What is called Beehiving: Everything You Should Know (An Ultimate Guide in Beehiving or Beehiving for Beginners)

The practice of beehiving has been an activity humans have engaged in for many years. If you're getting into it now, there are some details that you can only find out on the job after you've made some mistakes. No matter how many books you read, some errors or details can only be experienced through practice.

Of course, you can avoid those errors entirely if you have first-hand help from professionals who have been in the field for years. Here are 15 tips from experienced beekeepers that could guide you on your path to being a successful one yourself. Even if you're not a novice, there are a few tips here that you'll find helpful to your beekeeping practice.

Top Tips from Beekeepers

1. Consistently Learn About Bees and Your State Laws Guiding Them

Taking care of bees is a process, and you have to keep reading books about their evolution, biology, and behavior. It would help if you also read books that talk about beekeeping and the practices involved. This will put you in a position to better identify and discern great beekeeping advice from ones that aren't.

There are also laws and regulations you need to keep yourself aware of when taking care of bees. These laws vary depending on the state you reside in, and you have to stay updated on recent changes because laws are also subject to change and new regulations. Some states even require some registration or have specific charges for your operations. Note all these details, and see how it can affect you.

2. Look for Local Beekeeping Associations You Can Join and Find a Mentor

Beekeepers have associations/clubs in almost all the states around the world. Look for one that is closest to you and take steps to join them. They usually hold meetings where all the beekeepers, beginners, and professionals alike discuss all of the issues affecting bees. You can also learn a lot from the meetings because they also exchange knowledge, resources, courses, etc.

You can also find a mentor from your beekeeping association that will be willing to guide you through your journey. It should be someone with several years of experience that has flourished in practice.

3. Frames are Always Better.

There are different types of hives in the market with varying designs. Whichever one you choose, it should have movable frames. Frames will make beekeeping many times more comfortable, especially if you're new. It helps secure bee combs and makes sure they stay in place inside the hive. Also, inspection is more convenient as you can swap frames easily between hives or boxes.

4. Plan a Switch to Foundationless Hives

While starting with beekeeping, foundation frames are great practice; you should eventually plan to go foundationless when you become more confident and skilled. Foundationless frames help the bees to build honeycombs as they deem fit, usually resulting in smaller cells and more versatile combs. The switch will also make you spend less as the foundationless method is less costly.

Starting with foundationless frames is not advisable because naturally, bees don't build straight combs.

5. Get a Functional Beekeeping Schedule

It is important to know what time of the year is ideal for certain activities in beekeeping so you can get the best results. Plan out a schedule so you know when to engage in special activities. Summer is the best time to start beekeeping and grow a personal flower garden. By spring, the beehives should be set up, and suppliers should get all the beekeeping equipment and bees to you. During summer, bees stock on honey to keep them through the spring months. Use these details to plan your activities and provide for your bees when needed.

6. Use the Same Box Sizes for Honey and Brood.

It's not uncommon to see beekeepers using medium, shallow boxes for honey supers and deep boxes for brood, especially with conventional hives. Professional beekeepers recommend using the same boxes for both, to save you any additional stress and make the process easier. You will be able to identify and differentiate them by what is inside the boxes, so you don't have to worry about mixing them up.

This is helpful when you want to make nucleus colonies or split your colonies. You will now make your choice from any of the two boxes to use in your beekeeping practice. We recommend the medium boxes because they are easy to carry, and the queen tends to thrive best in them.

7. Queen Excluders Aren't Compulsory.

Just like other matters in beekeeping, there are several views about the use of a queen excluder. While some beekeepers suggest you use them, others say they aren't necessary. We wouldn't suggest using queen excluders except you are using different box sizes for brood and honey. Queen excluders do not add any value to bee colonies and could reduce the brood size. They also tend to cause unnecessary swarming. So if you follow our tip above and use the same boxes for brood and honey, you would eliminate any need for queen excluders, which would be better for your practice.

8. Protect Your Bees from Diseases

It's easy for bees to get a disease, so you have to be extra vigilant. A single infected bee or hive equipment can end up spreading and infecting the entire brood since they're in continuous contact. Ensure you replace any contaminated bee equipment and constantly update yourself about bee diseases and their seasons to stay prepared.

9. Swarming is Inevitable

Swarming is a natural part of bees' reproduction, and it is bound to happen. A swarm happens when bees do not have space anymore and want to divide themselves in half so one half can find a new home. It can be pretty daunting watching your bees fly away, so be on the lookout for any signs of swarming and split your colonies to create nucleus colonies. The swarming process will also break the brood cycle, reducing varroa mites in your hive.

10. All Plants aren't Ideal for your Bees.

There are several varieties of plants in the world that produce pollen and nectar, but not all are good for your bees. Some are toxic and could effectively wipe out your entire colony in extreme cases. Identify the healthy plants in your region and those that could be harmful to your bees. Since honeybees evolved in one part of the world, they may be unable to identify poisonous plants in other parts. It is your job to know plants that could be harmful to your bees and protect them.

11. Having Multiple Hives is Always Better.

Getting more than one hive might be more expensive than having just one, but it comes with better management options. Having other hives lets you transfer brood, pollen, or honey from a stronger colony to a weaker one. You can always use your stronger hives to supplement your less healthy one and have a balanced system.

Remember to check your state laws for rules guiding the number of hives a beekeeper can have. We wouldn't suggest buying multiple hives at once, butt scaling your operation upwards as your colony expands and you become more confident of your skills.

12. Improve Your Bees' Immunity

Bees have a strong immunity to common viruses and can resist pathogens. Their immune system is very outstanding, and they are self-sufficient creatures. However, the immunity of your bees will depend largely on the pollen they get. So you have to make sure your bees have continuous access to nutritious pollen to keep their immune system strong and help them to overcome strong diseases.

13. Inspect your Hives Appropriately

Make sure you don't abandon your hive. Inspect them regularly. In just two weeks, there could be huge changes to your bees, such as swarming, your bees making queen cells, or running out of space. However, over-inspecting your hive could have adverse effects on your bees, especially when you're starting. It can be tempting to peek into your hive several times a day but doing that can stress and heat out the bees needlessly. A good balance will be to inspect your hive every 7-10 days to stay on top of new developments and properly maintain it.

14. Don't Get Impatient for the Honey

In your first year of beekeeping, we understand you looking forward to collecting honey, especially if that's the main reason you started beekeeping in the first place. You have to be ready to put in a lot of work and commitment that first year and not get surplus honey, if any at all. The first year of beekeeping is challenging for a new bee colony, so you have to give it time. Do not consume all of the honey produced, as it could put your colony at risk of starving and dying off.

15. Stay Resilient

Beekeeping isn't without its challenges, and you will face many ups and downs. The rewards of beekeeping are tremendous if you can keep to it and learn where you make mistakes. Anytime you encounter challenges or get losses, you can always ask for help or look for resources to help you.

Bottom Line

Beekeeping takes years of experience to master, and no matter the number of tips given, there will always be more to learn. If you follow the 15 tips laid out above, you will be well on the way to having a productive and healthy bee colony.