Becoming a Beekeeper! / The Basics
Updated: Aug 6
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 pursuing an ag exemption, consider using our Beekeeping Service for Ag Exemption to simplify the process and meet your state’s requirements! We offer a full service experience where we take care of everything and make sure the bees on your property are happy and healthy year around!
Getting Started
The first steps in beekeeping are critical. You'll need to decide when to start, where to place your hives, and how many to begin with. If you’re new to beekeeping, we’ve got you covered! Explore our Starting Beekeeping Category for a collection of beginner-friendly articles, each breaking down important steps. Let's make beekeeping simple and rewarding!
When to get your hives?
Hands down, the best time of the year to start is in the spring. Starting this time of the year gives you plenty of time to understand beekeeping and get some experience under your belt before the winter. Plus, bees are generally easier to manage in spring, making it the ideal time for beginners.
Our Recommendation: Start with Nucleus Hives (Nucs)
Nucs are beginner-friendly and help you quickly establish a thriving hive.
You will get a chance to produce some of the best honey ever in year 1!
Minimal advanced management in the first year
Nucs will have plenty of time to grow before winter
How Many Hives Should You Start With?
We recommend starting with at least two hives, especially Nucs. Here’s why:
Compare Hive Health: You'll be able to gauge how well your hives are performing.
Hive Support: If one hive weakens, you can use the other to strengthen and potentially save it.
In many instances if one hive needs help you can the one to strengthen and even save the other!
Your Beekeeping Checklist
✅ Order your bees! Reserve your Nucs now Click Here to order Nucs
✅ Get the right equipment. Our advised Protective Equipment Our advised Hive Equipment
✅ Join our Mentor Group. Mentoring Group
✅ Read our Beekeeping Articles. Starting Beekeeping Category of our Blog
Ready to Start?
The easiest way to begin is with a locally raised nuc — reserve Spring 2026 nucs early, or get bees and equipment together with a complete beginner hive. And if you own 5–20 acres and would rather have the tax benefits without keeping bees yourself, our managed bees for ag exemption service handles everything.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start beekeeping in Texas?
Spring, ahead of the nectar flow. That gives a colony time to build up and put away stores before the summer dearth arrives. Have your equipment assembled and your site chosen before the bees show up — delivery day is not the day to be putting boxes together. Nucs go out on a spring schedule and preorders open well ahead of it, so if you're planning a first season, check availability early rather than starting to look in March.
Should I start with a nuc or a package in Texas?
A nuc is a working colony in miniature — laying queen, drawn comb, brood in all stages, and workers already established. A package is loose bees and a caged queen with nothing built yet. In a long-season climate that difference evens out over the year. In Texas it often doesn't: the window between the spring flow and the summer dearth is short, and a package spends a good part of it just drawing comb. Starting further along matters more here than it does further north.
How many hives should a beginner start with?
Two. With one hive you have nothing to compare against, so you can't tell whether what you're looking at is normal or a problem. With two you can — and more importantly, you can move resources between them. If one goes queenless in the middle of the build-up window, a frame of brood from the other colony can save the season. With a single hive, that same problem usually ends it.
Keep reading
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 an ag exemption, both start here.
I have been bee keeping since 2019 and last fall something or someone ransacked my 6 hives by over turning them. Was going to give this hobby up but decided to start again but this time will install game cameras and fence around them with electric fence. Really looking forward to getting started.