How to Set Up a New Beehive

The Hive Body

• 1

  Purchase a new hive body from a reputable supplier. Hives in the Langstroth style are the best for honeybees and are considered standard apiary equipment. More than one hive body provides the queen with a brood chamber, but is not absolutely necessary.

• 2

  Assemble the hive body. Shallow frames should be at the top, progressing to deeper frames at the bottom. If not already provided, puncture a ventilation hole at the top of the hive body for interior moisture control.

• 3

  Select an appropriate site for the hive. Plants supplying nectar and pollen, as well as a clean source of water, should be in close proximity to the apiary. A windbreak, such as a building or hilled earth, should shelter the rear of the hive site.

• 4

  Situate the hive body on top of bricks to provide elevation. Tilt the hive slightly to the rear to allow rain water to drain away from entrances.

• 5

  Face hive entrance to the south or southeast to provide morning sun and afternoon shade. Exact direction is not as important as ensuring bees do not get too hot in the midday sun or too cold overnight.

• 6

  Protect the apiary from ants and mites. Do not use pesticides. Bees are usually more sensitive to pesticides than ants.

Populating the Hive

• 7

  Spray bees with a light coating of sugar syrup before removing them from the shipping container. The bees will busy themselves cleaning the syrup, rather than trying to fly away during transfer.

• 8

  Remove the can of sugar syrup included in the shipping container. Gently shake the bees into the empty hive body.

• 9

  Remove the separate cage housing the queen bee. Suspend the cage between frames to attract worker bees and keep them in the new hive.

• 10

  Wait one or two days before removing the queen from the cage. This allows the colony to settle after shipping and transfer.

• 11

  Clip the queen's wings to keep her from leaving and so that you can tell if a new (Africanized) queen takes over the hive.

• 12

  Provide an ample supply of sugar syrup until the workers begin establishing a honeycomb. The first tasks workers must complete is a place for the queen to lay eggs. In the meantime, the colony will need a food supply until workers begin foraging.