How many Hives do You have?

[TheHoneyPump]

How many Hives do You have?

- Sometimes not enough.  Most times too many.

[BeeMaster2]

I?m bumping this at the request of one of our members.
Right now I have three hives. I have had as many as 25 at times. I?ve cut back a lot.
Jim Altmiller

[max2]

I try to stay under 50 hives in 3 yards plus the last 5 nuc's for the seson.

[jimineycricket]

I have more than 10 hives total
I keep bees elsewhere than my own property
I have one hive and four nucs on my own property in town, two hives at a friend's house across town, three at another friend's place about 15 miles away, and five more a couple miles from there.  I drive a lot.  It is definitely just a hobby.   It's a hobby that takes more than it gives, financially! 

[Terri Yaki]

I have more than 10 hives total
I keep bees elsewhere than my own property
I have one hive and four nucs on my own property in town, two hives at a friend's house across town, three at another friend's place about 15 miles away, and five more a couple miles from there.  I drive a lot.  It is definitely just a hobby.   It's a hobby that takes more than it gives, financially!

It could be worse...you could own horses just for fun.

[jimineycricket]

I have more than 10 hives total
    I keep bees elsewhere than my own property
    I have one hive and four nucs on my own property in town, two hives at a friend's house across town, three at another friend's place about 15 miles away, and five more a couple miles from there.  I drive a lot.  It is definitely just a hobby.   It's a hobby that takes more than it gives, financially!

It could be worse...you could own horses just for fun.

Amen brother! Preach it to 'em!

[Ben Framed]

I have more than 10 hives total
    I keep bees elsewhere than my own property
    I have one hive and four nucs on my own property in town, two hives at a friend's house across town, three at another friend's place about 15 miles away, and five more a couple miles from there.  I drive a lot.  It is definitely just a hobby.   It's a hobby that takes more than it gives, financially!

It could be worse...you could own horses just for fun.

Amen brother! Preach it to 'em!

[AustinB]

I have ~40 in 2 yards and I'm building a 3rd yard next month at my new property.....and my kids are pushing really hard for horses 

[Ben Framed]

 

I have ~40 in 2 yards and I'm building a 3rd yard next month at my new property.....and my kids are pushing really hard for horses 

[Bill Murray]

So, Its not all about number of hives. Its about strong ,resilient, production hives. ATM Im running 5 out yards and I try to keep those yards under 40 (38 being my number). I cant work an over 40 yard without robbing. My home yard (house) get all the small hives, Puny hives, nucs, etc. that I need to keep an eye on. I keep 3-5 strong hives here to boost population in the weak colonies. Any more strong colonies than that again I get robbing issues. These hives are moved, combined and or done away with every spring to get room for another 40.  My growth is limited to yards and wooden-ware in that order.