Essential Beekeeping Supplies For A Happy Hive

Whether you are a novice beekeeper or a professional with years of experience, it is important to have the proper equipment in order to manage and care for yourself and your bee colony. Although beekeeping can be an enjoyable hobby and a profitable one, the right supplies allow for not only your physical safety but the bees as well. Knowing what you need before you venture forth will increase the likelihood that you and your bees will both be happy and you will reap the rewards of their tasty honey.

Protective clothing is the most important aspect in keeping you safe while working with your beehives. Though individuals with more experience often opt for wearing only certain clothing, the novice is encouraged to wear a full beekeeping suit. This includes a full-length, lightweight body suit, hat, veil and gloves. The suit is often white or another light shade as not to attract the attention of the bees whose natural enemies are often dark in color. This suit is not easily penetrable by stingers; however, it is important that the suit is properly cleaned following every use. As a stinger will continue to release warning pheromones to instruct the other bees to sting in a particular area, the beekeeper can easily brush off the stingers to decrease the chances for additional attacks. A hat, veil and gloves are also strongly recommended while working with your beehives. Keeping your face and neck protected is paramount as these are the most sensitive areas of your body and most likely to react negatively to bee venom. Though many individuals prefer not to use gloves due to their relative bulkiness, it is also important to keep your hands covered and protected from bee stings.

Many beekeepers use a “smoker” when working in their beehives that will emit smoke using various types of fuels. The smoker has the effect of confusing the bees by creating multiple responses including flight to leave the hive due to possible fire, triggering a feeding response that also encourages them to leave and lastly, masking the pheromone released by the colony’s guard bees of an intruder. During this mass confusion, the beekeeper is able to open the hive and safely work with decreased chances of attack. As mentioned, different mediums can be used with the smoker including hessian, burlap, pine needles, rotted wood and corrugated cardboard. Pulped paper, compressed cotton and aerosol cans of smoke are also options.

The majority of beekeepers have found the most success in using artificial hives for their bees. These hives use a wax foundation that encourages bees to build their combs for easier harvesting. The foundation of the hive is thin sheet of wax which mimics a natural honeycomb pattern, thus creating less work construction for the bees.

Finally, some beekeepers choose to provide food for their colonies. Though it is not necessary as bees are naturally able to find food, it can aid in improving a colony’s life during the cold seasons. It additionally serves to stimulate egg laying, increasing the size and sustainability of the colony. Different types of feeders are available, for both inside and outside use, and provide special sugar syrup similar to that of a hummingbird feeder.

By: Christopher Shireman

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Chris Shireman is a beekeeping expert. For more great tips on beekeeper supplies, visit www.beekeepinginfocenter.com.