Protein feed dough for stimulation feeding in spring

What you need:

Preparation:

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of sugar in the lukewarm water, crumble in the yeast and mix everything well. Bubbles should form after a short time, which means that the yeast is good and the bacteria are working. Add this mixture to the sugar and knead everything well. It is sufficient to obtain a fairly uniform crumbly structure. Then cover the mixture with cling film to prevent it from drying out and place in a warm place for 2 to 3 days. The doughy consistency can now be portioned and packaged. It is advisable to leave the feed dough to rest for approx. 2 weeks before feeding it to the bees.

Protein feed dough is not suitable for feeding colonies and should not be used to prevent bee colonies from starving!!!!

Why offer protein feed dough to bees in spring?

The days are getting longer and the winter food supply is running out. The bees naturally become more active with the longer and warmer days. There is not yet enough pollen available as a source of protein. The energy of the old bees (now still winter bees) can be fully utilised if they are offered additional protein food. The bees feed their queen eagerly and she can increase her brood.

At what colony size does it make sense to use protein feed dough for stimulus feeding in spring?

Recommended for medium-sized colonies to give them the necessary kick to increase brood production. Not necessary for strong colonies, and also counterproductive. Protein stimulus feeding also has a negative effect on weak, very small colonies!

What do I need to bear in mind when stimulus feeding with (protein) feed dough in spring?

Bees must be able to fly out to defecate! A cold spell of 1 to 2 days is not a problem. However, care must be taken to avoid a cold spell of 1 to 2 weeks during stimulus feeding, in which case it is better to wait and not feed! Bees must be able to collect enough water!