How to Begin Beekeeping and What to Expect

Consider various factors that could affect your ability to begin beekeeping. Make sure your family is supportive of the idea. Check with your neighbors to see if they are against having a colony of bees in their neighborhood. Expect some opposition to beekeeping because many people fear bees. Don't forget to study local law and codes in your city or town to be sure beekeeping is allowed in your area. Also, remember to take the financial issues of beekeeping into consideration. While rewarding and fascinating, this hobby can be quite expensive to start and to maintain because of all the necessary care and equipment.

Figure out your goals and motivations for wanting to begin beekeeping. For example, if you want to produce honey, consider the type of hive you choose carefully, because some result in more honey production than others do. If you are just fascinated by bees and the hobby in general, be sure you want to commit the time, effort and money necessary to be a successful beekeeper. If you practice beekeeping according to your goals, you can expect to create an enjoyable hobby.

Select the type of hive that best fits your beekeeping goals. Many kinds of hives are available, however, the two main types are movable frame hives and top bar hives. Movable frame hives are the traditional beekeeper hives, and are tiered with inner and outer covers. They give the bees plenty of space to move around each tier. They are more expensive than top bar hives, but allow the bees to produce uniform combs resulting in more honey production. In top bar hives, the bees produce free-form combs because there are no tiers or frames. They consist of a simple design that makes honey easy to harvest. Though they are less expensive than movable frame hives, the disadvantages of top bar hives are that they result in less honey production and require more hands-on care from the beekeeper. Whichever hive your choose, you will find that as long as your hive is dry and not regularly disturbed, you bees will thrive.

Decide where you will get your bees. You can purchase bees from fee farmers through the mail in nuc boxes, which are specially designed boxes for shipping packaged bees. This is usually the least expensive option and consists of a queen and several thousand workers to get your beekeeping project started. You can also purchase bees several frames at a time, but this is more expensive. Another option is to contact other beekeepers in your area about attracting local swarms to your hives. Speak to other professionals in the area if you plan to get your bees this way, otherwise you may attract the wrong kind of bees. No matter which option you choose for getting your bees, be sure to have all of your equipment and hives first so the bees settle into their new environment and you are ready be begin beekeeping when they arrive.