Getting started in beekeeping?

Question

What are all the supplies I need to get started in beekeeping? I keep seeing these starter kits for sale, but they don't provide you with any way to extract the honry, right? So what do I need to do it right?

Answer 1

A starter kit isn't a bad idea for a beginner. No, there's no extractor included with those kits but it's a fair thing. You'll likely not have any extra honey to keep the first year. The bees will not be able to produce any extra for you because they'll be busy drawing out all the comb needed for their brood rearing purposes and for their own winter needs. Your local bee club might also have an extractor to share or rent.

It's an expensive toy that you don't use much.

There are beginner beeclasses all over the place, run by Beekeeping Clubs or County Extension agencies.

One good place to start is by reading "Beeking for Dummies" or the Beesource Forums.

I'm about a year into keeping three hives that I adopted from a friend (so I did get extra honey my first year). And found taking a class to be invaluable. It only cost me $10 for all classes.

Still, I made some novice mistakes. The bees are fairly forgiving.

Answer 2

I would contact a local bee keeper to possibly get a tour or find out if there is a local organization I could join. Be open and tell them what you would like to do. Most of these keepers are very friendly and enjoy sharing what they know.

Answer 3

How to Gear Up for Beekeeping Your new hobby will require an initial investment for beekeeping equipment. But if you're going to be selling honey, you'll earn back your money in no time. Tools to Begin Beekeeping Steps: 1. Purchase one standard 10-frame hive with bottom board and telescoping cover. 2. Purchase a hive stand with the hive body, or make a stand with cement blocks. 3. Purchase or make an entrance block to reduce the size of the hive entrance, hold in heat, and prevent small animals from moving into the hive. 4. Purchase an inner cover for the hive to keep the bees from propolizing (see glossary) the telescoping cover to the frames. 5. Purchase 10 frames to hold the foundation for bees to start building comb. 6. Purchase at least 20 pieces of foundation. Store extra foundation in a cool area away from mice. 7. Purchase a bee veil to protect your face and gloves to protect your hands. 8. Buy a hive tool to pry the telescoping cover and inner cover from the hive. 9. Buy a bee brush - a soft brush used to remove bees gently from comb without killing them. 10. Buy a bee feeder and a bee smoker. 11. Pack a beekeeper's toolbox. It should include a long butane lighter, tin snips, pruning shears, tack hammer, hive staples, a few nails (to repair hive, super or frames), queen catcher, knife, sting ointment, needle-nose pliers, nylon rope or hive strap (to secure a swarm hive), gray duct tape, newspaper, and a spray bottle of sugar water. Tips: Some of the equipment - such as the smoker, hive tool, feeder and brush - can be purchased "used." If you plan to have more than one hive, purchase the foundation in larger quantities for a better buy. Warnings: Used hive bodies and frames may not be a standard size. Have an experienced beekeeper go with you to look at used hive bodies. Equipment Needed in Late Summer Steps: 1. Buy one deep super for bees to store honey for winter. 2. Buy 10 wooden frames to hold foundation and wax foundation. 3. Use two shallow supers with frames and foundations to fit for storing honey you plan to harvest and eat. 4. Get a queen excluder to prevent queen from moving into shallow supers and laying eggs. 5. Get a bee escape to allow bees to get out of shallow supers when they're full of honey. How to Start a Beehive Here's a general overview for starting a hive. Be sure to follow the specific instructions given by the manufacturer of your hive. Location Steps: 1. Check local city ordinances or covenants about keeping bees in your area. 2. Select a location that provides morning sun and late-afternoon shade. 3. Avoid a location where bees might fly into a neighbor's yard. 4. Make sure bees have access to water without having to use a neighbor's pool. 5. Consider planting flowers and shrubs that attract bees and that provide a good source of pollen. Tips: Bees love cotton, soybeans, holly, black gum, white clover, sweet clover, black locust, honey locust, willow, rattan vine, buckwheat vine, sumac, brambles, fruit tree blossoms, and redbud, among others. Warnings: Do not use pesticides on blooming plants. This is one sure way of wiping out an entire bee population. Hive Setup Steps: 1. Set up your hive before early spring to catch the first nectar flow. 2. Purchase bees and install them in your hive. 3. Feed bees until honey flow begins - when plants and trees begin to bloom. 4. Check bees periodically for disease. 5. Add a super when six frames are full of capped honey