OK I realise it is a bit of a strange question but there is something I really don't understand here.
As I understand it, BBKA training emphasises that to maximise Spring honey, you want lots of bees ASAP in Spring. So stimulative feeding is used in February(?) so when the first fruit trees are in blossom they can get lots of nectar. (Please correct me if I am wrong. I don't feed in Spring so may be ignorant here.)
Also some people import queens and even entire colonies early in the year, because these can be raised earlier in warmer climes.
But.
Does this really give more honey?
The reason I ask is - my impression is, most people - like me - have 1-6 static hives in their gardens. And most people are not surrounded by early crops like orchards. So I would be very interested in knowing if they find the strategy above actually useful; if they just let the bees increase naturally without feeding.
I suspect though that if I were moving my hives around a lot (not just within a few miles of my house, but to another county, like bee farmers) then the early feed and fresh queens does make sense.
So... I'm interested both in the reason why this advice is given (and if I am misrepresenting it); and peoples' actual experiences of whether it works for their circumstances. I.e. theory and practice.
The BBKA seems to have a tendency to give one-size-fits-all advice.
Thank you.
As I understand it, BBKA training emphasises that to maximise Spring honey, you want lots of bees ASAP in Spring. So stimulative feeding is used in February(?) so when the first fruit trees are in blossom they can get lots of nectar. (Please correct me if I am wrong. I don't feed in Spring so may be ignorant here.)
Also some people import queens and even entire colonies early in the year, because these can be raised earlier in warmer climes.
But.
Does this really give more honey?
The reason I ask is - my impression is, most people - like me - have 1-6 static hives in their gardens. And most people are not surrounded by early crops like orchards. So I would be very interested in knowing if they find the strategy above actually useful; if they just let the bees increase naturally without feeding.
I suspect though that if I were moving my hives around a lot (not just within a few miles of my house, but to another county, like bee farmers) then the early feed and fresh queens does make sense.
So... I'm interested both in the reason why this advice is given (and if I am misrepresenting it); and peoples' actual experiences of whether it works for their circumstances. I.e. theory and practice.
The BBKA seems to have a tendency to give one-size-fits-all advice.
Thank you.