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How to Use a 10-Frame Assembly Jig for Beehives

Bees occur randomly in nature, but not enough to sustain most flower- or fruit-producing operations. If you'd like to keep your blooms cross-pollinating and your fruit trees germinated, investing in a few beehive "supers," or jigs, could benefit the view and your yield. Beehives mostly come in five- and 10-frame varieties, in dozens of patented constructions, but most work the same. Getting started isn't that difficult; keeping your hive thriving will be the hard part.

Things You'll Need

Beekeeper gloves
Beekeeper hat with mesh veil
Bee smoker
Spray bottle
Beekeeper suit or thick clothes with bands at wrists, ankles and waist
Hive tool
Plastic container
Toothpick or small nail
Sugar syrup
Sugar

Instructions

- 1
  Inquire about any local laws that restrict the placement of beehives. Situate your 10-frame jig in your backyard or field, away from any potentially complaining neighbors.
- 2
  Buy bees from a reputable source (see a list in the Resources section). Tell your source you want nonaggressive bees free of mites or other diseases. This can't be guaranteed, but bee vendors will have ways of gauging these things, and any friends who've purchased the types of bees you seek will be able to point you toward an established vendor.
- 3
  Place the bees in a cool and dark location.
- 4
  Mix a solution of one part water and one part sugar (about a pint) in your plastic container. Place the sugar water in a clean spray bottle and liberally mist the wire opening of the container in which the bees came. Continue to spray the opening until the bees no longer seem interested in the fluid and are fully dampened. Take the container to your 10-frame super.
- 5
  Fill your 10-frame jib's feeder with sugar syrup and remove half of your frames from the jig body. Don your protective clothing.
- 6
  Spray the bees with your smoker if they're exhibiting restlessness, though the sugar water should have calmed them.
- 7
  Open the bee container and take out the smaller queen cage and feeder. Take the cork out of the end of the queen cage and poke a small hole with a toothpick or nail through the candy inside the cage. Place the queen cage on a middle rack and cover it with the next rack up the tower, leaving the screen portion facing where the bees will see the queen.
- 8
  Pour the rest of the bees into your 10-frame super, replacing as many frames as you can, as well as the cover. (You may have one left over to allot space for the queen cage.)
- 9
  Wait five days before disturbing the bees. Keep a close eye, however, on the feeder jar, filling it when needed.
- 10
  Don protective clothing. Blow smoke with your smoker into the hive after five days, then remove the cover. Remove racks to expose the queen cage and ensure that the bees have chewed through the candy to release the queen. If not, release the queen from the candy after blowing a generous amount of smoke onto her. Use drops of water to weaken and break the sugar candy to release the queen. Remove the candy cage and replace all racks and the cover.
- 11
  Check on the hive after another week to ensure the queen is laying eggs, evidenced by honeycombs.

Insects & Science