Keeping Backyard Beehives - Backyard Beekeeping For Beginners

Can you keep a beehive in your backyard?

Additionally, since a typical Langstroth hive only requires a few square feet, almost every backyard has more than enough space for a hive, so just about anyone with a yard could potentially keep bees.

How do you keep bees for beginners?

To keep bees, you need a beehive. In the wild, bees build their own hive, usually in a hollow tree trunk or another sheltered place, but it can be anywhere. As a backyard beekeeper, you will provide a man-made hive for your bees so you can help maintain the colony and easily harvest the honey.

How many acres do you need for beekeeping?

>How many acres does a single beehive need? A hive will forage an area up to 8000 acres. It depends on the area, in an average forest/farm land area you can keep around 20 hives in one place.

Is it safe to keep bees in a residential area?

It's a good idea to tell immediate neighbours you are going to be keeping bees, but there are no laws that say you have to. Bees are only interested in nectar and pollen from flowers, unlike wasps which are carnivorous, so the bees should not bother your neighbours.

How many beehives can I have in my backyard?

Number of Hives Council recommends a maximum of two hives to be kept on urban residential properties. A hive can contain as many as 50,000 bees per colony during its peak. This is sufficient to obtain some honey for yourself and others. If you wish to keep bees, it is important to discuss this with all neighbours.

How dangerous is beekeeping?

Is beekeeping dangerous? Unless you specifically have an allergy to bee stings, beekeeping is not dangerous. Only a small minority of people are allergic to bee stings and fatal reactions are rare. Honey bees are generally not aggressive and if you use good beehive management then stings are unlikely.

What equipment do I need to keep bees?

A smoker is the most valuable tool for working bees. A smoker calms bees and reduces stinging. Pine straw, grass and burlap make good smoker fuel (Fig. 2).

How do you attract bees to a beehive?

The 3 Best Swarm Lures to Attract a Swarm of Honey Bees

Pheromones. Pheromones are the cell phones of the bee world. ...
Hive Construction Material. This could be an old brood comb, wax, or propolis. ...
Essential Oils. Lemongrass (see details) has long been used by beekeepers to attract swarms.

How do bees raise honey for beginners?

Beekeeping Basics: How to Raise Honeybees in Your Backyard

Choose the location. Bees need four things. ...
Prepare the location. Hives should face south, if possible, and they need to be kept off the ground to protect them from dampness and critters. ...
Install the bees. ...
Feed the bees. ...
Inspect the hives inside and out. ...
Check regularly for pests and diseases. ...
Expand the hive when necessary.

Is beekeeping expensive to start?

Getting started with beekeeping can be an expensive hobby often costing around $300 for the hive and around another $100 for bees during the first year (depending if you purchase a nuc or a package). Most folks recommend starting out with two hives for a variety of important reasons.

How many beehives should I start with?

The average backyard hobbyist should always start with 2 hives or more. Why? With two hives, you can compare the hives to each other. If one colony loses its queen, then you can place a frame of brood with young larvae from the other hive into your queenless hive and they will raise their own.

How profitable is beekeeping?

How Much Money Can I Make With A Beehive? Somewhere between $270 and $540 per year for each beehive. BeeKeeping is a great home based business to add income to your finances and it really helps the environment.

Do I need permission to keep bees?

The need to obtain a license to keep bees will depend on the regulations in your local area. We recommend you check with your local primary industries and agriculture authorities, or link up with your nearest beekeepers' association to find out what is required in your jurisdiction before you set up a new hive.

Where should I put my beehive in my backyard?

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Sun or Shade or Both– Depending on where you live in the country and your temperatures in the height of summer, watch the hours of sunlight and when locations in your yard are in full sun. ...
No direct wind– Hives should be placed in an area with a wind break such as a fence, shrubbery, trees or bushes.

How much does a queen bee cost?

As of 2017, the cost of a queen honeybee ranges from $25 to $32. Beekeepers can also utilize alternative methods of queen rearing.

Can my Neighbour keep bees?

“Beekeepers have the right to keep bees. Their neighbours have the right to enjoy their property in peace. Badly kept and positioned colonies can be a nuisance”. It is a beekeeper's responsibility to avoid their bees becoming a nuisance and to take appropriate steps if they so become.

How many beehives can you have per acre?

Bee hives in pollination mode are often placed at a density of 2 hives per acre.

Do beekeepers get stung often?

Bees do sting, occasionally. However, they usually only sting if they feel threatened. ... A honeybee will die when it stings, which means it only stings as a last resort. A skilled beekeeper can avoid being stung when inspecting a hive.

Is bee keeping hard?

Is beekeeping hard? Being responsible for an entire colony of living things can be hard work. There's some heavy lifting and physically difficult tasks involved, especially when it's time to harvest your honey. Bees are also susceptible to many different pests, diseases, and predators that you'll need to watch out for.

How far away should you keep bees?

I usually recommend at least two feet between hives. They should be further apart when installing new packages to help prevent absconding. Without take a class you may fail to gain the tools you need to help prevent your bees from all leaving when you try to shake them into your new hive.