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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 10 Comb Foundations For Brood Size Frames
• 10-frame Hives
• 2 Shallow Supers With Frames & Foundation To Fit
• Bee Brushes
• Bee Escapes
• Bee Smokers
• Deep Supers With Frames & Foundation To Fit
• Entrance Reducer
• Hive Staples
• Hive Tools For Prying The Hive & Frames Apart
• Queen Catchers
• Queen Excluder
• Spray Bottles
• Telescoping Cover
• Gloves
• Gloves
• Gloves
• Bee Feeders
• Bee Veils
• Duct Tape
• Nylon Ropes
• Pruning Shears
• Pruning Shears
• Bee-sting Creams
• Butane Lighters
• Common Nails
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Pocket Knives
• Tack Hammers
• Tin Snips
• Tool Chests
• Duct Tape
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Tin Snips

Tools to Begin Beekeeping

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.

Equipment Needed in Late Summer

12. Buy one deep super for bees to store honey for winter.

13. Buy 10 wooden frames to hold foundation and wax foundation.

14. Use two shallow supers with frames and foundations to fit for storing honey you plan to harvest and eat.

15. Get a queen excluder to prevent queen from moving into shallow supers and laying eggs.

16. Get a bee escape to allow bees to get out of shallow supers when they're full of honey.

Tips & Warnings

• 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.
• Used hive bodies and frames may not be a standard size. Have an experienced beekeeper go with you to look at used hive bodies.

[krndpx]

on 10/31/2007 One should never assume you'll quickly make up the money you put into beekeeping. It's like farming--you can have heavy losses and make no money from honey at all some years. Most people go into beekeeping for the love of it, not to get rich!

[beesontoast]

on 7/7/2007 Yep, this is the EXPENSIVE way to do beekeeping. For a much cheaper alternative, try a top bar hive - see article on building a top bar hive and see www.biobees.com