Beekeeping
Beekeeping
1. Over how much of the year will nectar and pollens be available to the bees? – Will you have to feed the bees to ensure their survival?
2. Over how much of the year will water be available to the bees? – They need it every day.
3. What will the bees be flying over to get their food and water? – They defecate in flight and bee feces can damage finishes on cars and leave colored spots on everything below them. Also, will they be flying across a pedestrian, bicycle or equestrian pathway? If so, they have to be encouraged to gain altitude quickly by installing fencing or solid, tall plantings near the hives.
4. Is the apiary accessible year around? – Flooding at or near the apiary site is the usual problem.
5. Try to avoid low spots. – They hold cold, damp air for prolonged periods.
6. Try to avoid hill tops. – They tend to be windy.
A look through any beekeeping catalog will show an array of equipment and supplies that can be over- whelming to a potential beekeeper. However, the amount of equipment that is actually required during the first year is relatively small. Experience will guide you in subsequent years. In New England most beekeepers use two full-depth hive bodies as their basic unit, with supers added and removed as appropriate during the active season. The following list includes everything needed to maintain one colony for the entire first season.
Complete Two-Story Hive
Bottom board with entrance reducer.
Hive bodies (2), full depth, 9l/2"
Frames (20), full depth, 91/8", with wedge top bar and two piece or split bottom bar.
Foundation (20), full depth, 8«", wire reinforced.
Support pins (4 per frame) or frame wire and eyelets.
Inner cover, ventilated.
Outer cover, telescoping.
Honey Supers
Super, shallow, 5 l l/'l6" or mid-depth, 6Ys".
Frames, ( 10), shallow, 53/8" or mid-depth, 61/4').
Foundation, wired, shallow, 43/4" or mid-depth, 55/8".
Support pins (4 per frame), or frame wire and eyelets.
Start up money
About :1.1 Lacks rs (India
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