Feeding pollen patties in spring

With sprung round the corner we have been feeding a weekly pattie of natural pollen plus other high protein foods. Making protein available to bees when there would be none naturally.
We hope to encourage early breeding giving us the opportunity to split hives in late April or early may and re queen with imported queens. Our winter losses are about the same as last year, a bit disappointing as it looked like we may have done better from early inspections. still those colonies that are alive are looking good, so following a really good summer we shuld be in good shape by the end of the year. Ever the optomist.