How to Gear Up for Beekeeping

Tools to Begin Beekeeping

• 1

  Purchase one standard 10-frame hive with bottom board and telescoping cover.

• 2

  Purchase a hive stand with the hive body, or make a stand with cement blocks.

• 3

  Purchase or make an entrance block to reduce the size of the hive entrance, hold in heat, and prevent small animals from moving into the hive.

• 4

  Purchase an inner cover for the hive to keep the bees from propolizing (see glossary) the telescoping cover to the frames.

• 5

  Purchase 10 frames to hold the foundation for bees to start building comb.

• 6

  Purchase at least 20 pieces of foundation. Store extra foundation in a cool area away from mice.

• 7

  Purchase a bee veil to protect your face and gloves to protect your hands.

• 8

  Buy a hive tool to pry the telescoping cover and inner cover from the hive.

• 9

  Buy a bee brush - a soft brush used to remove bees gently from comb without killing them.

• 10

  Buy a bee feeder and a bee smoker.

• 11

  Pack a beekeeper's toolbox. It should include a long butane lighter, tin snips, pruning shears, tack hammer, hive staples, a few nails (to repair hive, super or frames), queen catcher, knife, sting ointment, needle-nose pliers, nylon rope or hive strap (to secure a swarm hive), gray duct tape, newspaper, and a spray bottle of sugar water.

Equipment Needed in Late Summer

• 12

  Buy one deep super for bees to store honey for winter.

• 13

  Buy 10 wooden frames to hold foundation and wax foundation.

• 14

  Use two shallow supers with frames and foundations to fit for storing honey you plan to harvest and eat.

• 15

  Get a queen excluder to prevent queen from moving into shallow supers and laying eggs.

• 16

  Get a bee escape to allow bees to get out of shallow supers when they're full of honey.