Terrific Tips for the Beekeeping Beginner

KNOW HOW TO START BEEKEEPING WITH SOME TERRIFIC TIPS


Beekeeping is more than just a fun hobby; taking proper care of bees can have a positive effect on your community and the plants that rely on these insects for pollination. Have you always been fascinated by the idea of beekeeping but didn't know where to start? Keeping bees isn't a difficult task, but it does take preparation and finesse to keep your hive alive. Before you can be a beemaster, you should follow these beekeeping tips to sharpen your skills.


Hit the Books



You don't want to head straight to the country store and stock up on beginning beekeeping supplies without having a good understanding of what you need, how to set up your hive, and what happens after that. Start with educating yourself, making sure to learn all that you can about the bees themselves. The more you know about the biology and behavior of bees, the better prepared you will be to manage them and help them thrive.


Frame of Mind


Once you know a thing or two about the bees, you can buy or build frames to support your colony. Frames come in a few different sizes, but you may want to start out with medium frames that are easy for you to maneuver. Movable frames are also easier to inspect and swap out as you remove honey or split your colony.


Double Up


While working on one frame for your bees, you might as well get another one set up. It won't take much extra work to tend two hives; in fact, it may be easier for you to give your bees plenty of room and have access to honey and pollen if you can work from colony to colony.


Gather Your Tools


In addition to bee boxes and frames, you should stock up on other essential beekeeping gear. Make sure you have protective wear; you can't avoid every sting, but you can limit the amount of surface area you leave exposed. Other tools to get when setting up your colony include a smoker, scalping knives, a bee brush, and extracting equipment. Start with the essentials, and over time, you may find that you want to upgrade your tools or buy more specialty items.


Check It Out


Plan to inspect your hives about every seven to 10 days from spring to fall to make sure everything looks good. Open your frames and visually inspect each one, looking for any signs of stress or disease. Make sure your eggs and queen are in good shape and check the amount of room your bees have. You don't want to ignore your bee boxes; it only takes two weeks for problems to arise and possibly overtake your little honeys.



Do Not Disturb


Bees like to be left alone to do their work, and they don't want to be micromanaged. As tempting as it is to check on your hive and see what's buzzing, you should leave your colonies alone unless it's time to inspect them. Opening and moving your frames around can stress the bees and allow heat to escape. Bees need to stay warm to survive, and you don't want to inadvertently harm them because of your curiosity.


By the Waterfront


Like all living things, bees need water to stay alive, but you can't assume they can get all they need without a little help from you. Set up your hives near a water source, preferably in a shady spot, where they can access it easily. Keep in mind that if they must fly too far to quench their thirst, they may decide to move to that better neighborhood.


It's Natural


Don't fear the swarm; it's what bees do. If your hive has run out of room, they may decide to break up on their own, which is when swarms happen. You can anticipate this by monitoring your colony when you inspect your bee boxes and split them before they do it for you.


Share the Wealth


Honey is perhaps the main benefit of beekeeping; that liquid gold is a natural source of sugar, contains antioxidants, and may help with allergies. It's also the main source of food for your bees when the weather turns cold, and you are lucky they share it with you. Don't take too much of their honey supply because you could inadvertently starve them.


Ask Away


Beekeepers are a supportive community and are happy to share their knowledge with newbies. Turn to seasoned beemasters for advice about your colony; chances are good they have experienced everything and can help you learn the ropes. You can also join a beekeeping group, either online or in your area.


Hopefully, these helpful beekeeping tips can take some of the sting out of setting up new hives and getting started with a new hobby or business. You can find the supplies you need at your local Peavy Mart or online. We are a great source for beginning beekeeping, from books to tools.