How many bee hives do you need to make a profit?

Beekeepers with 300 or more hives are considered commercial beekeepers, and their beekeeping businesses can be very profitable. Many commercial beekeepers migrate their colonies to provide pollination services to farmers while simultaneously providing their bees with abundant nectar sources for honey production.

How far apart should honey bee hives be?

Proper beehive placement is important to reduce the risk of hive drifting and to allow easy access to the hive for inspections. If you are wondering how far apart beehives should be placed, it is a good rule of thumb to place hives 2 feet apart.

How many bee hives can you have per acre?

How many colonies per acre? Our current recommendation is to have between 2 and 3 hives per acre. In orchards studied by researchers at UC Davis, when the weather was poor, orchards having 3 hives per acre had significantly better nut set (24% of blooms) than orchards having only 1.7 hives per acre (14.8% of blooms).

How much does it cost to start a hive of bees?

The initial cost of beekeeping can be intimidating to new beekeepers. You will need to invest in supplies such as a hive, proper protective clothing, a smoker, and hive tool. As of this writing, a single new hive may cost about $150, clothing and gear may cost about $160, and a package of new bees may run $125 to $150.

What direction should beehives face?

Many experienced beekeepers suggest that the entrance of a beehive ideally should face towards the south or to the east. The southern exposure makes sense. During the winter months – at least in the northern hemisphere – the sun sits low on the southern horizon.

Is there money in beekeeping?

Experienced beekeepers might make money through services as well as products. Some farmers pay beekeepers to temporarily relocate their hives near their crops to pollinate them and help them grow. You can also make money by raising and selling starter hives or replacement bees for other beekeepers.

How profitable is bee farming?

Profits to Expect from a Mature Honey Bee Farm If you are selling your honey locally at the moderate rate of $10 a pound, your honeycomb at $20 a pound, and each nuc of bees for $150, then you would earn $830 per hive each year, minus any additional costs such as labor and packaging.

Are there any free plans for building a beehive?

Here are some free plans for building top bar hives. Some plans are more detailed than others – find one that fits your needs. The most readily available DIY beehive plans are for construction of Langstroth Hives. This hive type is the most popular hive in the US. A Langstroth Hive is considered to be the best choice for new beekeepers.

Can you build a hive for honey bees?

With basic woodworking skills and good measuring skills, you can construct a hive that your honey bees will enjoy. There are several types of hives to consider with the most common being the Langstroth hive. But, you can decide which one best fits your style of beekeeping.

Who is JC’s honey bees?

Jason and his wife, Christina Smith, started the family owned business named JC’s Honey Bees in 2012, but they were tending bees for many years before hand. Jason regularly attends to his backyard apiary as well as several other apiary locations in and around Parker County.

What makes a beehive so unique?

This hive is so unique because they use materials on hand to build it. The comb where the bees build is removable one slab at a time and the hive is easy to move. Those are all really great features to have in a beehive. 26. DIY Honey Supers And Hive Bodies