Maximum number of colonies...

[BMH]

What do you think the maximum number of colonies 1 person can manage with 1 day per week available to focus on bees.

I currently have 50 which are all in close proximity to one and other.

Takes me about 5 hours so do a full round of inspections but often end up going to do little tasks here and there throughout the week - which is fine. So its not strictly 1 day per week (but I dont want it to become more than 1 full day).

Thinking of doubling up over winter to 100 (will be creating 50 splits anyway for nucs to overwinter) but do you think this is realistic to manage for 1 person for 1 day a week?

I intend to increase numbers at existing apiaries as opposed to adding new apiaries.

I know it will be close and I can be flexible in the height of the season if needs be with evenings and weekends but I work a FT job...

What's the maximum number of hives people have before realising they need assistance/go FT?

 

[Beefriendly]

I currently have 50 which are all in close proximity to one and other.

It's a complex equation....not least you need to factor in the time to extract honey.
Which is complicated by the productivity of the bees you keep. You can get more honey/hive with productive strains than non productive...with the later you need to increase hive numbers to get the same yield.

 

[BMH]

It's a complex equation....not least you need to factor in the time to extract honey.
Which is complicated by the productivity of the bees you keep. You can get more honey/hive with productive strains than non productive...with the later you need to increase hive numbers to get the same yield.

Should have mentioned, I have an agreement with a bee farmer to extract and sell on my behalf, under his own brand.

Therefore I dont need to factor in any time for extracting, sales, marketing etc

 

[Hachi]

Is there really a "one size" fits all for this? Surely it depends on you the individual? For example, I've been really lazy this winter and have just spent two weeks leave making kit, that I should have made in the wee dark hours through the winter.

I'm not a beginner beek but my math is telling me 50 hives in 5 hours equates to 1 hive inspection taking no more than 6 minutes. That's a good average for you to work from isn't it? i.e. you should be able to increase by another 30 hives if you wanted no more than a 8 hr day?

 

[BMH]

Yes - its a good average but wanted other people's views on stuff I may have neglected to think about!

The fact I'm going to use the same apiaries should mean I can beat my average inspection time as I am not wasting time travelling between sites.

This also doesnt take into account any movement of bees to temporary locations, heather and rape, for example.

Im pretty organised and got all the frames completed and hives built in the winter with my 1 day per week, so am in a good position with a surplus of equipment and made up SN4/DN4 frames for expansion.

I wont need to spend any time this season making up frames or equipment.

 

[tom8400]

6mins a hive, good job i'm not trying to have a race with you. I guess this is something that comes with practice and experience

 

[Hachi]

Yes - its a good average but wanted other people's views on stuff I may have neglected to think about!

The fact I'm going to use the same apiaries should mean I can beat my average inspection time as I am not wasting time travelling between sites.

This also doesnt take into account any movement of bees to temporary locations, heather and rape, for example.

Im pretty organised and got all the frames completed and hives built in the winter with my 1 day per week, so am in a good position with a surplus of equipment and made up SN4/DN4 frames for expansion.

I wont need to spend any time this season making up frames or equipment.

Ok but lets not turn this into the usual willy waving thread. Your original question was about the number of colonies you could manage.

If you want all, both direct and in-direct activities throughout the year to equate to no more than 1 day a week or 52 days of the year then its a simple process of adding up all the activities you do, do and extrapolate that out into your 52 days. If it currently equates to more then cut back, if not, then increase.

 

[BMH]

Ok but lets not turn this into the usual willy waving thread. Your original question was about the number of colonies you could manage.

If you want all, both direct and in-direct activities throughout the year to equate to no more than 1 day a week or 52 days of the year then its a simple process of adding up all the activities you do, do and extrapolate that out into your 52 days. If it currently equates to more then cut back, if not, then increase.

Well that's an incredibly helpful comment?!

If this was a willy waving thread I think I would be better off taking up fishing compared to some of the guys on here! Jeez.

 

[masterBK]

Can your existing apiaries take more colonies without the average honey yield per hive going down due to competition between them (law of diminishing returns?). There are limits to what any area can yield. You might find you will be forced to consider a few sites outside your present areas.

 

[Madge]

...



I currently have 50 which are all in close proximity to one and other.



Takes me about 5 hours so do a full round of inspections ...

If all goes well, and you only need to lift the top box of a double-brood set-up, 6 minutes per colony can be done (but most definitely not by me!). But what about doing artificial swarms, trying to find a queen in hiding, cleaning hives, rendering wax ...

From my perspective, I don’t know how you can manage 50 colonies effectively and with care - let alone expand! I certainly won’t be able to manage 50 colonies in just one day.

 

[BMH]

Can your existing apiaries take more colonies without the average honey yield per hive going down due to competition between them (law of diminishing returns?). There are limits to what any area can yield. You might find you will be forced to consider a few sites outside your present areas.

Good point. I currently have 6 apiaries with a wide range of forage. The hives are pretty evenly spread.

I have access to other apiaries if required but I dont think the beehive density is too great where I have them. It doesnt look to congested on beebase but obviously there will be some that arent registered.

I will have to collate some data but would have thought each apiary could take 15 without a dramatic drop in production.

 

[Hachi]

Well that's an incredibly helpful comment?!

If this was a willy waving thread I think I would be better off taking up fishing compared to some of the guys on here! Jeez.

I give up. Good luck in your quest for enlightenment

 

[GuyNir]

Quite individual I’d say.
Working FT, 14 colonies were too much for me. So many times the day I can do beekeeping on the weekend, the weather isn’t good etc’...
Take my hat to you working 50 hives in 5hr. I couldn’t.
As to answering your original question, I truly believe only you can.

 

[BMH]

If all goes well, and you only need to lift the top box of a double-brood set-up, 6 minutes can be done (but most definitely not by me!). But what about doing artificial swarms, trying to find a queen in hiding, cleaning hives, rendering wax ...

From my perspective, I don’t know how you can manage 50 colonies effectively and with care - let alone expand! I certainly won’t be able to manage 50 colonies in just one day.

Good points again. Rendering wax and cleaning hives will be done in winter when I have spare time.

All hives are on double brood so most inspections are just a tip of the brood box and maybe a couple of central frames/check for eggs.

Herein lies the big problem is that expanding is quite easy. When I stop expanding and have to try and keep the numbers steady whilst managing swarming, the issues may begin to arise.

 

[foghornleghorn]

Good points again. Rendering wax and cleaning hives will be done in winter when I have spare time.

All hives are on double brood so most inspections are just a tip of the brood box and maybe a couple of central frames/check for eggs.

Herein lies the big problem is that expanding is quite easy. When I stop expanding and have to try and keep the numbers steady whilst managing swarming, the issues may begin to arise.

Combine 2 hives to make one at heather time and you'll keep numbers under control, or else sell bees...

Really it depends how organised you are and how well set up you are to carry supers etc and not be wasting time

 

[BMH]

Combine 2 hives to make one at heather time and you'll keep numbers under control, or else sell bees...

Really it depends how organised you are and how well set up you are to carry supers etc and not be wasting time

Nice idea. Double up at the heather and overwinter on 3 brood boxes. Hmm.

Pick up can fit 25 supers at a time but I leave my supers on my hives with a feeder in between to stop them moving up without reason.

Adds a few seconds to each inspection but means I always supers available to add when they are required.

It does result in some rather tall stacks but they are strapped onto pallets so no risk of toppling.

 

[foghornleghorn]

Nice idea. Double up at the heather and overwinter on 3 brood boxes. Hmm.

Pick up can fit 25 supers at a time but I leave my supers on my hives with a feeder in between to stop them moving up without reason.

Adds a few seconds to each inspection but means I always supers available to add when they are required.

It does result in some rather tall stacks but they are strapped onto pallets so no risk of toppling.

You could combine the hives and overwinter with your normal configuration,

 

[BMH]

You could combine the hives and overwinter with your normal configuration,

I normally keep double brood so would think I'd need an extra box, i.e. 3 brood brood boxes if I combined 2 x double brood?

They are pretty big by the time they reach the heather.

 

[Poly Hive]

6min is what ITLD sets his crews I believe.

Can it be done? Probably.

Can it be down well, I'm not so sure.

I know a BF who was building up and was running 300 single handed, and a full time demanding job, but he was utterly exhausted the whole time. Not a good place to be.

PH

 

[BMH]

6min is what ITLD sets his crews I believe.

Can it be done? Probably.

Can it be down well, I'm not so sure.

I know a BF who was building up and was running 300 single handed, and a full time demanding job, but he was utterly exhausted the whole time. Not a good place to be.

PH

Agreed.

It needs to be doable. I dont mind 1 x 12 hour day. I can live with that but any more and it needs to be capped.

Maybe instead of doubling up I add 10 a year until I reach my capacity.

If it turns out to be 60 hives then so be it.

It seems most bee farmers start off with beekeeping as a hobby with either a FT or a PT job so there must be a point where they have to sacrifice other work to focus on keeping bees.

I have no desire to go FT but would be interested to hear of anyone else's experience as to where to crossover takes place.