Embarking on the journey of beekeeping is an exciting venture filled with the promise of honey-filled hives and positive environmental impact. For first-time beekeepers, choosing the right equipment is a crucial step towards ensuring a successful and enjoyable experience. In this guide, we'll explore the essential tools and gear you need to set up your apiary for sweet success.
1. **The Hive: Foundation of Beekeeping**
The first decision you'll face is choosing the type of hive. Langstroth and Top Bar hives are popular options. Langstroth hives, with their stackable boxes and removable frames, are widely used and make inspections easier. On the other hand, Top Bar hives provide a more natural comb-building environment for bees.
Here at A&W Apiaries, we use 8 and 10 frame Langstroth hives. Though, one day, we hope to try Langstroth long hives (similar to the one found here)!
Source: https://www.twohiveshoney.com/this-or-that-choosing-your-hive-type/
2. **Protective Gear: Shielding Yourself from Stings**
A quality bee suit, gloves, and a veil are non-negotiables for your safety. Look for a suit with sturdy zippers, elastic cuffs, and ankle bands to prevent any unwelcome intruders. Ventilation is also crucial, especially in warmer climates.
Both Amanda and I use this beekeeping suit from Amazon (below) (we are affiliates, please support us!).
3. **Smoker: Keeping the Bees Calm**
A smoker is an essential tool to keep your bees calm during inspections. Choose a durable smoker with good airflow control. Common fuels include pine needles and untreated burlap. We collect pine needles and store them in a 5 gallon bucket. We have two smokers sized similar to the one linked in the image, but we are hoping to upgrade to a taller smoker like this one from Pierco.
4. **Hive Tool: Your Multi-Purpose Assistant**
This simple tool is a beekeeper's best friend. It helps pry apart hive components, scrape off propolis, and lift frames during inspections. Look for a hive tool with a comfortable grip for prolonged use.
EVERYONE is going to have their preference of hive tool. I like to use the simple J Hook tool, pictured below. Amanda prefers a mini version of this tool, found here.
5. **Bee Brush: Gentle Hive Maintenance**
A soft-bristled bee brush is handy for gently moving bees off frames and hive components during inspections. Opt for a brush with long, flexible bristles to minimize harm to the bees.
Bee brushes come standard in new beek packages. To be honest, A&W Apiaries does not utilize bee brushes for much. We have them on hand, we just rarely reach for them! If push comes to shove and you can't buy everything at once, you could survive a few seasons without a brush.
6. **Feeder: Supplementing Bee Nutrition**
Especially important for new colonies, a feeder helps provide supplemental food until your bees establish themselves. Frame feeders and entrance feeders are common types. Choose one that suits your hive type and management preferences.
A&W Apiaries prefers to use these internal hive feeders. They are a little pricey, but we rarely have bees drown which is our number one goal. It is the right size for us in that they usually drink the feed within 72hrs to a week, so the feed doesn't spoil.
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We have also used these round top feeders before, and they are a little more cost efficient! No complaints with them!
There are many other types of feeders, including buckets, internal frame feeders, and front entry feeders. In our opinion, you should stay away from front/entrance feeders like the one below on the left as it can promote other hives robbing the hive being fed. However, these are by far the cheapest way to get your colony food. The top feeder in the center (below) is an option if you need to get a LOT of feed on your colony at once. We have not used them in the past, but many larger apiaries will use them because you don't have to revisit the hive as frequently. The bucket top feeders are similar in concept (on the right).
7. **Queen Excluder: Regulating Queen Movement**
To prevent the queen from laying eggs in honey supers, a queen excluder can be used. Ensure the spacing is appropriate for worker bees to pass through but restricts the queen's movement.
You can choose between plastic and metal queen excluders. Obviously, plastic is much cheaper to start with, but most prefer metal at the end of the day. You do have to be careful when storing plastic QEs because if they heat up on an uneven surface, they will warp.
8. **Hive Stand: Elevating for Success**
Elevate your hive slightly to improve ventilation and reduce the risk of water accumulation. Sturdy hive stands also make inspections more comfortable and protect against pests. You'll see in our header picture, we have our hives up on 4x4 posts, sitting on cinder blocks. We are going to try pallets next year and move our nucs to the existing apiary.
9. **Tools for Extracting Honey: Harvesting the Fruits of Your Labor**
As your hive matures, you'll need tools for honey extraction. Extractors, uncapping knives, and honey strainers are essential for harvesting and processing your honey. We use a heated knife and a 2 frame electric extractor. This is good enough for us for now, but we will likely outgrow our 2 frame extractor within the next few seasons. We will likely upgrade to this one when ready.
10. **Educational Resources: Knowledge is Key**
Invest in reputable beekeeping books, attend workshops, and join local beekeeping associations. Continued education is essential for successful hive management.
Selecting the right equipment for your beekeeping journey is a thoughtful process that sets the stage for a thriving apiary. As you assemble your toolkit, prioritize quality, durability, and the specific needs of your bees. With the right gear and a commitment to ongoing learning, you'll soon be harvesting the sweet rewards of your buzzing endeavor. Happy beekeeping!