Happily , its probably one of those no wrong answers type questions - if it works, it works..
I am going to have another go with pollen sub mixed a lot wetter and along the frame tops as suggested by Mick before long. I was a bit surprised how uninterested they were in patties I tried last year - I can only suppose it was either the mix I used or they had some access to natural pollen and couldn't be bothered. We currently have plenty of hazel in flower, although hand on heart I can't say I have noticed honey bees working it for pollen but they are supposed to. Any stored super frames with pollen in them often generate a stack of dried pollen powder excavated by pollen mites on the bottom board of the stack. I have always wondered if there is still nutritional value in it or once no longer bee bread it is just waste product full of pollen mites - any thoughts?
I wish I had the freezer space to keep spare pollen frames. I may have to purchase another freezer - I have to use UN levels of negotiation to store frozen sea fishing bait as it is. Don't even bother mentioning keeping live bait in the fridge, the response would cause a shockwave that flattens trees for a 20 mile radius