optimum apiary size and over forage question

[Cuckmere couple]

using storm dennis as a chance to swot up on some stuff.

I have 10 colonies and am planning top have 15. 4 in the garden and 6 in a copse circa 3 miles away.

was pondering on whether to use the existing two locations i have which has plusses of convenience and transaction time etc...disadvantages of easier to rob and spread disease if more hives in sam location

so, is there an optimum size (there is lots of space so can easily remain 3 ft+ apart) and are there any guidelines for volume of bees/forage area

asking because i see apiaries with 20-100 colonies in same area etc

any advice comments gratefully received.

 

[Murox]

I am sure there will be an answer. Only you can determine forage density and variety in your locality. Personally I would look for another appropriate site. The downsides are mainly to do with travel and convenience - balance that against potential honey production and flexibility of three separate sites vis a vis any breeding/nucs etc etc. Up to you.

Have a browse of this thread https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16077

 

[Millet]

When the flow is on i have eight colonies in the same place..it is rich land in a conservation area..the bees have endless willow/wild cherry/blackthorn/OSR etc for spring flow..and when the summer flow starts the bees have all the cover crops which contain lots of Phacilia and the farmers in the area have started filling fields with Phacilia for its green manure properties..the bees have lots of clover to go at 15acres of wild thistle fields not to mention all the other local fauna..
The eight colonies on this kind of land do very well and produced a lot of honey last year and i dare say if i had the space for the hives i could easily go up to 20 on this spot..however a more realistic number for me would be no more than 12 colonies through time and space..

The best thing i think you could do is walk the land to actually see what it has on offer for the bees.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

interesting....when you google it the first few links say 25-100 and some average at 50....so my 10-15 in two sites seems a daft question

but, suck it and see seems best

 

[Poly Hive]

Manley said in one of his books that the way to find out the optimum was to keep adding colonies until there is an average decrease.

I have (obviously) no knowledge of your area but up here I am quite happy knowing there are some 15 colonies plus some nucs in the area.

When I was working the OSR back when it was a serious honey crop I had 40 colonies on a site. The same on Heather but they are possibly exceptions.

PH

 

[Cuckmere couple]

cheers Pete

my non garden apiary is a conservation area and fishing lake but no idea how many hives around it...first full year this year so will see how i get on