Getting Started in Beekeeping

So, you want to be a beekeeper?

Good choice! You could say I’m partial to it, but I think it’s a great beginning to self-reliance. Bees are fascinating creatures and honey is a great bartering commodity. It can be a higher initial investment than some hobbies, but honey fetches a great price and never spoils when handled properly. If you want to learn more about getting started in beekeeping, read on!

I always recommend that people start out with at least two hives. That way, you have a comparison a little better for if something is “normal” and you also have more chances for success because you have the potential to move brood from one to the other if you have a weaker hive or a queen dies.

Before getting started in beekeeping, always make sure to check your local laws to make sure beekeeping is permitted and if there are any limitations or rules you must follow. Every area is different! If there is a local beekeeping club around you, I recommend joining it- they should also have all that information for you!

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Pick a spot!

One of the first things that you’re going to want to do is pick a location for your hives. You will want to keep in mind that bees need water, and will usually go to the closest source (even if that’s your neighbor’s pool!). So keep the following in mind when picking a spot.

• Southern-facing is best to get sun first thing in the morning
• Don’t have too much shade unless you’re in a hot climate (chalkbrood being one of the potential problems)
• Protection from wind
• Protection from predators (an electric fence may be necessary if you live where there are bears)
• Proximity to people (mind your neighbors and remember that even a gentle hive can get aggravated sometimes and you don’t want a hive right next to where you need to do other things)
• A final note is that if you don’t have a great direction to point your hive, know that bees will fly in a straight line from their hive, so placing a wall in front of the hive, while not ideal, can help keep bee’s flight paths above people’s heads

Equipment for getting started in beekeeping.

There are some essentials that you will need to purchase before you bring home your first buzzers. Thankfully, many sites sell starter kits that have everything you need! I love Mann Lake for this. This link is to the deluxe starter kit, it has everything ready to go right out of the box! If you don’t want to buy a kit, or would rather buy things separately, the following is what you will need for each hive.

First, the base hive.

Note that each link is to 10-frame, unassembled, unpainted equipment (if available).

• Two deep bodies
• 20 deep frames (This is a case of 100, having extra is very handy)
• 20 pieces of foundation (I love plastic foundation, wax moths can’t destroy it and it’s so sturdy)
• Hive bottom with a reducer
• Inner cover
• Outer cover (This is a nicer cover, my favorite, than what comes with the kit)

Next, more hive!

These are the hive components needed once the honey flow is on. Notice I say “at least”- I have had single hives that I’ve put up to 4 supers (what we call the smaller boxes that are just for honey) on at once.

• A minimum of 2 supers
• 20 super frames (make sure you have 10 per super)
• At least 20 pieces of foundation (match the number of frames)
• A Queen excluder

Don’t get stung!

Now, one of the most important things, the PPE (personal protective equipment). While many will say you aren’t a real beekeeper until you’ve been stung, we still want to avoid it!

• A bee suit with veil
• Gloves
• “Leggins” (these may sound extraneous, but you would not believe the number of times I’ve had a bee crawl up my pant leg)

Lastly, odds and ends.

Here are some miscellaneous items (not including honey harvest- this is just for getting started, remember?) that will also be needed or come in handy.

• Hive tool
• Smoker and fuel
• Primer and paint if you purchased unpainted equipment (which I prefer)
• Nails (for frames and hive bodies) if you purchased unassembled
• Hive stand (I usually just use cement blocks to keep up my hives, but the stands do look nicer and allow better ventilation with screened bottom boards)
• Feeder (I love top feeders because you don’t have to bother the bees to fill them and they’re easy to remove and check- go here to see my article on feeding your bees)
• Pro Health to add to sugar water. While not necessary, I love this stuff and it lasts a long time.

You didn’t think that was all, did you?

You still need bees of course! There are so many options out there these days, and it can be hard to know what to get. Ignoring the different breeds, for a minute, there is the first choice of a package or Nuc (Nucleus colony, pronounced “nuke”).

A Nuc is a small starter hive. It will have usually 4 frames and a frame feeder. The frames will have a mix of brood (baby bees), honey, and pollen. There will also be bees and a queen that is laying eggs. This can be perfect for a beginner, as you are getting a head start on your hive. The downfall is that you are getting someone else’s frames, and you don’t know what chemicals they may have used, or if the hives had any diseases.

You could choose to get a package instead. These usually have 3 pounds of bees along with a queen that will be in a cage and a can feeder. This is what I often choose to get, as it’s a little cheaper and you don’t run as much of a risk of getting another apiary’s problems.

Then there are the breeds. There are many, but you will most often see three main ones: Italian, Carniolan, and Russian. I personally prefer the Carniolan, but it’s really best to ask someone local to your area what seems to work best. Italians are often a good “starter bee”.

Your turn!

When getting started in beekeeping, there are a lot of things to keep in mind, but it is a very rewarding venture. “Bee” sure to have all needed equipment (I recommend starting with at least two hives!), to order bees (think ahead! Many suppliers sell out well before spring), to have a location picked out, know your local ordinances, and join a local beekeeping club if one is available!

I wish you all the best! If you have any questions, I am always glad to help!