A common question beginner beekeepers have is how many beehives are best to start with. You might be unsure if you can handle more than one hive at a time, or if you’ll produce enough honey and wax with just one hive.
With the help of Blain’s Farm & Fleet, you can figure out the number of hives you should begin with.
It’s okay to start with just one beehive, especially if you’re unsure if beekeeping is really for you. However, keep in mind that bee colonies can die, even if you do everything right. That’s why we recommend beginner beekeepers start with two hives.
With only one hive, your entire bee supply would be gone. If you have multiple beehives and one dies, you can compare the hives and figure out a solution to keep your other bees alive. You also won’t lose all your bees.
It’s really up to you how much time you want to dedicate to your bees. Most beekeepers check their hives every two weeks, so keeping multiple hives is completely doable.
When you first get your hives, you’ll most likely be so excited that you’ll want to check on your bees more than that.
As long as you take about 10 minutes per hive every two weeks for an inspection, you’ll have plenty of time.
With multiple hives, you might worry about bee colonies fighting with each other. Bees tend to keep to themselves because each hive has a unique smell.
If there is a nectar shortage, stronger hives can try to rob a weaker hive. Read more about combating beehive robbing with our how-to article.
Beekeeping is a fun hobby with sweet rewards. Plus, you can help the bee population grow while also harvesting your own honey and beeswax.
For more tips on raising bees, harvesting honey, and using beeswax, visit our Beekeeping Blog.
