Beekeeping Supplies and Hives – What to Look for When Shopping

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Have you ever wanted to get into beekeeping? With the depletion of the honeybee population, it’s more popular now than ever to get started in this hobby. Usually you’ll find supplies and things all over the web in a million places (or at least that’s what I found when I was starting out.) Thankfully, it’s not that difficult to begin do-it-yourself beekeeping when you understand a few basics.

With so many different types and styles of beekeeping products on the market today, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. The truth is that it really helps to know what the main features are which are available to you, and how much you should spend.

The first thing you’ll need is, of course, a bee hive. Without this, your bees won’t stick around very long! There are lots of options out there, ranging from wood bee hives to those made of a polymer material. In fact no two manufacturers are exactly the same, but you can say a few things about these two types of hives. A wooden hive is the most common option. It usually consists of a wooden box with “frames” inside. Each frame contains a waxy cell structure into which the bees will create honey. The bottom-most part of the hive is for the queen. Wooden hives are very durable and will last for many seasons. The other common option is a hive made out of a styrofoam-like material. The chief advantage of these bee hives is that the insulation these provide from the elements can help to protect your bees from variations in temperature. This is especially important if you live in a cold climate, or for that matter a really hot one. These hives also tend to be a bit less expensive than the wooden variety, but the trade off is that they also tend to be less durable. Not that I expect you’ll be dropping your hive, but keep in mind that these are more subject to breakage. Wooden hives by contrast are stronger and generally speaking are also larger.

However, both types of bee hive are available in high quality options. It is a good idea to buy from someone who specializes in beekeeping products (see our resource section below.) This means you can be sure that the bee hives are the highest quality possible, and also that the company selling them is able to provide you with the best possible customer service. I’d avoid buying beekeeping products used because formerly-owned bee hives could quite possibly have damage or structural defects. In addition, used hives could also carry disease, which can infect your new bee population. Probably not something you want to have happen!

Although you often can’t tell much until you receive your hive, you should be able to figure out a lot beforehand. First of all, make sure your beekeeping products are from a solid manufacturer, such as Dadant. All too often, cheap builds are made in China or elsewhere. While they will almost certainly be cheaper, like most other things in life you get what you pay for. That being said, there are many high quality options available in price ranges in the low hundreds. You also want to make sure the interior is spacious, and make sure that the model you get has sufficient space to hold whatever size bee colony you’d like to start with. Keep in mind that you can usually add frames or a second hive later on. But if you’re already planning to grow a large colony, then start larger. On the other hand, if you plan to start small, or if you plan to move the hive around until you settle on a location, then one of the more portable options discussed above might be a better option for you.

I hope this quick article was useful to you in your search for the right beekeeping supplies! With a little time and research, it will be easy for you to find the best bee hives for your needs. Happy farming!

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