Why it’s a good idea to double up your hives
Many hobby beekeepers start with one hive. It’s easy to see why: a single hive is less of an investment in terms of money, it takes up less space in a small garden, and it seems easier to manage.
But starting with two hives – or more – is often a better idea. Not only does it lessen the risk of losing your whole beekeeping operation, but having two colonies helps you learn, and one colony can be used to support the other if needed.
Of course, it’s up to you, and you may have very good reasons for sticking to one hive – but it’s always a good idea to think about your other options.
All your bees in one basket
It’s a mixed metaphor, but it makes sense. As a newbie beekeeper there’s always the risk that your colony will fail. This could be the result of disease, infestation, queen loss, or any number of reasons. Even seasoned beekeepers occasionally have hives that fail for no apparent reason.
Starting with two separate hives spreads this risk out. Rather than taking the chance that your entire beekeeping endeavor could be wiped out in days, you have a backup. Of course, you could be extremely unlucky and lose both hives, but it’s far less likely.
It’s about managing and minimising the risks – and increasing your chances of getting through that tricky first year of beekeeping.
Compare, contrast, and learn
When you’re a new beekeeper with a single hive, it can be difficult to work out whether what you’re observing is normal. You probably won’t have looked into many hives, so you won’t necessarily be able to tell if something is wrong.
With two, you have an automatic comparison point. No matter how similarly you set them up, no two hives will be exactly the same. One might have a very strong, healthy queen while the other struggles. One might be infested with pests while the other stays healthy.
By working two hives at once, you’ll be able to see the subtle differences in behavior, brood pattern, and hive maintenance that can be clues to hive health. This information might help you identify a problem with a hive in time to save it, or it might just go into your repository of beekeeping knowledge. The more knowledge you have, the better prepared you’ll be for the upcoming year.
Backup bees
Good neighbours help each other out in hard times, and bees are no different – although it might take some prompting from you.
With two or more hives, you have the resources to deal with hive issues quickly and easily. This could be the difference between saving and losing a problem hive.
For example, if one hive loses its queen, finding a replacement can be difficult – particularly if the hive is lacking in young brood. With a strong second hive, you have the resources. Simply moving a frame of young brood across to the queen-less hive can prompt the nurse bees to develop a new queen.
If one hive is weak and struggling to survive, moving a frame from the stronger hive can give it a much-needed population boost, which could help it reestablish itself.
Finally, you’ll have more access to honey and pollen resources as well. A weaker hive may need extra frames of honey to get through the winter – and the stronger hive may have extras. Stored pollen can also be transferred from one hive to the other, giving nurse bees what they need to feed larvae and grow the population.
Multiple methodologies
Beekeeping isn’t always an exact science. There are often a number of options when it comes to treating diseases or dealing with other issues.
With one hive, you simply have to pick a method and hope for the best. With two, you get a ready-made lab for experimentation. You can trial different hive set-ups, different treatments, different additions such as robbing screens and mouse guards, and observe to find out which one works best.
Again, it’s about building up your bank of knowledge to improve your beekeeping practice.
Surprisingly cost-effective
Many rookie beekeepers cite cost as a reason to stick to one hive. But, as it turns out, the cost of two hives is not double the cost of one. You will need to buy a second hive, but you’ll already have a bee suit and hive tools – these can obviously be used for both hives. If you order two hives and other equipment at the same time, you may also benefit from a bulk-order discount.
Time-wise, a second hive makes very little difference. If you place your hives near each other, you can examine them and make any changes at the same time. Any work you need to do can be done on the same schedule, minimising wasted time.
Best of all, two or more hives means more honey. The more bees you have buzzing around, the more honey you’re likely to collect at the end of the season – and that’s one of the best reasons to go for a second hive.
