@wallybeavis @Spacebar that said, in some places, people will vandalize hives that aren't rotected or monitored. There are keepers who will set up cameras to keep an eye on hives as well.
@wallybeavis @Spacebar I have hives in both situations. At home, I can see them, but it's just because that's where I have room for them. I also manage several hives at a farm, those are away from the road.
We don't have wildlife big enough to mess with them here. Some people use ratchet straps, attaching hives to strong stands. Others will set up electric fencing as a deterrent.
@beekeeping A family friend is a local farmer and he mentioned that his beekeeper has retired and wanted to know if I would be interested. I don't have enough hives to jump right in next year - I would need to capture a couple swarms and then probably make a couple of splits from my own apiary to have enough (he farms \~20 acres). This wouldn't be migratory work - more just managing colonies on his property.
Anyone doing this? What kinds of expectations are realistic starting from scratch?
@beekeeping When is the latest you would consider a walk away split (no queen to introduce) in the season?
I'm Zone 6A and I have a single brood chamber colony filling honey boxes (one with wax being built) and still keeping stores below on what would otherwise be brood nest. They're not bound, but it's definitely not as organized as I'd like.
I prefer single brood, but if it's too late, I can throw another deep with waxed frames on top to let the queen really go for it.
@Matt_Glan very cool. I wanted to add some to a student native wildflower garden at school, but concerns about potential allergies got in the way.
Brian :python: :flask: @fosstodon.org