So, you are building for the future? So you can grow your apiaries to 500 cols?
:lpf:
Noooo
I'm not one of those people. I'm about maxed out in what I can deal with equipment/storage wise. As a hobbyist, I'd be satisfied with a hand full of honey producing hives. But I would also like to have a number of nucs to play with.
I have some colonies with Charlie Harper Russians (receiving a couple more this week) that are also small cell. Three years ago, I drank the 8-frame medium-smallcell coolaid and wanted Russians.
It has taken time, but I am finally getting close to having what I wanted. Using the CH Russians I would like to see how the following generations progress as they become "local northern bees". If I have enough bees make it to spring I could possibly have a few nucs to share. If I had a lot of bees in the spring I would have to get rid off nucs.
This will be my first year to harvest some honey. I'm actually more interested in bees than honey...