On 7-Nov-17, at 9:22 AM, Bill T wrote:

>> The aim of a beekeeper, if they want surplus honey, is to maximize  
>> the population
> as early as possible (while controlling swarming).

On 7-Nov-17, at 11:12 AM, Justin Kay wrote:

>>  I operated all doubles and switched
> to singles two years ago, and my "per hive" honey average increased.
> Smaller hives actually increased my honey production.

>
Hi Bill, Justin & All

I think that, not only climate but, timing of the first  major nectar  
flow is important in determining when to start stimulating expansion  
in spring.  For me the first major flow is mid-July(sweet clover,  
basswood, milkweed etc) so I start feeding syrup & pollen substitute  
mid-March(weather permitting).

I have operated mainly singles since the mid-nineties and do not  
consider them smaller hives.  The brood chamber is one box with wall  
to wall brood but contains almost no honey or pollen(stored  by the  
bees in the first box above the Q excluder), whereas doubles have  
brood in 2 boxes(but not more brood) with lots of honey & pollen also.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

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