For different purposes, people decide to move into beekeeping, and although some do it as a hobby, some are commercial beekeepers doing it to make a dime. As they are the ones who help to pollinate plants, bees make a very significant contribution to the environment. Beekeeping is not a difficult activity to get into, and to start the activity you definitely don’t need any advanced schooling.
Before jumping in, you should take some time to familiarise yourself with all the details, in your beekeeping efforts it will be of great help to you. Beginner beekeepers do not need specialized facilities such as those that commercial beekeepers use. A starter kit for beekeeping will set you off in the right direction.
What’s in the Beekeeping Starter Kit?
A beekeeping starter kit’s exact contents can differ slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Nevertheless, below are the resources that are normally included:
- Hive kit – usually 8 to 10 frames
- Telescoping cover with inner cover, a bottom board, and an entrance reducer
- Beekeeping veil
- Beekeeper gloves
- Bee smoker (some manufacturers also throw in bee smoker fuel)
- Hive tool
- Beekeeping starter book
Where can I get the beekeeping starter kit?
You can order a beekeeping order online from Amazon.com for a beekeeping starter kit, and have it delivered right to your front door.
Materials used for making a starter kit for beekeeping
Beekeeping kits are traditionally assembled using wood, but synthetic materials such as plastic and polystyrene have recently been used to produce beehives. Wood, however, remains the best material for making kits for beekeeping.
What else am I going to need along with the starter beekeeping kit?
If you have the beehive up and running, for them to thrive, you will need to take good care of your bees and produce a surplus of honey that you will then harvest. Examining the hive at least three times a week to give them food, water and ensure adequate ventilation means taking good care of the bees.
You also need to wear protective gear to prevent being stung when checking your bees. The beekeeper’s uniform, hat and veil, gloves, and boots would have to be purchased. These will make your bee inspection work safe and much easier for you, too. It can be dangerous to go out unprotected to examine bees, particularly if you are still just a novice beekeeper.
Factors to consider when putting up your beehive
When setting up your beehive, as a beginner beekeeper, you may have to remember the following factors:
The position must be open to the sun – One where sunlight can easily penetrate is the best place you can set up your beehive. In damp and moist areas, bees don’t do well and can probably even move somewhere else. Set your hive up at a position that receives enough sunlight to prevent this possibility.
Consider water – Placing the hive at a place near a water source where the bees can easily access water and get back to the hive is advisable. Bees tend to prefer water that contains organic matter, so it would be nice to set up the beehives close to a creek, farm pond, stream, or stock tank. The position should also be as close as possible to pollen and nectar, since the less honey they can produce, the more bees fly to collect nectar and pollen.
Consider predators – In addition, it is also not a good idea to position your beehive where mites and other bee predators can easily reach it. The fewer bee predators in the field, the better.
After buying and setting up the beehive, what to do next?
In your area, you should purchase at least two existing colonies from a recognized bee farm. Two colonies are easier to have since one can be used as the other’s power. If one colony becomes weak, for example, you can use the other one to help reinforce it.
Conclusion
Beekeeping is a genuinely satisfying process that can be undertaken as a hobby or even commercially by anyone. When choosing your starter kits for beekeeping, always make sure to go for those made from wood, as it is typically the best material. To help keep the bees protected from surface runoff, insects, or any other kinds of bee pests, beehives must always be raised above the ground.
Also, See The 10 Best Beekeeping Starter Kits – Buying Guide 2020