Aisles. Its criminal, knowing a local Beek could be prosocuted, but not a blend of Honey from 'one or more' countries or origin ! EU has tonnes of this stuff. 😡

[@FloryJohann]

Thanks for the video. I always wanted to know how to harvest pollen. How long did it take to fill those glass containers?

[@FrederickDunn]

Each Tube represents a single afternoon on one hive.

[@FloryJohann]

@@FrederickDunn My computer is messing up a bit....sorry So about 3-4 hours worth. Thank you for your reply.

[@FrederickDunn]

Yes, I tried to keep the collection drawar in no longer than from about 1 pm to 4 pm in order to limit the impact on feeding their brood. Some commercial beekeepers leave the pollen traps on for days on end.

[@FloryJohann]

@@FrederickDunn Thank you very much for the information. I may try to harvest some pollen this year. I buy the walmart brand and it helps with allergies when the pollen count for that day is high.

[@T289c]

What flow are you expecting this early in August?

[@FrederickDunn]

Golden rod and asters with white clover continuing - Maximilian sunflowers will finish it all off.

[@T289c]

Frederick Dunn I am also in the northeast and the dearth began about a week ago. I don’t see goldenrod for at least 4 more weeks.

[@FrederickDunn]

Wow, four more weeks before golden rod blossoms? I don't envy you that. I hope your bees are doing well.

[@T289c]

@@FrederickDunn Yes they are. Even though it was so rainy this spring and they missed some of the good nectar, they seemed to have had a longer flow this year. The honey has very different flavor from last year. Very little Basswood (Linden) this year. Usually slows around 4th of July. I usually don't see goldenrod in full bloom until Labor Day. And around Halloween the resources are done for the season. Also the first time I put the heat on in the house.

[@steel1583]

I'm not sure but I think pollen is impossible to digest for humans...

[@FrederickDunn]

I think you are correct, in that microscopic pollen spores by themselves may not be digestible, but I think that it's the compilation of pollen with honey bee enzymes and nectar that lend themselves to making it valuable for those who ingest it. Pollen may remain intact after animals have digested it and this is how we know what animals have ingested. It's wide open for study and further understanding. Since I don't suffer from allergies etc, I can't make any personal claims regarding the benefits. Thanks for watching and commenting! :)

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

maybe it's another health food overstatement????

[@steel1583]

@@FrederickDunn thanks for replying and for having added that illuminating explication about the processed pollen by bees. I always enjoy and learn through your videos. I still don't understand how bees can modify those pollen spores with enzymes, since they don't store it in their stomachs (like nectar) and it is collected from their legs at the moment they enter the hive...

[@mihaiilie8808]

@@thehiveandthehoneybee9547 its not overstatement.Eat it then go to do a blood test,like routinely bloodtest. The doctor will think your severely ill after he will read the blood tests ,because you blood will have soo manny antibodyes that will trick the doctor. Human body makes those antibodyes to fight disease,infections ,etc and having constant high antibodyes from pollen gives you strength and resistance to diseases like colds,viruses,etc. In Soviet Union,scientists found more than 250 people that were older (or equal )than 120 years age in Georgia.They all had one thing in common,all were beekeepers that ate a diet wich included bees pollen.I believe thats the secret of those people longevity and not the stream of water that Stalin used to drink from from it ,there.

[@mihaiilie8808]

Humans can digest the pollen with the help of the bacterias that live in the digestive system just like we can digest manny otther things we cant digest on our own,like milk for instance. Just like from the digestion of milk,a part of the pollen eaten its not digested but not all of it.

[@coziii.1829]

I heard from other bee videos that it rips their legs off or their sack . Is this true.

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

what do you mean it rips off their sack??????!!! wtf

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

wouldn't there be legs and parts in those drawers he showed? looked like pollen to me?

[@FrederickDunn]

I saw no evidence of physical damage to the bees with this entry board pollen trap, do you know which specific trap design had those claims associated with it? Thanks Coz.

[@PilotMcbride]

Can you provide a link to the video please, my jaw broke when it hit the floor.

[@thehiveandthehoneybee9547]

We're still waiting on that mythical video youre talking about! Coz lii?! did you make that up?!!!