Getting your first beehive is indeed a moment of great happiness and excitement. But it comes along with a sense of responsibility for taking care of the bees and creating a comfortable environment for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re setting up a beehive for the first time or the hundredth time; doing so is always a lot of fun. You are about to fulfill the housing needs of tens of thousands of bees and the housing needs of many generations of bees in the future. Should everything go according to plan, this unique location will be bustling with busy bees in the years to come.
That is one of the first significant choices you will need to make. But you are just getting started. Where do the bees in your hive come from? Do you just remove it from the box, position it where you want it, and then pour the bees in?
Not quite.
You can get your first beehive assembled, you can get it non-assembled, or you can do it yourself. When handed their very first hive, first-time beekeepers are often taken aback by the experience. At first, the procedure might appear to be a little bit confusing. We understand your concern, and that is the reason why we have created this informative piece of write-up. You might be really excited. So, without delaying it more, let us get started.
What all Stuff You Need Before Creating Your First Beehive?
Before creating a beehive, you do not need any unconventional stuff. We have enlisted the required items that are required for setting up your first beehive. So, let us figure out about the beehive equipment.
- Hive tool
- Clean spray bottle
- Protective suit and gloves
- Bee brush
Don’t Keep Your Bees in Suspense!
As you will see in the following section, most beehives and the accompanying components require some time to assemble. Although it is unlikely that bees will experience any problems while waiting for their new home, it is best to play it safe and get your beehive ready a few days in advance.
Lead Time
You will likely install your brand-new hive while many other beekeepers carry out the same task. You must prepare in advance where and how you will obtain your bees. Because of this, many people who keep bees place their orders for bees very early in the new year.
The beekeeping industry is seasonal, and the New Year and the beginning of spring are the busiest times for placing an order for beehives. This places a very significant amount of pressure on demand, and as a result, there may be delays on occasion. There is nothing more aggravating than making detailed preparations regarding the source of your bees, only to discover that the construction of your beehive will take some time.
For this reason, planning, carefully considering your beekeeping supplies needs, and placing your order as soon as possible are essential.
Prepare the Beehive
Before you get the honey bees, it is important to ensure that the hives are made beforehand. And everything in the hives should be set, be it the frames, foundation, or the exterior of the boxes you are using for the hives.
The beehive will undoubtedly serve as the primary focus of your brand-new hobby. You will be itching to get started as soon as you get your brand-new beehive in the mail. On the other hand, things may take a bit more time than you had hoped or anticipated. Because of painting, the lifespan of the beehive is increased. In most cases, you will additionally be required to apply a primer. Before proceeding, remember to factor in enough time for the paint to dry completely.
Painting is not required for beehives constructed of cedar. As you can see here (warning: ugly mug alert!!!), this is just one of the many benefits cedar beehives offer. The use of tung oil as a finish coat is not required in any way, despite its widespread prevalence. This provides an additional layer of protection from the elements and gives the beehive a stunning sheen that is appealing to the eye. To our great relief, tung oil dries out very quickly.
Non-Assembled
The majority of the beehives arrive unassembled. This makes the shipping process less complicated and cuts down on costs.
Businesses provide free shipping on orders of beehive supplies that exceed a certain price threshold. Generally, all orders of $75 or more qualify for free shipping. Many other beekeeping companies require orders of $100 or $150 before they offer free shipping.
Thankfully, the amount of time needed to construct a beehive is not overly significant; however, this varies depending on the number of bee hive boxes in your package (two are quite common). If you have a hammer and enough nails, the job should take no more than half an hour to complete for the average person.
Assembled
Another choice is to purchase a pre-built beehive with everything you need to start immediately. In this scenario, to “assemble” the beehive, you will need to place the boxes on the bottom stand; however, the beehive’s components, such as the boxes, are already put together.
Construct Your Very Own Beehive
The last choice you have is to construct your beehive, which is doable if you consider yourself to be at least a little bit handy. There is a wide variety of choices available here, and hive plans are easily accessible and can be purchased at a low cost from various sources. Although doing so requires acquiring the necessary tools, accessories, and pieces of wood, the result is a beehive that is more uniquely yours.
Some incredibly original designs can be chosen, and we will investigate these choices in a different article. Put your skills with a saw, hammer, and other tools to good use, and let your imagination run wild!
Frameworks and Bases
One thing that many new beekeepers overlook is the amount of time that is required to put together frame kits. Ordering frames shipped in pieces but requiring assembly is another common practice.
To Summarise
If you build your hive, be aware that the process will take significantly longer. However, if you take pride in your handiwork and enjoy the challenge, you likely won’t mind the additional effort. Even if you order a beehive that is already fully assembled, the company still recommends allowing time between when you receive your beehive and when you get your bees. This is especially true if you need to paint or prepare your hive.
After that, you will be able to put in your bees with the knowledge that they have a lovely place to live for many years. You have attained a thorough understanding of how to tackle the beehive, manage it, and make the bees comfortable in it. We hope this informative piece of write-up might have given you a great insight into dealing with the beehive. So, now, if you ever feel stuck and wonder how to set up the first beehive, you can seek guidance from this blog. However, if you still feel overwhelmed about dealing with beehives, then you can get in touch with an authentic company that is known for providing the best services for beekeeping supplies and you are good to go. We trust that this article will prove informative. Until next time, Bee-Amazing!
