Hey all - general question about first year apiary management. I have 8 hives all with wide varying degrees of performance. I don't care much about the honey this year and am mostly interesting in keeping my hives as healthy as possible for the winter (US Climate zone 5) with hopes of expanding next year. So with the info listed below what do other suggest I do to ensure my hives are ready for winter and splits or expansion next year? Should I take some honey from the A hives and supplement the B and C hives? Do nothing? Harvest from the hives A and leave the rest? Hoping others can help and suggest the best course of action for my scenario and future goals.
The honey is a super low priority as also it seems many extractors are backordered and my not be available until late fall due to demand and COVID (hoping to buy one and be done) so this also factors in.
A - 4 Hives that are rocking it and may fill 2 med supers before mid aug (Started as packages) + the double deep brood boxes.
B - 2 Hive that are doing well but may not fill 1 med super (1 Started as a Nuc and 1 package) but has the double deep brood boxes filled.
C - 1 Hives that is doing ok but is only about 3/4 of the way done filling 2 deep brood box. (Started as a Nuc)
D - 1 Hive that is basically dead or almost dead. (Combination of a super week Nuc, swarm, mites and now hive beetles). Never moved beyond the 5 frames that came with the Nuc and now they are all slimed from the Beatle larva. (Started as a Nuc). This hive is isolated from the other hives in a different location.
The honey is a super low priority as also it seems many extractors are backordered and my not be available until late fall due to demand and COVID (hoping to buy one and be done) so this also factors in.
A - 4 Hives that are rocking it and may fill 2 med supers before mid aug (Started as packages) + the double deep brood boxes.
B - 2 Hive that are doing well but may not fill 1 med super (1 Started as a Nuc and 1 package) but has the double deep brood boxes filled.
C - 1 Hives that is doing ok but is only about 3/4 of the way done filling 2 deep brood box. (Started as a Nuc)
D - 1 Hive that is basically dead or almost dead. (Combination of a super week Nuc, swarm, mites and now hive beetles). Never moved beyond the 5 frames that came with the Nuc and now they are all slimed from the Beatle larva. (Started as a Nuc). This hive is isolated from the other hives in a different location.