Hi Folks!
We are beginning our own beekeeping operation after 12 years of buying honey to make mead.
I have not been having a lot of luck finding resources on how to set up a honey house. The equipment I think we have covered, though more info is always better!
We are looking specifically for layout plans with regards to flow, storage, drainage and electrical needs (I know that this is equip. dependant). Are there any resources shy of a consulting firm to help us set up our new production?
We will have about 50 hives or so in the next two years and may expand to having 100+
Thanks All!
What are you going to stop at 100-200 hives :?
BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
QuoteWe will have about 50 hives or so in the next two years and may expand to having 100+
If you want to expand quickly I can tell you how to split each hive up to 4 times in one season. If you start with 25 hives and split them once you then have 50 hives, splitting those 50 hives (2nd split) will produce 100 hives. the 3rd split would give 200 hives and the 4th split 400 hives. But that is usually more than most beekeepers want to expand in any one season but it it doable with sufficient equipment and forage available.
This year I have split one hive four times and two other hives twice, plus splitting the 1st 2 splits to give my younger brother 2 hives and my older brother 5 nucs. Both have designs to become commercial beeks. The older just raising queens and the younger doing a 360 degree beekeeping operation.
ABCXYZ book and the hive and the honey bee both have floor plan sketchs