So I have a couple of hives rented out on a vegetable farm down the road. The farmers told me that they had purchased a hive two years ago for $200, but it died out. It was a 10 frame deep. At its peak, the customer said it was a boomer and had bees bearding below. I told them that the bees probably ran out of space and swarmed down to nothing. I asked them if the beekeeper they purchased them from knew that they were buying it for pollination only and advised them that ideally more space needs to be given to the bees as their population grows. They said that he was aware, but didn't advise them of that. Ok, not too big of a deal. People have single deep colonies and it's not his responsibility to hold their hand, although I would have told them that. Maybe he did. I wasn't there.
This year they purchased a 10 frame medium hive from him. Not much activity at the entrance, which is why they called me asking to rent mine. I offered to look at the hive when I came back this weekend to inspect mine. I told them that it probably swarmed like the first one, but that we could put some frames in the deep that they have and add it to the medium and possibly build it back up. When I checked the hive, I found about 50 bees, 3 frames of brood comb with bullets, and 7 frames of foundation. The price they paid? $250 + $30 delivery.
This year they purchased a 10 frame medium hive from him. Not much activity at the entrance, which is why they called me asking to rent mine. I offered to look at the hive when I came back this weekend to inspect mine. I told them that it probably swarmed like the first one, but that we could put some frames in the deep that they have and add it to the medium and possibly build it back up. When I checked the hive, I found about 50 bees, 3 frames of brood comb with bullets, and 7 frames of foundation. The price they paid? $250 + $30 delivery.