How many hives should I keep???

**Pamela White** · 05-08-2012, 08:38 AM

Hello all,
I am brand new here. Wanted to ask if ya'll if you knew the amount of hives to have on a 13 acre farm. I want my bees to be happy and healthy and don't want to be overcrowded. I have been planting lots of bee friendly plants to help out. Thanks in advance.

**westernbeekeeper** · 05-08-2012, 09:02 AM

The bees from each hive forage three miles out in any direction from the hive. That's a six mile circle. What do you have around you as far as farmland? any alfalfa, clover, etc? I have twenty acres and I have 14 hives here and they do fine.

**Bush_84** · 05-08-2012, 09:03 AM

This would probably be easier if you gave us an idea of how many you were planning on having. The amount of acreage you have only matters so you have room to physically place the hives. Bees will fly in a three mile radius from the hive. So how many are you thinking or are you planning on maxing out for your location?

**AstroBee** · 05-08-2012, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Pamela White

happy and healthy

Then keep only those that you have the skills and time to manage. Seriously, start small with 2 hives and learn to manage those well. Once you start developing skills (2+ years down the road), you be far better prepared to expand. This will also give you an indication what your land can support.

**sqkcrk** · 05-08-2012, 09:55 AM

The number you are comfortable having.

**beesohappy** · 05-08-2012, 10:45 AM

I agree with Astrobee. I wish I had it to do all over again.

**jadell** · 05-08-2012, 11:14 AM

I also agree with astrobee, but at least two so you have resources for problems.

**RiodeLobo** · 05-08-2012, 11:32 AM

I would do a minimum of 2 for the first year and than by the end of it you will know how many you can or want to handle (within reason). I went from 1 to 5 to 8 in my first, second and third year. I am planning on holding at the 7-10 range for the foreseeable future.

**Pamela White** · 05-08-2012, 11:33 AM

Thank ya'll sooo very much. I wanted to be sure the bees had sufficient space and of course food sources. We live out in farm land where there is plenty clover and alfalfa. Of course I am going to learn from these two hives and go from there. I will be the main one taking care of them and will be starting my own orchard, (main reason for the bees) and garden. I have lots of stuff planted and we have atleast 3 large ponds in a 1/4 mile radius. There are more I am sure. I am just so excited and blessed to have these two and want to take care of them the best I can. I also have horses, chickens, rabbits, ducks, dogs, worms and alot of plants. I guess you can say, I am pretty busy, but it keeps me out of the beer joints, LOL. Ya'll have a great day and thank you soo much.

**misslechunker** · 05-08-2012, 12:26 PM

Very, Very well stated! I cannot add any more or any less.

Originally Posted by AstroBee

Then keep only those that you have the skills and time to manage. Seriously, start small with 2 hives and learn to manage those well. Once you start developing skills (2+ years down the road), you be far better prepared to expand. This will also give you an indication what your land can support.

**af_newbie** · 05-08-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Pamela White

Hello all,
I am brand new here. Wanted to ask if ya'll if you knew the amount of hives to have on a 13 acre farm. I want my bees to be happy and healthy and don't want to be overcrowded. I have been planting lots of bee friendly plants to help out. Thanks in advance.

Don't start with 7 like I did. I would say 3-4 would be a better number for the first year. Allows you to see differences in colonies right from the start. But 7 was an overkill for one person just starting out.

After first year, you'll feel more comfortable in handling them, recognize problems, do inspections faster so you can look after more hives.
First year (and any year after that) it is always a race to keep up with the bees. New boxes, new frames, new wax starters etc.

**NasalSponge** · 05-08-2012, 01:07 PM

I am planning on holding at the 7-10 range for the foreseeable future.

SOOO hard to do when the swarm calls start coming in.....SOOO hard to say no!!

Good advice above.

**StevenG** · 05-08-2012, 01:13 PM

Start off with 2-4 as suggested, see how you like it, and plan from there. You say there is clover and alfalfa nearby? How many acres within a mile? within 2 miles? within 3 miles? Depending on the answer to that, and your personal desires, you could conceivably keep 100 hives on your 13 acres...they'll just forage out to the clover and alfalfa, if there's enough acreage.

Regards,
Steven

**Beeophyte** · 05-08-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by Pamela White

Thank ya'll sooo very much. I wanted to be sure the bees had sufficient space and of course food sources. We live out in farm land where there is plenty clover and alfalfa. Of course I am going to learn from these two hives and go from there. I will be the main one taking care of them and will be starting my own orchard, (main reason for the bees) and garden. I have lots of stuff planted and we have atleast 3 large ponds in a 1/4 mile radius. There are more I am sure. I am just so excited and blessed to have these two and want to take care of them the best I can. I also have horses, chickens, rabbits, ducks, dogs, worms and alot of plants. I guess you can say, I am pretty busy, but it keeps me out of the beer joints, LOL. Ya'll have a great day and thank you soo much.

If you have that much clover and alfalfa I would say the sky is the limit! Start small and build slowly as you learn. I would go with at least two for the first year and then reevaluate next year.