[dnelson]

:sThis might seem strange but I am trying to get some numbers put together to get some averages. I would appreciate any responses. These questions are mostly for any Hobbyist and sideliners out there, not necessarily commercial beeks (you can reply as well though).

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)?
2. How many hives do you currently maintain?
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep?
4. How long have you been a beekeeper?
5. Do you own your own Extractor?
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009
6. Your age

I would love to get as many responses as possible.
Thank you to all fellow beekeepers

 

[StevenG]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 14
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 50-60
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 19 years total.
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 1
6. Your age 61

Interesting thread... will be fascinating to see how this develops!

 

[Bradley_Bee]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 1
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 84
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 500
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? I like to say 26 because I was born into it. However . Its only been 4 years that i've been engulfed in it.
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009- 20-25
6. Your age 26

 

[Joseph Clemens]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? One
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? Forty
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? Sixty
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? Forty-three years
5. Do you own your own Extractor? Yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 - None
6. Your age 53

 

[LAC]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? ---- 2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? ----------- 4
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep?-------6
4. How long have you been a beekeeper?----------------2 years
5. Do you own your own Extractor?---------------------- yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009----- none
6. Your age ------- 51

 

[Michael Palmer]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)?....2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain?...750
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep?...750
4. How long have you been a beekeeper?...36 years
5. Do you own your own Extractor?...2
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009...200
7. Your age...60

8. How many colonies did you buy for replacement in 2008 and 2009?...0
9. How many colonies (nucs) did you raise for replacements 2008 and 2009...750

 

[cheezer32]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)?....1
2. How many hives do you currently maintain?...5
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep?.. 1000
4. How long have you been a beekeeper?... 6 years
5. Do you own your own Extractor?... I will in February (Birthday
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009...0
7. Your age...18

 

[NDnewbeek]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 1
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 6
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 12-14
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 3 years
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009- 2
6. Your age 40

 

[charmd2]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 3

2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 8 one recently died. Did have 9

3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? As many as I catch. Not looking to go commercial, but I won't turn down swarms. I figure I could probally do up to 100 part time.. not that I'm likely to get that many.. But I "could"

4. How long have you been a beekeeper? exactly 20 months today

5. Do you own your own Extractor? No, crush and strain, or cut comb only currently.

6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 Went into winter 08-09 with 3 lost two, went into winter 09-10 and have lost 1 so far, but I expected to lose it. I did not combine, and it had been weak all summer. Lousy package queen.

6. Your age Seriously.. To ask a woman that.. lol. 30.

 

[Dave Burrup]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 3
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 9
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 10
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 2years
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009- 1 & 1
6. Your age 57

 

[jdesq]

:sThis might seem strange but I am trying to get some numbers put together to get some averages. I would appreciate any responses. These questions are mostly for any Hobbyist and sideliners out there, not necessarily commercial beeks (you can reply as well though).

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 1
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 5
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 15
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 8
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 0
6. Your age 53

I would love to get as many responses as possible.
Thank you to all fellow beekeepers

 

[giant pumpkin peep]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)?1

2. How many hives do you currently maintain?1

3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 15 or 20 before I get out of college ,,after that I don't know

4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 1 year

5. Do you own your own Extractor? no

6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 n/a

6. Your age 14

 

[woodmann98]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year) 5

2. How many hives do you currently maintain?12

3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 100
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 2 years

5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes

6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 08/0 09/5

6. Your age 53

 

[Hambone]

1. 2
2. 10
3. 50+
4. 2.5 years
5. no
6. 1 colony and 2 splits
7. 33

 

[D Coates]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 9 & 6 nucs
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 25
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 5 yrs
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 '08 1, '09 0 (so far)
7. Your age? 41

Hambone, still lovin' the Norris references. I used the current one on my 5 year old daughter last night. I switched out "Daddy" for Chuck Norris and she laughed but quietly went to bed.

 

[beedeetee]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)?-----2 or 3

2. How many hives do you currently maintain?---------11

3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep?----15-20

4. How long have you been a beekeeper?--------Since 1986

5. Do you own your own Extractor?----------Yes

6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009----2/2008, 4/2009 (2 nucs and 2 hives)

6. Your age---------56

 

[Hormel]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 4
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 12
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 2 yrs
5. Do you own your own Extractor? No, rent from club
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 '08 0, '09 0
7. Your age? 43

 

[hemichuck]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 5
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 20-25
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 1 year
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009- none
6. Your age 50

 

[scottsbees]

How many hive? 6
How many hives currently? 20
Maximum # of hives I would like. 50
How long have you been a beekeeper 2yrs
Yes I own an extractor.
I lost 10 hives
I am 35yrs of age.

 

[Fuzzy]

1. How many hives did you start out with (first year)? 2
2. How many hives do you currently maintain? 5
3. The maximum number of hives you hope to keep? 5
4. How long have you been a beekeeper? 8
5. Do you own your own Extractor? yes
6. How many Colonies did you loose in 2008 and in 2009 3 ( did not recover from swarming )
6. Your age 63