Apiary density

[Angularity]

The local census says there are 80 apiaries within 10km of mine. Is this too many for expansion? How dense a bee population is too dense?

 

[B+.]

The local census says there are 80 apiaries within 10km of mine.

It's not a reliable figure - old info is not removed and even current info is often inaccurate

 

[Swarm]

You can not delete apiary sites.

 

[Poly Hive]

I will give you Manley's advice.

You set out a number of hives and count the honey. You the following season set out more or less hives and count the honey and so on until you find the optimum stocks the site can stock.

KISS

PH

 

[Uncle Betty]

Ian Craig in 'My Beekeeping Year' cites Colin Butler as recommending a max of 7 colonies per apiary site, based on a colony density of not more that 1 colony per 10 square km.

Flying range = 4.8km (3 miles)
Pi = 3.14

A circle of c.72 square km / 10 square km = 7.

'... colonies owned by other beekeepers must be taken into account.'

 

[Poly Hive]

Interesting but not that accurate I think.

I used to set down apiaries of 30 to 40 on both Heather and OSR and had pretty good results.

But of course, it all depends on location.

PH

 

[Uncle Betty]

Interesting but not that accurate I think.

I used to set down apiaries of 30 to 40 on both Heather and OSR and had pretty good results.

But of course, it all depends on location.

PH

I knew I should have added the next bit...

'The above calculation is not valid when considering colony density for intensive crops such as oilseed rape and heather.'

 

[Swarm]

The only thing you can do is site your hives and see how it goes, no good trying to work things out because you have no idea what number or where other hives are and even that can change from season to season, plus seasons themselves will vary.

 

[Wingy]

According to the data on beebase when I registered this year I have 113 apiary sites within that 10Km radius. My site has only 1 hive at the moment but I don't know how many hives the other sites have could all have 1 or 1,000 hives each. If however I registered another 4 sites and moved my 1 hive around it would still show 5 sites. Also as suggested some sites are no longer used but still registered and included in the count. I wouldn't worry unless my bees were struggling to find nectar or pollen then I'd have to look into why.
Wingy

 

[peteinwilts]

I will give you Manley's advice.

You set out a number of hives and count the honey. You the following season set out more or less hives and count the honey and so on until you find the optimum stocks the site can stock.

KISS

PH

I normally stock between 6 and 10 in an apiary, but have had more with no obvious negative effects. I know communial apiarys with quite a lot more.

you should not judge by a single year. My best hive last year, was one of the worst this year.
I have a number of different apiarys in different environments, and depending on the year (the weather!), some will always do better than others. (e.g the elevated drier areas do better in a wet summer, while the lower down wetter areas are better when the weather is hot and dry)

 

[B+.]

I normally stock between 6 and 10 in an apiary, but have had more with no obvious negative effects. I know communial apiarys with quite a lot more.

My area is very agricultural. It's either "full-on" or just enough to keep them ticking over during the season. I keep 20-30 sister colonies per apiary with each apiary being 1-2 miles apart. I don't think they're short of forage https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=751&pictureid=3832