Beekeeping is often dubbed as one of the most profitable hobbies you can have. After all, you can sell honey and earn some income on the side. Most importantly, you can also do your part in preserving the environment. But for your venture to be successful, you need to use the right beekeeping equipment right from the get-go.
Here are some of the most essential tools and gear that every beekeeper should have to ensure a thriving and healthy colony:
Table of Contents:
Beehives
The secret to safe bees and bountiful honey harvest is using the right type of beehive in the first place. This specific type will depend on where you plan to put in your hard and the way you intend to raise your colony.
Feeders
Flowering plants are the main source of food for honeybees. However, they can always use some help, especially during drought or harsh cold months. Feeders filled with supplements, water, and sugar can help you care for your colony during those times when they can’t venture too far in search of food.
Frames
Your beehives will never be complete without this essential beekeeping equipment. The frame is a rectangular frame that fits inside the hives, holding the combs. It’s where the queens lay their brood. It’s also the place where the colony keeps the honey.
Bee Suit
While suits may not be necessary all the time, protective gear should always be a must-have for any beekeeper. The most important pieces so far are the veil and hat, especially due to the danger and pain of stings around the eyes, lips, and nose.
The most important protective piece of beekeeper’s equipment is a partial beekeeping suit, which typically includes separate pants and a jacket. A beekeeping jacket is more convenient than a full suit and may be ideal for a quick trip to the hive. Wear your jacket with thick, loose-fitting denim jeans, other long cotton pants, or specialized beekeeping pants.
Gloves
The protective gear ensemble of any beekeeper will never be complete without gloves. While there are still debates regarding their necessity, this additional protective layer can go a long way to make you feel comfortable and calm while working around your hive.
Smoker
If there is one valuable beekeeping equipment for any beekeeper, that would be the smoker. Bees sting only when threatened and smokers mask the pheromones released by bee stings. These pheromones can alert and agitate the entire colony when you get stung.
The smoke from the smoker will mask the scent of the bees so you can easily get in and out of the hive unnoticed and unscathed.
Hive Tool
The hive tool is another helpful tool for inspection. This flat and solid metal tool has numerous purposes, including opening frames and removing honeycomb stuck in place with propolis. Hive tools can help you scrape frames, cut open honeycombs, and eliminate unwanted pests.
Bee Brush
Another simple but very useful beekeeping equipment is none other than the bee brush. Beekeepers use it to safely and gently get rid of bees from where they are working. You can simply use this brush to sweep the bees that might be stuck to the frame you lifted.
This video covers the main personal beekeeping equipment you need to get started – such as bee suit, hive tool, bee brush, smoker and more.
Educational Tools
Beekeeping should always be a continuous learning experience, and educational tools deserve a spot on the list of essential beekeeping equipment. There will always be new information, methods, and tools related to beekeeping, and staying updated will help you gain more knowledge in this lucrative hobby.
