What do I need to start beekeeping?

The Beeholder, January 2009.

Print out these pages and give them to a friend
Obviously you need a hive with bees, but you need to make a decision on what type of hive and what type of bee. You also need some spare hive parts - indeed a whole spare hive is useful so that you can deal with swarms easily, a cheap second hand one would be fine.

The Complete (single walled) Hive:
  • Roof
  • Crown board
  • Up to three or more (honey) super* boxes
  • Queen excluder
  • Brood box
  • Floor
The Beekeepers Equipment:
  • Bee suit and veil
  • Suitable boots
  • Bee gloves
  • Smoker
  • Hive tool
  • Queen marking cage and pen
  • A feeder to feed your bee’s sugar syrup
  • A Porter bee escape (a one way valve for bees)
  • ONE good book for reference (Better to have just one at first ...avoids confusion!)

How much time does it take up?

Beekeeping is a seasonal hobby therefore the time varies with the seasons. In the middle of winter there is practically nothing to do, except to occasionally check for physical damage or snow blocking the entrances. The busiest time is the early summer when each hive should be checked weekly to stop swarming and add supers. This need take no longer than a few minutes when you get the hang of it.

How much is it going to cost me to get started?

You can spend a small fortune if you buy everything new and buy everything possible and make the beekeeping suppliers very happy. In practice in the UK a second hand hive with bees cost around £50-70 and your local association might do you a good deal as a new member. A new bee suit and veil will be between £40-£100 the other bits and pieces if you buy new such as smoker, gloves etc should come to less than £100. The most expensive piece of equipment

Cartoon : A new bee keeper gets stung.

you will want within a year or two will be an honey extractor and these start at around £150 up, most associations will allow you use of a shared extractor.

Do I need to belong to a local association?

This is to be highly recommended as your association will keep you in touch with local expertise, and local problems and conditions. They will often run training programs and undoubtedly have topical meetings, newsletters etc. In the UK most associations are affiliated with the BBKA which means you have joined two associations really. Your BBKA membership gives you third party and product (honey) insurance.

When & how should I start?

think of beekeeping as circle, it is locked to the seasons and you could start at any point in that circle but it is best to start by planning and reading and talking to beekeepers. So the best time to start that process is late summer or autumn by first joining your local association. You may not even need to join initially, most will allow you to attend as guest or visitor. Then go to their winter meetings usually monthly where you will meet real beekeepers and listen to talks and subjects related to the craft On the other hand you could use tea breaks during meetings of the Montgomeryshire BeeKeepers Association to ask around who has spare equipment and plead poverty or merely state that you could give the equipment a good home. That is how I got most of my equipment. I think beekeepers have a duty to pass on old equipment when they downsize.
Hey are you listening out there? Yes YOU...you guys know who I am referring to.