Hives Waiting for the Bees

The hives are painted and on their stand behind a strong wind screen. The internal frames and foundations are in the garden shed waiting the arrival of two "nuc" or nuclear hive bee packages from a local source. These hives will be strapped down to prevent wind from toppling them over and as a precaution against both bears and people. Bears, by the way, are not raiding hives for honey, but for bees and bee larva. When full with bees and honey, each of these hives will weigh about 260 pounds.

 

Initially, both hives will consist of just a "Deep" brood chamber, and a Medium honey chamber on top; other boxes will get added as the bees near the 80 percent full mark on the preceding box. 

The plan is to manage one hive as a two Deep and two Medium tower, with the other tower being converted to two smaller Deep + Medium hives with the addition of another top and base. I will populate the third hive with either a "split" or a captured feral swarm.  If I do not split or capture a swarm, I can manage this as two towers, as seen here.