Are you ready to become a beekeeper? Look no further! This guide will walk you through the process of starting your beekeeping journey, provide expert suggestions on how to get started, and recommend essential equipment. Beekeeping is rewarding and enjoyable, so let's dive in and make your experience a success! Why Beekeeping? Are you getting into beekeeping for ag exemption, honey production, or pollination benefits? No matter your goal, we can help you succeed. If you’re pu

For first year beekeepers I recommend inspecting your hive at least once every 2 weeks. Doing so will really help you understand the natural flow of a hive. You will learn so much in the first year! the best way to learn beekeeping is to go out there and do it! When conducting a routine hive inspection there are only a few things you need to make sure of. Healthy Queen You can tell if a queen is healthy or not by her brood pattern. Lots of healthy brood of varying stages tell

When and how to add honey supers to your hive for a bigger harvest. Learn when to super, when to add a queen excluder, and a frame-rotation trick to make more honey.

This outline is full of tips and not hard fast rules. In general if you follow these guidelines your hive should survive and thrive. I suggest checking for Varroa during the spring, after extraction and in the fall and winter. The months that are highlighted are the ones that I suggest checking and treating for mites if necessary. This outline also starts in March because March is really the beginning of the year for the Texas beekeeper. Click here to see some of the the most

Finding a queen can be very difficult, especially in a full hive. It's like playing Where's Waldo in real time! When I first became a beekeeper, I did not find the queen until my second year! Now, that is not a problem :) but even with years of experience she can sometimes still escape my eye! There are only a few cases in which you actually need to find the queen or locate the queen. > You are requeening > Splitting > Combining 2 hives There is no secret formula to find her,

Feeding hives is a great way to keep you hives healthy, strong, and happy. Those girls really respond well to sugar! However, there are a few guidelines to follow to get the best results. I like the division board feeders (see below picture) I like the division board feeder because it holds more syrup than a regular jar feeder and it gives the hive immediate access to the syrup. When to feed Feeding is important when you need the bees to to produce wax. A hive has to consume

Now that you have transported your Nuc home, it is time to get it set up in that perfect location. The first step is to place the Nuc in the location it will be permanently. Open the entrance and let your little ladies get some air! You do not want leave them closed up as they can overheat. Let them settle down for at least a few hours after transportation, preferably overnight. After they have settled down you move them out of there temporary cardboard box into their final h

Honeybees are truly amazing. They can fly miles for food, defend themselves against attack, and survive the harshest winters. But despite being so tough, there are some basic things bees need to survive, and plenty of problems that can befall them. Click Here to view a month by month timeline of beekeeping management. Although Honey Bees need specific treatment at different times of the year. There are several different factors that will help a hive stay healthy and strong. L

Transporting bees, if done wrong, can create some unforgettable memories. If you follow the instructions in this blog you can probably save those unforgettable memories for more pleasant occasions. The last thing you want to do is just place a hive of bees in your car open and unsecured. Bees are naturally calm little ladies, however, they do not like being moved that much. To safely move a nuc or hive of bees inside of a car is not at all difficult if you follow the right gu

Every bee supply company offers hundreds of excess and unnecessary pieces of equipment. It can get pretty overwhelming trying to sort through what you actually need! In this article I am going to go over the absolute necessaries and my recommended suppliers. Let's get started! Necessary Equipment Deep Box-this serves as the brood chamber for your hive Medium Super- serves as the boxes for the bees to store honey in. (not totally necessary will explain) Frames-at least 10

Now that you are going to become a beekeeper you need to choose a spot for your bees! The location is important, and can be a determining factor as to the success of your hive. Bees thrive best in an area that is well drained and dry, in full or partial sun (a bit of afternoon shade is fine) and with some sort of northern wind block. You do not want your bees in a damp shaded area. Such locations will attract pests such a small hive beetles and wax moths. You also want the hi

It all depends on your comfort level! (and the temperment of your bees). I have worked bees without any gear at all. I do not recommend this but some people do it. Starting out, you will probably feel like you need an entire suit. Suits are great, especially if you work bees all the time, and getting a ventilated one is well worth it. However, chances are good you will not be in your bee suit 6-8 hours a day. Chances are also good, as you gain experience as a beekeeper you wi

Have any question regarding your hive? Look no further. We will provide you with the most detailed feedback possible. Join our Mentor Group at https://www.timbercreekbees.com/groups Keep reading Basic Hive Inspection Simple Tips to Maintain a Healthy Hive Over-Wintering your Hive We're Texas beekeepers too We manage 2,000+ hives across 250+ properties in 43 Texas counties, out of Greenville. If you need bees this season, or you're wondering whether your acreage qualifies for