Making a huge increase in numbers?

[Sanntos]

I was asked last night if it was possible to increase from 20 to 100 stocks in a season. Not nucs mind but good strong stocks ready to successfully over winter?

PH

Nucs or not have nothing to do with "good strong stocks". What you really want to overwinter is a good healthy cluster of medium size. What size of box is best suited to do that......?
It is of course possible to do a five fold increase, but I wouldn't try before I was able to raise queen cells by myself. The money spent on buying 80 queens has a much better use in material, frames and wax.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Once I met a second year beekeeper who had bought a lot of material for comb honey production

This afternoon I had an email from a farm owner wanting to start with 20 colonies.

She's planted wildflower meadows, has plenty of enthusiasm and even bought honeyflow hives (we know what she means) and really wants to get going this spring...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

She's planted wildflower meadows, has plenty of enthusiasm and even bought honeyflow hives (we know what she means) and really wants to get going this spring...

 

[Newbeeneil]

If travel doesn't justify the return (and as productive apiaries 3 miles apart are but a dream) then an apiary ought to be abandoned.

Heard of one thoughtful beefarmer whose apiaries are all close to the M25.

I aim to access them from the A10, M11, A12 and A13 - all direct escape routes from this part of London. Out at 5 or 6 and back late avoids grid-locks, but I'll be going against the flow of the herd anyway.

Years ago I went through the Blackwall tunnel at 8am to an orchard job in Kent (pruning). Southbound empty, Northbound tailback into the City at least five miles and barely moving (and there lies one cause of poor city air quality).

Surrey trips to bees - 1.5hrs across London and down the A3 - are justifiable because I go to shop for Mum (92 and still going).

I've just decided to pull my horns in and pass on 3 of my customers who are outside my optimum range, This will make my inspections much easier and quicker but will mean that I miss out on £7.5K income next year. Hey ho, more time for my hives and the grand children

I hope mum is still managing... did you tell her about the death my bother who lived round the corner?

 

[Erichalfbee]

This afternoon I had an email from a farm owner wanting to start with 20 colonies.

She's planted wildflower meadows, has plenty of enthusiasm and even bought honeyflow hives (we know what she means) and really wants to get going this spring...

How did you advise her?

 

[ericbeaumont]

That's a fair chunk, Neil. Anyone local to pass it on?

 

[Newbeeneil]

This afternoon I had an email from a farm owner wanting to start with 20 colonies.

She's planted wildflower meadows, has plenty of enthusiasm and even bought honeyflow hives (we know what she means) and really wants to get going this spring...

I hope you are going to disillusion her!

 

[Newbeeneil]

That's a fair chunk, Neil. Anyone local to pass it on?

Yes all taken up by mates.

 

[ericbeaumont]

How did you advise her?

I hope you are going to disillusion her!

I'm going to sleep on it, but there's no way I'm going to shatter her dream!

Probably fillet, squeeze, slice and shake it (gently) and make sure the sun goes down with a smile.

 

[Finman]

This afternoon I had an email from a farm owner wanting to start with 20 colonies.

She's planted wildflower meadows, has plenty of enthusiasm and even bought honeyflow hives (we know what she means) and really wants to get going this spring...

With own colonies or somebody's else?
How many hectares wildflowers? Perhaps 50 hectares?
Is it possible to cultivate wild flowers. What species? Often those flowers are not bee forage flowers.
Does she get farming support to such activity?

Does she know,what she is doing.
.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Does she know,what she is doing.

No.

 

[ericbeaumont]

I hope mum is still managing... did you tell her about the death my bother who lived round the corner?

Just about, Neil, and thanks for asking. I knew your brother lived in Furze Lane (met him a few times years ago) and I'm sorry to hear that that he's passed away.

 

[charlienjack]

This thread came at exactly the right time. I took (very) early retirement at Christmas and am looking to do just this as I turn my many years' hobby into a glorified hobby/micro-business.

The January sales were great for buying in pallet loads of flat pack kit, which I've started assembling and treating to get ready for expansion.

I'll be starting with 4 overwintered poly nucs and 5 full size nationals. We'll see how it goes and how many I get to!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

This thread came at exactly the right time. I took (very) early retirement at Christmas and am looking to do just this as I turn my many years' hobby into a glorified hobby/micro-business.

The January sales were great for buying in pallet loads of flat pack kit, which I've started assembling and treating to get ready for expansion.

I'll be starting with 4 overwintered poly nucs and 5 full size nationals. We'll see how it goes and how many I get to!!

Welcome to the forum. Great plans.

 

[Boston Bees]

This thread came at exactly the right time. I took (very) early retirement at Christmas and am looking to do just this as I turn my many years' hobby into a glorified hobby/micro-business.

The January sales were great for buying in pallet loads of flat pack kit, which I've started assembling and treating to get ready for expansion.

I'll be starting with 4 overwintered poly nucs and 5 full size nationals. We'll see how it goes and how many I get to!!

How many hives worth of kit have you bought?

 

[robinharman]

William is fine, running a good numbers of healthy colonies.

 

[understanding_bees]

William Alldis was found not guilty in October 2020 of charges relating to the shooting of a deer in a public place.

The media picked up on the initial story but not all followed it to the end. The Romford Recorder gave the complete picture.

The Shotgun Chef's cooking was by several accounts a success (and The Guardian Startup of the Year in 2014) though I never got to eat there.

On TripAdvisor the Cart Shed restaurant scored 4 of 5 stars; a few years later a barn fire put paid to the venture.

William may not be the world's greatest businessman, but he's one of the most knowledgeable beekeepers I've come across and a man with a very good heart.

Thank you Eric for providing a more detailed account of this story. There have been far too many occasions when a person’s character has been tarnished because people have publicized incomplete or one-sided (and sometimes even distorted) accounts of an incident. Well done!

 

[Erichalfbee]

William is fine, running a good numbers of healthy colonies.

I'm pleased he's managed to get it right in the end

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thank you Eric for providing a more detailed account of this story. There have been far too many occasions when a person’s character has been tarnished because people have publicized incomplete or one-sided (and sometimes even distorted) accounts of an incident. Well done!

Searching Weald Place Farm Bees on the forum will show you why some members are still wary

 

[Mint Bee]

when I started out i got some additional nucs from William. I picked these up as I was working not far away at the time. Good set up and nice guy face to face, but he was very chaotic and this showed when he took me for a tour of his apiary. I was one of the lucky ones who actually got their bees, and without any added extras, from the feedback here at the time