what beekeeping equipment do i need

^{Essential beekeeping equipment}

• Hive Tool. Your hive tool is one of your most critical pieces of equipment. Bees glue everything in the hive together with their resin-like propolis.
• Smoker. A smoker is an invaluable tool for all beekeepers as it makes aggressive bees more docile. Primarily, smoke makes honeybees believe there may be a wildfire nearby.
• Books. Beekeeping is a dynamic and ever-changing experience that requires research, lots of beekeeping books, and patience.

What tools do you need to start beekeeping?

One of the most essential apiculture tools and agriculture apiculture needed for beginner beekeeping is the frame. As mentioned above, the frame of a hive is where the bees build their comb. Inside these frames, the bees prepare for winter, make honey, and lay brood.

What do you need to start a beekeeping business?

And you know me; I, like the bees, pay attention to details. The rest of the equipment, or shall we say the non-essential, but still useful items include: bee suit, bee smoker, hive tool, uncapping knife, brush, queen catcher, queen marker, feeder, honey extractor, honey jugs, and that’s about it. Oh yeah, I almost forgot; you need a shelf.

What do beekeepers use to clean bees?

Beekeepers use a brush to “sweep bees” away from the spot they are focusing on. Having a quality brush will ensure that you do not agitate your bees when working with them. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of options to pick from when it comes to the bee brush but I recommend to go for something simple and natural.

Can I keep bees at my property?

If you’re considering getting into beekeeping, you first need to know whether you can meet the requirement to keep bees at your property. The next step is figuring out the equipment you will need. That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article.

What equipment do I need to keep bees?

Your hive tool is one of your most critical pieces of equipment. Bees glue everything in the hive together with their resin-like propolis. This requires the beekeeper to pry the seal open with a hive tool. A hive tool allows you to detach comb from hive sides, cut and scrape propolis, and pry frames.

What do beginner beekeepers need?

What beekeeping equipment do I need?Woodenware: This makes up the beehive itself and includes the hive bottom, hive body, and top cover. ... Protective veil and gloves: Novice beekeepers, especially, should avoid stings at all costs. ... Smoker: This helps calm and distract the bees while you're working within the hive.More items...•

How many beehives should a beginner start with?

2 hivesMost beekeeping classes recommend that the new beekeeper begin with 2 hives. In my online beekeeping class, I encourage my students to begin with 2 that first year. Though some folks are happy with only a single colony. Most new beekeepers should not begin with more than 4 hives.

How many beehives can you put on 1 acre?

So one-half acre could have up to six hives, three-quarters acre could have up to nine hives, and a one acre lot could have up to twelve hives. Additionally, keeping one nuc for every two hives is also acceptable.

Is it safe to have a beehive in your backyard?

You can keep bees in your backyard – subject to the laws in the area where you live – but you need to make sure they have a clear flight path in and out of the hive. 'Orienting the hive so that bees fly across a path, patio area or part of the garden which is used regularly is not a good idea,' explains Pete.

How many beehives can I have in my backyard?

A comfortable number of colonies in an average backyard is two or three hives. This is sufficient to obtain some honey for yourself and others, and to experiment with variations in management.

What time of year is best to start a beehive?

springIn most areas, spring is the best time to start your beekeeping journey. As the cold season ends, an increase in forage makes it the perfect environment for a new hive to thrive. Plus expanding colonies make it the easiest time to source a colony of bees to call your own.

How long can you leave a beehive unattended?

Leaving a beehive unattended for a week or two at a time is typically okay. What happens if a hive is left unattended too long is the possibility of a swarm. This means there is an overproduction of bees. The bees will divide and leave the hive.

How long does it take for bees to make a jar of honey?

On average it will take between 7 days to 2 months for bees to produce comb and fill it with honey. But a strong established colony, during a strong honey flow, can draw out a full 10 frame deep box and fill it with honey in as little as 3 days. Sometimes even quicker, in less than 24 hours.

How many jars of honey can you get from a hive?

How Much Honey Can You Expect From One HivePoundsOunces10 oz Jars20214213032132404284250535536 more rows

How far away from your house should you keep bees?

Even though each case is different, we can use some general estimates of a safe distance to be from the hive. For a honey bee colony with a calm temperature, give yourself at least 4 feet of clearance behind the hive and on each side if possible. At the hive entrance, an area of 25 feet is the best minimum.

What month do you harvest honey?

When To Harvest Honey. The greatest honey flow is when the flowers are in full bloom. Early spring will produce a minor honey flow, but the largest honey flow typically begins in June and continues into July.

How do you raise bees for beginners?

Beekeeping Basics: How to Raise Honeybees in Your BackyardChoose the location. Bees need four things. ... Prepare the location. ... Install the bees. ... Feed the bees. ... Inspect the hives inside and out. ... Check regularly for pests and diseases. ... Expand the hive when necessary. ... PEST CONTROL.

How hard is it to start beekeeping?

Beekeeping is not easy but the experience is both rewarding and fun. Beekeeping can be time consuming, expensive, physically demanding, and requires patience. There are many hazards your bees will face, such as pest infestation, parasites, predators and disease.

How much does it cost to start a bee farm?

A new beekeeper can obtain bees in one of two ways: as packaged bees or as nucs....Start up cost.Hive ComponentPrice Range*standard-sized super$16. 89 – 20.95framewith foundation: $2.40-3.50 without foundation:$1.10- 1.35 *foundation sold separately at $1.15-3.25queen excluder$6.95 -16.95bottom cover$12.55 – 19.502 more rows

How profitable is beekeeping?

It depends on your location, but it's safe to say that you can charge $10 per pound. That puts you at a profit of $600 per beehive, per year.

2. Frames

One of the most essential apiculture tools and agriculture apiculture needed for beginner beekeeping is the frame.

3. Smoker

If you’re wondering “ what equipment do I need to start beekeeping ?”, the smoker is one of them.

4. Hive Tool

You definitely need a hive tool. This is because bees line their hives with a gooey bee byproduct called propolis. This material is sturdy and so it gets difficult to pull the frames & hive bodies apart. This is why you need a hive tool.

5. Queen Catcher

You don’t want the queen to lay eggs in the honey super, which will make the harvesting difficult. So, you’ll need a queen catcher. This device allows you to keep the queen out of the supers.

6. Comb Foundation Sheet

As mentioned before, one of the components of The Langstroth hive is a foundation sheet; it is used in frame hive keeping to:

7. Electric Wire Embedder

This is a tool that is used to fix the foundation sheet on the frame’s wires. It’s a small tool with a round wheel on top.

8. Pollen Trap

Pollen traps help scrape the pollen pellets collected on the legs of foragers. How? This device forces bees to crawl through tiny openings. The openings are so tiny that the pollen traps strip the bees off the pollen. The collected pollen serves as protein that can be used for queen rearing or brood rearing.

Why is a beekeepers suite white?

The color white is a natural non predator color for bees. Remember bears for instance are black or brown and will most likely trigger the natural instinct to protect and sting. Get yourself the appropriate white beekeepers suite.

What is a warre hive?

The Warre Hive is pretty odd if you don’t understand the natural way that bees build their hives in nature. This hive tried to mimic how bees will naturally behave in nature when building their hive in a hollow tree or non-man-made place in nature. When using this type of hive, you will assume that the bees take care of themselves, and you will spend less time inspecting the hive. This is not an easy hive to move.

What is a honey refractometer?

A honey refractometer is a device that measure the percentage moisture in honey.

Is Langstroth a good hive?

It’s easily expandable as you can easily add on brood boxes or honey supers. If your space is limited, this is probably the right hive for you. It’s easily accessible and can easily be maintained.

What is the first piece of equipment required for beekeeping?

Hive. The first piece of equipment required for beekeeping is the hive. It’s basically a home where bees live and work. There are plenty of options you can choose from, and I have explained the most popular types of hives in my other post – Types of beehives (click here).

What to do if you don't have beekeeping gloves?

This is basically the same deal as with the suit. If you don’t have beekeeping gloves, you can use any type of construction gloves made from hardened materials. I personally don’t use gloves as they interfere with my ability to handle the bees, move the frames or catch and mark the queen.

What is a bee smoker?

Bee smoker is what I like to call semi-essential part of the beekeeping equipment as it really makes work around the hive a lot easier and safer.

How to have a successful bee colony?

So, to have a successful bee colony, you need to provide them with enough space to explore and gather food. Honey production is directly proportional to the amount of resources they can gather. And so is the quality of the final product. Thus, finding an appropriate location is one of the essential requirements for successful beekeeping. These are some of the essential thing’s bees need to thrive;

Why is a hive stand important?

A hive stand elevates the hive away from the ground and first and foremost, away from natural predators. It limits the amount of moisture coming in from the soil and enables better hive ventilation, especially if the surrounding grass is tall and thick. Additional equipment is just a footnote and it touches on specialized tools for cutting and modifying the boxes and frames, hammers, nails, tools of all sorts and stuff like that. Non-essential, but still worth mentioning as you will notice every beekeeper has at least a couple of specialized tools for hive maintenance.

How many bees are in a swarm?

A swarm can number as high as 10.000 bees and in some cases, even more. Swarming usually occurs during spring. It is a natural process and it’s a way that colonies reproduce and you can catch a wild swarm to use it as a starting point for your colony.

What does the shelf mean in beekeeping?

The “shelf” I’m referring represents the number of books about beekeeping you’ve read, the depth of your knowledge and your experience. It represents how passionate you really are about this calling, and it is often the case; the deeper your shelf is, the fewer tools and equipment you need.

WHAT BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?

1. Protective Gear - Something to protect you from being stung 2. Hive Tool - Essential for opening hives and checking on progress 3. Smoker - The quintessential beekeeping tool that has been around since the beginning 4. Feeding Supplies - Something that makes it easy to give bees sugar syrup 5. Beehive - The actual equipment that the bees live in

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FEEDERS

I wish that we didn't have to feed bees sugar syrup and they were able to survive on their own, but for first-year hives, it's essential to their survival. Once a colony gets into its 2nd and 3rd year, it may not be essential to feed bees sugar syrup.

How to make a bee feeder?

You fill the pan with sugar water and place the grate on top. Then you place the feeder in a strategic location. Experts recommend either the tops of hives or near their entrances. This makes the food accessible without tempting other critters that try to steal it.

What is the first expense you should make in a bee hobby?

Your first and most obvious expense are the hives themselves. Your hives represent the single largest investment you will make in your new hobby. So the first thing to ask yourself is whether you want to buy starter hives or bee kits.

What are hive frames?

These are wooden rectangles that hang inside the individual boxes to provide a place for the bees to build the honeycomb structure that will make up their hives. Without the frame, there’s nothing for the bees to build on. Hive frames are pretty straightforward.

Why do beekeepers smoke?

The smoker seems to be a controversial tool within the beekeeping community. Some beekeepers love it because smoke makes the bees more docile. Those who don’t like the smoker site the bees’ natural biology as the reason why.

How long do bees stay anxious?

But here’s the problem: new beekeepers tend to be anxious through the first few inspections. Some are still anxious 6 to 8 months later. Bees can pick up on that anxiety. If you are anxious, they will be too.

Why do bees move to new locations?

Believe it or not, you are going to need feeders to keep your bees going at times. In nature, bees will move to new locations if their food sources dry up. You are trying to keep your bees in your hives, not wandering around looking for food. So you’re going to need feeders at certain times of the year.

Do you need a hive scraper for beekeeping?

The hive scraper is a tool used to clean the sides and top bars of your hives. And yes, you will be cleaning your hives regularly.

What is the most important piece of equipment a beekeeper will use to keep safe?

Veil – A beekeeper’s veil is probably the most important piece of equipment the beekeeper will use to keep safe. Even the most gentle bees can and will sting at times, unfortunately, you never know when that time will be. Getting stung on the face or scalp is especially painful, so a veil is on the top of the list. Also, bees are naturally curious about small openings, such as nostrils and ears.

What do you need to get a bee hive off?

Hive Tool – Sometimes you’ll need to pry the top of the hive off or loosen the frames since bees really like a snug home and glue everything together with propolis. This is where a hive tool comes in handy. These are really inexpensive and totally worth purchasing instead of using something around the house. But you could substitute a mini crowbar and a painter’s scraper if you already have those on hand.

What is the best tool to uncap honeycomb?

Uncapping Tool – If you want to be able to keep the honeycomb on the frame so the bees don’t have to draw out new comb, you’ll need a way to uncap the honeycomb. An uncapping tool is an inexpensive tool that will allow you to get just the caps off the comb. There is an uncapping fork and an uncapping knife. We prefer the uncapping fork. If you don’t have either of these, a sharp knife can be used but it won’t be as efficient.

How to make a hive stand?

To make a hive stand you just need six cinder blocks and a couple of 4X4’s. Make sure the lumber is long enough to put a couple of hives with enough room for another one in between them. This space will come in handy when you are working in your hives. Turn the cinder blocks up on one end and lay them out in two rows.

What to use to remove bees from a hive?

Bee Brush – When you pull up a frame from the hive, you will most likely need to brush bees off of it. Most will come off if you shake the frame some, but there are always a few that just don’t want to get off. A bee brush has long, firm but not stiff bristles that will gently remove the bees. You can substitute a good quality soft paintbrush that hasn’t been used but will probably cost as much or more than a bee brush.

What is the best way to calm bees?

Smoker – Smoke is used to calm the bees so you can get into the hive. The smoke masks the pheromones that the bees give off to communicate with each other. A smoker makes getting smoke pretty easy. You can use wood chips, small twigs, leaves or pine needles in the smoker.

Is it expensive to start beekeeping?

When our son first decided he wanted to keep bees and we started looking at beekeeping supplies, we learned pretty quickly that starting beekeeping can be pricey. Since we are really not the kind of people to rush out and drop a lot of money on a new found hobby we had to get creative.

What kind of gloves do you need to bees?

Make sure you get leather gloves (that goes to your elbows) that will protect you from stings and one that I find very durable and easy to wear when working with bees are goatskin gloves.#N#You can use working gloves but they will be less efficient in sting prevention and also they are usually shorter and covers your hand just up to your wrists so part of the arm is not protected enough and bees can crawl inside your glove.

What is a hive tool?

A hive tool is a piece of tool you should definitely have to have. Every time you want to open the hive, move the frames or take them out hive tool will help you do it. Bees are making propolis that they are using it as insulation and frames get stuck because propolis works like a glue and you have to use the toll to make it lose. This tool is very affordable and designed for beekeeping so make sure you get one.

Can you move frames between hives?

Very helpful item when you are collecting frames for harvesting or moving frames between the hives because even you are able to move most of the bees by taping the frame or shaking it you still have few bees stuck. For those most persistent ones brush is gentle enough to move them away but also not to hurt them in the process.

Essential Equipment

• Hive
  The first piece of equipment required for beekeeping is the hive. It’s basically a home where bees live and work. There are plenty of options you can choose from, and I have explained the most popular types of hives in my other post – Types of beehives (click here). But, if you are going for …

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Colony

Open Space – Location

Nonessential (But Still Important) Equipment

The Shelf