Some people may be intimidated by the thought of beekeeping, but it isn’t as difficult or dangerous as most people think. If you are interested in knowing more about bees and beehives for beginners, this article will cover all the basics. We’ve designed a list to help you get started with your first hive, including how to choose a beehive and what supplies you’ll need for each step of the process. This is a great resource if you’re looking for an introduction to beekeeping!
A Proper Climate
The first beehive you choose for your bees needs to be one that can withstand the local climate. This means it’s important not only to consider where you live but also what season it is and how cold or warm your winters are. If you’re in an area with colder temperatures, look for hives made out of plastic instead of wood.
Honeybees like lots of ventilation, so, be sure that you select a beehive with mesh windows or other openings to allow for proper airflow. You also want to make sure your hive is waterproof, which will protect it from rain and snow damage over the winter months. Additionally, beehives need an opening at the bottom to allow the bees to enter and exit.
Essential Beekeeping Supplies
Beehives are not the only beehive supplies you need to be successful. You’ll also want to keep these beekeeping essentials on hand:
- Hive boxes
- Bee suit and gloves
- Queen excluder (if your hive doesn’t include one)
- Smoker
- Hive tool
- Bee brush to help collect stray bees and remove beehive frames
Beekeeping is not as difficult or dangerous as most people think. If you’d like more information about beehives and the supplies beehive requires, this article will cover all of the basics! Be sure to check out our list of beehive supplies to be successful in your beekeeping endeavors!
Beehive Types
A beehive consists of a bottom board, with several different beehives stacked on top of each other in layers called “supers”. Being aware of these sorts of beehives for beginners can be a game-changer. There are three main types:
- The most common type is one that uses wooden bee boxes (also known as supers or hive bodies) stacked on top of each other. These beehives are the easiest to find and usually come with a screened bottom board, which allows for proper air circulation.
- Another type is an observation hive box, which comes without any supers or additional boxes at all – it’s just one large beehive body that includes frames where you can slide in beehive observation equipment. This beehive is perfect for beekeepers who want to be able to see into the hive or monitor their bees’ activities without disturbing them, but it’s much more expensive than regular beehives and difficult to find in local stores.
- The third type of beehive box doesn’t come with frames – you have to build them yourself. This beehive is a good choice for people who want to be able to stack additional boxes onto their hive, but it requires more work and you have to be sure that your bees are going in the right direction so they don’t get stuck when entering or exiting the hive!
Bee Social Castes
All beehives have three types of bee social castes: queens, workers, and drones.
- The queen is responsible for laying eggs in new cells to create larvae that will turn into worker bees – she’s the only one who can do this! Queens are larger than all other bees up boxes or hives. You can tell if a beehive has one because there will be an obvious “queen’s chamber” where the queen bee stays.
- Workers make up most of the bees in beehives and collect food for future use, care for larvae, and perform all other hive duties. They are smaller than both queens and drones. You can identify them by their lack of a stinger and small size.
- Drones are male beehives who only exist to fertilize future queens – they don’t do any other work! They’re the biggest bees in beehives hive, but still smaller than the queen bee. You’ll be able to identify them because they have large eyes and a stinger.
When beehives are ready to reproduce, the drones will fly away from the beehive in search of new queens with which they can mate – this is why you’ll sometimes see them flitting around plants or other objects that attract insects!
FAQ
How Much It Costs to Start a Beehive?
Beehives are typically pretty affordable beehive supplies. A beehive will cost between $150 and $300, depending on where you purchase it from and the type of beehive that you choose to buy – some observation hives can even cost up to $1500!
Is It Easy to Start a Beehive?
Beehives are beehive supplies, but they do require some maintenance. You need to check on your beehive regularly throughout the year, so you might have to rearrange beehive equipment or add more boxes for egg-laying queens. If you’re able to get out there and monitor your hive, though, it’s not too difficult beehives that you have to be concerned about!
Will an Empty Beehive Attract Bees?
If you place beehives in a beehive that doesn’t have any bees, they will not come. You need to buy beehives for sale and put them into an area where there are already natural beehives! If this isn’t possible, try looking at our bee swarm removal page or contacting your local beekeeping association – they might be able to recommend someone who can help you out!