I've been told to open feed at least 300 feet from my hives. I'm in a 1/2 acre lot. I'll probably build up to about 8 hives. Am I just going to have to live with hive top feeders or can I open feed at about 75 feet?
Thanks.
If I may offer some guiding beekeeper principled comments on this.
- never ever, ever, open feed with neighbours. It is just bad etiquette. It is also illegal in many regions.
- you are talking starting with two nucs and maybe build up to 8. Far far far too few hives to even consider open feeding. The benefit of open feed comes with higher numbers, to save capital. Do not consider open feeding unless you have minimum 25+ hives in a spot, AND there are no neighbours nor other hives around.
- invest in hive top feeders or feeder pails. The HT feeder is superior. The pail gets the job done. If you use pails, place an empty box and lid over it to cover it to minimize temperature swings that can over feed (force drip) due to day-night expansion-contraction temperatures.
For your case, please buy HTs and put considerations of open feeding far behind you.
This is not discounting or discouraging the excellent info and advice above about distances etc. It is just not applicable in your case, because you are not going to do it, alright.