Subject: From 2 to 10 Hives...

From 2 to 10 Hives: Scaling Up Your Honey Harvest the Smart Way

We've got most of your social media platforms covered with a ton of extra tips, articles and beekeeping related hot stuff!

You can only find specific bee kiffness on specific platforms. So I recommend you can pick your favourite/s and come register with your online fellow bee lovers for free!

Get online beekeeping wisdom and experience with our sister site www.startbeekeeping.co.za with a group of avid beekeepers learning via videos, ebooks and audio all inclusive with access to a private Facebook group with monthly live sessions focus on tasks, issues and advice!

Check our your favourite social media platform below and get access to the best and widest South African Beekeeping Experience Online!

From 2-10 Hives - Part 1 of a 4-part series!

🐝 So, you’ve got two bee hives buzzing away... but you’re wondering how to grow your apiary and start producing more honey?

Scaling from 2 hives to 10 is a huge milestone for hobbyist beekeepers. But to do it successfully, you need more than just extra hives—you need a smart strategy to keep your bees healthy, productive, and profitable.

🔥 The Biggest Mistakes Small Beekeepers Make When Expanding

Before we dive into the growth strategy, let’s talk about what NOT to do:
❌ Expanding too fast — Without enough experience, you risk weak colonies, swarming, or pest outbreaks.
❌ Ignoring hive strength — Not every split or swarm is ready to become a strong, honey-producing colony.
❌ Poor nectar flow planning — Adding more hives means higher food demand. Are your local nectar sources enough to sustain them?

If you’re serious about expanding the right way, follow this step-by-step approach:

EXPAND YOUR APIARY

🏆 Step 1: Build Strong Colonies Before Expanding

💡 Rule of thumb: Don’t add more hives if you’re still struggling to manage your current ones effectively.

✔️ Ensure your two original hives are strong, disease-free, pest-free and have good brood patterns before expanding. {If you don't know what a good brood pattern looks like - you're not ready yet - come on a bee course!}
✔️ Learn swarm prevention techniques—strong hives can quickly outgrow their space and cause problems.
✔️ Master seasonal hive management (feeding, supering, inspections) so you don’t spread bad habits to new hives.

✅ Pro Tip: Aim for consistently high honey yields before growing your apiary. If your two hives are barely producing, adding more hives won’t fix that—it will multiply the problem.

Online Beekeeping Academy For Southern African Beekeepers

Subscribe

Subject: From 2 to 10 Hives...

🔥 The Biggest Mistakes Small Beekeepers Make When Expanding

🏆 Step 1: Build Strong Colonies Before Expanding