Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Acquire your first beehive in the spring. This is the time when bees emerge from their hives and begin foraging for sources of pollen to collect. The simplest way for a new beekeeper to get started is to purchase a hive and a bee nucleus (nuc) that contains an existing bee colony, complete with a queen bee. Bee breeders sell nucs and ready-to-assemble beehive kits.
Set up your beehive before the nuc arrives. Brush the interior of the hive and the frames with a mixture of equal parts of honey and water to help the bees quickly assimilate to their new home. Upon arrival of the nuc, the bees should be relocated to the hive as soon as possible. The queen bee ships in a separate cage within the nuc.
Don your protective clothing and use a smoker when handling your new bees. Beekeeper clothing is usually white to discourage the bees and it includes a hat with a net through which you can see but which protects you from bee stings. Gloves are an important addition. A smoker allows you to calm the bees with little puffs of smoke as you work.
Wedge the queen bee cage at the top of the hive, between two of the vertical frames. The queen's cage is equipped with a small edible plug that the worker bees will eat through and free the queen within three or four days. Check on the fourth day and if the queen is not yet released, remove the plug and place her cage back in the hive. The worker bees need a couple of days to acquaint themselves with the queen before she is released or they may kill her.
Provide food for your bees if spring flowers are not yet in bloom. If your hive did not come with a feeder tray, you can use a regular glass canning jar and poke pinholes in the lid. Fill it with equal parts of white sugar and water and place it upside down on top of the hive. The sugar water will slowly seep between the cracks and nourish the bees.