Of Bees Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Becoming A Keeper Of Bees
By Rodger G Allenby
Starting a beekeeping business is not difficult, and most keepers
of bees enjoy their newly found business because it is a job about
which they are continually learning. Though it doesn’t require
any special skills, a big investment or even much knowledge, it
does require that you be willing to learn about the different
types of bees and the beekeeper supplies you will need.
Now is the time to decide which type of honey bee hives you want.
Generally, it is difficult to say which are best for keeping bees.
It actually depends on the region you are in. The best thing you
can do is to review your options and speak with local beekeepers
and discuss with them what they use and what works well for your
area.
Using Red Cedar For Your Hives
You can’t let the cost affect your decision when choosing, as
you need to pick those that are well made, and of quality wood.
All the better if you can find red cedar, since cedar has a lovely
smell and is also very attractive.
Although pine is also used for hives, it isn’t as stable as other
types of wood. Hives that are made of cedar generally will not
warp, since their oils keep the wood very stable.
Your Options For Buying Bees
The next step is adding the bee supply to your hive. You can
do this in one of three ways; you can use a package, a nucleus
or a swarm. A package is where bees are sold by the pound with
a laying queen honey bee inside the main bee cage. The length
of time it takes to set a package in place depends on where you
live.
The nucleus is where you buy a three to five frame hives with
a brood and a laying queen honey bee. You usually buy a nucleus
that contains bees of all ages. The bees will need to be fed immediately
after they are placed and until they get used to their new home.
The Perils Of Using A Swarm Of Bees
A swarm is where a beekeeper catches a swarm and then uses those
bees to supplement their hives. This system sometimes works and
sometimes does not. This is because of the risk of the onset of
tracheal mites or varroa that can be present in wild bees.
Your equipment list should include a smoker, bee suit, gloves,
hat and a bee brush. As a keeper of bees, your protective suit
is not the item you want to skimp on. A flimsy piece of netting
on a hat won’t do.
Use Quality Equipment For Your Protection
You need something that won’t come loose and let a bee get caught
inside. You certainly don’t want to overspend here, so find a
dealer who is honest, not someone who will try to sell you every
gizmo and gadget on the market.
As you can see, when keeping bees, you don’t need a whole lot
of equipment. For a lucrative business, you don’t have to make
much of an initial investment either. To ensure that you do a
good job of managing your bees, you do need to read up on bee
husbandry, and the American Bee Journal is a good place to start
with that.
With your new-found knowledge of bees and beekeeping, you will
be one step closer to starting your own business.
About the Author:
Rodger G Allenby has written a number of articles on honey bees, pets, gardening
and landscaping including
Bird Baths,
Hummingbird Feeders,
Gardening Tools,
Backyard Ideas,
Backyard Landscaping Pictures,
Outdoor Fire Pit,
Underground Pet Fence,
Potting Table,
Backyard Fences,
Fish Ponds.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
Little Known Honey Bees Facts....
What is colony collapse disorder?
Colony collapse disorder is a relatively
unknown disease or syndrome that is occurring in many Western
hive farms. Scientists are not quite sure why the production of
honey in some hives is slowing down or coming to a halt.
The bees that contract this disorder quickly
die off and none are raised in their place. Some have pointed
to the changing weather patterns and/or pollution in the environment
but no one is exactly sure what this is and why it is happening.
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