How many hives to make a living?

[TwT]

Blanc, the number of hives you need depends on what you plan to do with your bee's to make a living, I have a friend that has 100-200 hives that sale's 200 nucs and 100 queens, he sales very little honey, he build's and sale's his own equipment (hive components) and does removals, he works year around mostly alone and mostly winters around 100 hives a year but builds up early spring close to 200. I have other friends that pollinate and have 500-1000 hives, they sale honey, queens, nuc's, pollen, wax, ect., and has workers working for them, what you need to figure out is what it is you want to do with the hives to make a living then that would help you with the number you need. just my 2 cent worth. 

[10framer]

Blanc, the number of hives you need depends on what you plan to do with your bee's to make a living, I have a friend that has 100-200 hives that sale's 200 nucs and 100 queens, he sales very little honey, he build's and sale's his own equipment (hive components) and does removals, he works year around mostly alone and mostly winters around 100 hives a year but builds up early spring close to 200. I have other friends that pollinate and have 500-1000 hives, they sale honey, queens, nuc's, pollen, wax, ect., and has workers working for them, what you need to figure out is what it is you want to do with the hives to make a living then that would help you with the number you need. just my 2 cent worth. 

good point.
i think at least 400 if you are going to plan on honey being the primary product but as few as 150 if you sell nucs/packages/queens as well as honey. 

all you guys quoting what a drum of honey goes for would be shocked by what we sold it for in the late 70's early 80's.  if i remember right we got about .65/pound back then.

finski is right about working with a commercial beekeeper.  it not only takes a lot of work but also a lot of equipment. 

[blanc]

Blanc, the number of hives you need depends on what you plan to do with your bee's to make a living, I have a friend that has 100-200 hives that sale's 200 nucs and 100 queens, he sales very little honey, he build's and sale's his own equipment (hive components) and does removals, he works year around mostly alone and mostly winters around 100 hives a year but builds up early spring close to 200. I have other friends that pollinate and have 500-1000 hives, they sale honey, queens, nuc's, pollen, wax, ect., and has workers working for them, what you need to figure out is what it is you want to do with the hives to make a living then that would help you with the number you need. just my 2 cent worth. 

Thx for the info TwT. I realize it is easier said than done and could have a lot of down falls in losing hives  as one beek in Springfield told me. He lost nearly half his hives last year. 2011 he sold 250 gals honey and last year he only harvested 60 gals. I come your way from time to time and get parts for my wood heater. Hope you faired better than us for Issac.I lost about three hives here.
Blanc

[TwT]

I have my hive sitting on 2 cynder block high and 4x4's on top of the blocks, I ratchet strapped them down to the blocks and they did great. didn't lose any.