What are the basics of beekeeping?

Basic Beekeeping Techniques

• Starting a Colony.
• Working with a Bee Colony.
• Inspecting a Colony.
• Collecting a Swarm.
• Dividing a Colony.
• Moving a Colony.
• Removing Surplus Honey.
• Smoker Maintenance.

What is the best bee hive for beginners?

The top three types of bee hive used are the langstroth hive, the top bar hive, and the warre hive. The Langstroth hive is the most commonly used hive today, and would likely be the best type for a beginner.

Is small scale beekeeping profitable?

The short answer is yes, and beekeeping for profit extends far beyond simply selling your own honey. In fact, there are many ways to make money with beekeeping that most new and for-profit beekeepers aren’t aware of.

How do I start a budget beekeeping?

Beekeeping On A Budget

1. Honey Bees. Short of knowing a generous beekeeper that has too many hives and wants to give some away, perhaps the most obvious way to achieve savings on the procurement of honey bees is to catch a swarm.
2. Beekeeping Equipment.
3. Reusing old frames.
4. Foundation.
5. Hive Stand.
6. Extractors.
7. Feeders.
8. Coveralls.

How do I start beekeeping for beginners?

First things first: Take a beekeeping class in the fall or winter (around November or December). From there, order your bees and equipment. When your bees arrive in the spring (typically April), you’ll install your hive and spend the next 3-4 months feeding them a combination of sugar and water.

How far should beehives be from a house?

It is equally as important to think about how your neighbors use their yard, so it is not a good idea to put a hive directly on a property line. Instead, place your hives ten feet or more from the property line.

How many beehives do you need to make a profit?

All you need is at least 2 hives to start selling honey and beeswax products. I would wait until you have at least 5 hives before you start offering beekeeping services to businesses. I wouldn’t start offering beekeeping classes or selling nuc’s until you have at least 20 hives.

How much money can you make per bee hive?

That means that you can get $800 from each colony or hive. So for 10 hives, you will get $8,000 per year. But you need to know that these are the results in favorable conditions. Only good beekeepers can get these numbers constantly, or if they’re lucky they can get even better money.

How much does a queen bee cost?

So how much does a queen bee cost? Queen bees are generally around $70-100 regardless of breed. Some can go for much more on the open market, especially if they belong to one of these strains. At times, you’ll see someone who unfortunately can’t keep his or her hive anymore so they’ll liquidate everything.

How is the Langstroth hive used in beekeeping?

Two main systems are used in beekeeping. One is called the Langstroth hive, and it’s composed of boxes that are stacked on top of each other, each containing frames where the bees build their comb and store honey. You pull the boxes out like drawers to access the bees, harvest honey, and perform maintenance tasks.

What kind of lift do you need for a bee hive?

General purpose, commercially available lifting devices can also be used to lift hives. The first device in this category is the scissor lift, shown in Figure 7. These devices typically consist of a frame with four wheels, a handle and a platform that is raised and lowered by a linkage system and a hydraulic cylinder.

Which is the best system for beekeeping for beginners?

The other is a top-bar hive, where the bees’ frames are arranged horizontally, not vertically. The bees make comb without foundation in this system. Each bar, containing comb and honey, is pulled up out of the hive from the top. You’ll need to choose which system is right for your needs. Most beekeepers use a Langstroth hive.

What are the different types of beekeeping hives?

One is called the Langstroth hive, and it’s composed of boxes that are stacked on top of each other, each containing frames where the bees build their comb and store honey. You pull the boxes out like drawers to access the bees, harvest honey, and perform maintenance tasks. You can add boxes vertically if your hive needs more space.