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Beekeeping Starter Kit
Beekeeping Equipment You Will Need
Beekeeping starter kit.
Having the right beekeeping equipment is crucial for the successful homestead beekeeper.
If you are thinking of having a colony or two of bees on your property, here is a list of some of the tools you will need:
Beekeeping Starter Kit
Bee Smoker and Fuel
A bee smoker consists of a fire chamber, bellows and a nozzle.
Point the smoker at the entrance of the hive, squeeze the bellows and smoke is forced in.
This dulls the receptors of the guard bees.
They can't send out an alarm odor that would normally alert the older bees – who have the most venom – to defend their home.
Also, the smoke triggers other bees to gorge themselves on honey – something they do instinctively in case they have to flee and find a new home elsewhere.
What this means to you is a lot less stings.
That's why a good smoker is an essential part of your beekeeping equipment.
At the time this article was written, the cost of a smoker and fuel ranged between $60 and $85 American dollars.
Beekeeping Starter Kit
Beekeeper Suit is Crucial
This will also protect you from stings and is well worth the investment.
It keeps the bees from crawling into your clothes.
It will also mask your scent – bees get really ticked off if you have a strong body odor.
Also, these suits are usually white. Bees are more prone to attack people in darker colors.
The suit should also provide a hat and veil and long gloves.
The gloves should be leather, good fitting and have long sleeves.
The cost at the time of writing this ran from $85 to $130 in American dollars.
Tending your hive can be a messy business, and your gloves will get dirty.
You will need to clean your gloves each time after you use them.
One way to clean them is to wear them and wash your hands under warm water.
Then dry them immediately and rub them down with olive oil. Afterward, remove as much excess oil as possible.
Beekeeping Starter Kit
Hive Tool
This is a simple pry bar, with a notch on one end for pulling nails and scraping cappings.
A necessary part of your beekeeping starter kit and only $6 to $10 in American dollars, depending on where you purchase it.
Beekeeping Starter Kit
Frame Lifter
This beekeeping equipment tool allows you to grab a single frame with only one hand.
This is a handy part of your beekeeping starter kit, but be aware that it will take some hand strength.
Cost for this is generally between $12 to $14 in American dollars.
Beekeeping Starter Kit
Pollen Trap
Not only can you eat pollen, but it is loaded with vitamins and nutrients, so a pollen trap is a useful piece of beekeeping equipment you may want to invest in.
Very few people are allergic to bee pollen, but it can cause the same reaction as allergies do, so taste a little before eating a lot of this.
Bee pollen is perishable, so store your fresh pollen in the refrigerator or freezer if you don't plan to use it right away.
In 2008, a pollen trap cost between $35 and $65 American dollars.
Magnifying Glass
This handy part of your beekeeping equipment will help you look closely at the bees, inspect them for mites and look closely at larva and eggs.
Just be aware that magnifying glasses can cook your bees, so make certain the sun isn't behind you when you use this.
Magnifying glasses can generally be found in drug stores.
Log Book
This is a simple, yet important part of your beekeeping equipment.
Every time you inspect your hive, you will want to take notes.
That way you have an accurate record of what your bees are up to.
By observing them on a weekly basis and keeping notes, you will begin to recognize when your bees are not behaving normally and be able to treat them accordingly.
More Helpful Information on Keeping Bees
A great source of beekeeping supplies, information and ready-made beehives can be found by
clicking here.
Learn more about beekeeping with this e-book.
Want to learn how to stop the progression of Africanized or "killer" bees?
Become a beekeeper! Learn how.
Build your own backyard beehive. Here's how.
If you're ready to have your own source of the most healthful, nutritious honey available, consider becoming a homestead beekeeper.
Here's how.
A beekeeper can make money selling honey as well as a self-reliant source of food.
Here are other ways you can earn income off your land.
Harvest beeswax to make your own bath products.
Learn how.
Your own harvested beeswax can also be used to make your own candles.
Sell honey and other products at craft fairs.
Here's how.
Bees are not only a way to a far improved homesteading garden, they are also industrious, highly organized insects.
Learn about the different members of the bee colony.
Without the right equipment, beekeeping can be an extremely unpleasant task.
Here is a list of the important Beekeeping equipment you need to get started.
The right location for your bees is as important as the equipment you have on hand.
Here are some tips on finding the right location for your colony of bees.
Once you are an experienced homesteading beekeeper, you might want to increase your bee population by catching swarms.
Learn how.
Do you think you're ready to start beekeeping, but you don't know where to begin?
Here are some tips on getting started.
Is spring around the corner? These beekeeping basics will ensure your bees will survive the end of winter and produce plenty of honey for your this spring and summer.
Read more.
To keep bees you need the right housing to keep them happy and healthy.
Learn more.
Colony collapse disorder is a serious problem, causing hundreds of thousands of bees each year to simply vanish.
Fortunately, we homesteaders can ensure bees will survive for years to come.
Learn more.
Learn a low-cost way of building your own hive for in-comb honey.
Learn more.
Bees normally will do just fine in the winter, but a little extra help on your part will ensure a strong, healthy hive.
Learn more.
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