Beginning beekeeping equipment can be hard to figure out.
There ’s so many pick . So many styles . So many places that sell beekeeping equipment . What do you choose?Knowing exactly what get beekeeping equipment to purchase and where to purchase it can be both exciting and overwhelming . When I determine I wanted to dabble in beekeeping , I had one trouble : I knew nothing about bees or beekeeping . I by all odds lie with nothing about what equipment I needed or which company to purchase from . But that was year ago . I got started , pulled through the heavy stuff and learned from my mistakes . And now , I ’m quick to assist you get started . So , in this post , I ’m going to discuss :
The Most Valuable Piece of Advice for Beginning Beekeepers
A good mentor or champion to do beekeeping with is invaluable . Joining a local beekeeping mathematical group can help you find other beekeepers in your country who can come over and aid you when needed . I cerebrate this will be the best way to learn about the ins and outs of beekeeping . At my bee Old World chat mathematical group , I have learned what bee I need to order , how many hives to start and what equipment to get to have a successful first year of beekeeping . Each month , we talk about what to do the next calendar month depending on weather , plant life and timing . Thanks to my mentor radical , I finger like I have the knowledge now to give helpful advice for beginning apiarist . I have a hoard list of beekeeping equipment and supplies . The begin bee equipment listing I will share with you will be enough forthreestarter hives . This list was also made to bean economical wayto acquire equipment . I did n’t have a lot of money to get start . So , I will share more of that later on in the post . Let ’s take a look about what ’s on the equipment list . That ’s the good stuff . I ’ll get into the flossy clobber later .
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Beekeeping Tools List:
1.Bee Brush : A blue-blooded tool to move bees around during inspection.2.4 X 7 Smoker w/ Shield : Smoke calm the bees and helps me to safely inspect and gather honey.3.The Hive Tool : Used to skin balance from frames as well as a assortment of other jobs.4.Hat / Veil Combinationor Full Suit : Protect face and head from stings.5.Plastic Coated Canvas Gloves : maintain bees from stinging my hands . The less they prick me , the more live bee I will have.6.Entrance Feeders : To feed my bees when food supplying is low . I ordered one ingress feeder for each hive ( 3 Total).7.Frame Grips : To foot up human body during inspection .
Beginning Beekeeping Equipment for Three 10-Frame Hives:
8 . 9 5/8″ Hive Bodies ( Carton of 5 )
9.9 5/8″ Hive Bodies ( Carton of 1 ) – An redundant set for the 3rd beehive . necessitate 6 Total.10 . 9 1/8″ Grooved Top Bar Frames ( Carton of 50)11 . 9 1/8″ Grooved Top Bar Frames ( Carton of 10 ) – An extra bent for the third hive . Need 60 total.12.Yellow Wax coat Plasticell(Order 60)13.Ponderosa Pine Bottom Board(Order 3)14.Telescoping Cover with Inner Cover(Order 3)15.Entrance Reducers(One per hive )
Get the Beginning Beekeeping Equipment PDF Here
Recommended Beginner Hive Kit
If you ’re want to lay aside time and you desire an already put together outfit quick for the bees , I recommend this one from Mann Lake . It ’s a 10 - frame Langstroth hive kit that comes with a smoker , tools and other requisite . Also notice the destitute merchant marine !
retard out the beehive kit here
What to Do When You Receive Your Equipment
So , let ’s say you ’ve ordered the equipment from the inclination . amazing ! That ’s the first footmark . Then , it fix to your house in little pieces inside boxes . Now what ? I know that was my first reaction . How do all these piece go together?The first affair to do is to appease calm . The second thing is to start betimes . If you get the unassembled bee hive outfit to salvage some money , you have to spend some sentence now putting it all together . The next whole step is to spread the boxes filled with beginning beekeeping equipment . There are educational activity inside and every patch and nail you ’ll need to be able to build your hives and frames . eventually , you ’ll desire to invest in someexterior paintto protect the outside of the hive box from weather . Most beekeepers use white but I ’ve seen some fairly colorful hives as well .
Equipment needed later:
Once a surplus of dear is established , you ’ll take to extend your supply list to two supers and a queen excluder per hive . So , more equipment is needed.16 . 6 5/8″ Supers ( Carton of 5)17 . 6 5/8″ Supers ( Carton of 1)18 . 6 1/4″ Top Bar Frames ( Carton of 50)19 . 6 1/4 Grooved Top Bar Frames ( Carton of 10)20 . Yellow Wax Coated Plasticell ( 60 Total)21.Wood Bound Queen Excluder(3 Total )
Why Start with Three Hives?
You absolutely do NOT have to start with three hives like I did . This was urge to me for a twosome of reasons :
If you have a mentor or stick with my advice , chances are you’re able to make it with one hive . But you just never make love . And I had no cue , so I went with the advice of my mentor and ordered three .
Now, Where to Order Beginning Beekeeping Equipment?
Well , I had no approximation . There are 20 - 30 party out there who sell beekeeping equipment . I had stack of questions . I ultimately went with Dadant because , well , my wise man orders from there . The equipment is very effective caliber but the merchant marine monetary value are really gamey . Mann Lake is another awesome company with mellow quality equipment and the merchant vessels is not as high as Dadant . We all have our own opinion about supply fellowship , but those are my top two that I have used and recommend . I’ve also found some thing on Amazon that I linked to up above . If you have Prime , you might be redeem some money if you arrange through Amazon . But the place that I now order from or shop is very local to my area and if you ’re in the vicinity of Kansas , this might be a possibility for you . In Manhattan , we have a beekeeping shop calledGolden Prairie Honey Farms . Not only is it locally possess , but this shop employs old stager to tack the equipment to purchase from the shop part . Plus , they are beekeepers so they know what beekeepers desire . They keep their shop stocked with the good equipment . I ’m saving money on transport because I drive to Manhattan often so I shop there when I ask something . She has also offered to bear items to me part mode at no extra charge . They are outstanding to work with . Talk about an awesome backyard stage business ! Now you’re able to see why I love to support them . If you have anything like this in your region , that is your best bet . As far as ordering the bee starter dependency in the packages , I would highly suggest line up local beekeeper who sell packages with a pansy . Talk to other beekeepers in your expanse or do a nimble search online . postulate local acquaintance on Social Media . Bottom line of work : It ’s best to ride out as local as possible because the bees are already adapted to your environment . This will improve the achiever rate of the health of the hive .
One Final Tip about Ordering Equipment
Shipping is expensive , so I ordered everything I would need now and later all at once . I extremely recommend this for one transport care . I ’ve given you the listing of the tools used in beekeeping the first year as well as the equipment you ’ll take all year . So , you could order your starting time beekeeping equipment as I did and save on shipping charges . You wo n’t use everything right aside , so you could put in the equipment needed later in a safe and dry place until your hive is quick for it . The total bill for my supply for three hives rounded out at around $ 1000 and a LOT of that was embark . I know I could have tailor that cost importantly if I could have ride out local or happen a different party with tatty merchant vessels . So , definitely keep an eye on the cargo ships .
Now, What’s Keeping You from Starting?
I ’ve give way you the must - have beekeeping supplies for beginners to get through the first year . All the beginning beekeeping equipment will help you get begin . Now that you have the knowledge , the braggart thing hold you back is money . Please have sex that good tone equipment is the foundation for your beekeeping endeavor . Please invalidate buy used equipment as there ’s credibly a intellect they are for sales agreement . If you must to save costs , you could lodge them in the freezer for a few days to super kill any inhabitants in the beehive and equipment . But really … I strongly monish that practice session .
Purchasing get beekeeping equipment is a vast step for you . It ’s the largest cost associated with beekeeping that beginner have to hurdle over . And it definitely can be done . Check into your local area associations or USDA for any grants or loan associated with beginning beekeeping . There ’s also some programs that provide mentor ship useable in certain field as well with great advice for beginning beekeepers . Once you ’ve made the startle and purchased the must - have beekeeping supplies for beginners , there ’s no turn back . You ’re almost a beekeeper at this point . Hopefully , I ’ve helped you to answer the questions you ’ve been sitting on for make that first leap into beekeeping with beginning beekeeping equipment .
What questions do you have about begin beekeeping ?
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