Question re potential out Apiary

[BrianO]

Have a site I could use next year for say 2 hives, right beside sea.

Good bramble and mature garden forage nearby, along with mountains of gorse.

Kicker... Would not be able to check weekly or even bi weekly at times during active periods, know of a huge local over wintered feral colony thriving less than 1k away in eaves of a house.

Would not setup obviously until next spring with a Nuc or two, would it be realistic to think I could maybe using a double brood national successfully keep two colonies checked say every 3weeks, double brood hopefully to give huge space to subdue swarming instinct , or try to at least. If they swarmed so be it, could live with that. Of course would be properly treated for Varroa as required later in season.

Realistic ....?? Hard hat on.... Incoming ...

 

[enrico]

They will swarm but heh, not the end of the world. Just be prepared for smaller harvests and keep plenty of bait hives scattered around. You will get better at combining at the very least!
E

 

[Hachi]

Why cant you inspect more frequently?

Personally it wouldn't be for me but if its what you want go for it, it sounds like your not overly concerned with the eventual outcome. Just adding space will not on its own temper the urge to swarm tho.

 

[BrianO]

Why cant you inspect more frequently?

Personally it wouldn't be for me but if its what you want go for it, it sounds like your not overly concerned with the eventual outcome. Just adding space will not on its own temper the urge to swarm tho.

Due to work and distance, no not overtly concerned if I did not produce a bumper crop, anything at all would be great, and would love to see how they fare in such an interesting location, milder climate to here, different forage.

Benefit would be a prime site, private and spacious, and another Apiary to move colonies to/from as necessary. Have main sites , 2 with 2 hives on each within 1k and 4k from my home

 

[user 11159]

i own land 60 mile's from my home .i think that is to far ,to be cost effective,
my hive,s at the moment are 12 mile round trip ...

 

[dn170221]

The other thing is that being beside the sea you are probably effectively halving their forage area.
If you could up your inspection rate in the early part of the season that might help.

 

[BrianO]

Thanks but I know they have good forage within range 180 degrees