BEEKEEPING equipment- GETTING STARTED Howard County Beekeepers Association Short Course 2019 BEEKEEPING equipment- GETTING STARTED

natural comb (What bees do on their own!)

Types of hives LANGSTROTH HIVE TOP BAR HIVE Most things we do in beekeeping attempt to mimic what honeybees do in nature… These hives emulate the space and conditions a honeybee might find in a tree hollow

HIVE STAND Cement blocks, 4X4s, pallet, wooden construction – lots of ways to do this Keep the hive off the ground!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiad/4465260033/ http://beehappyinboulder.blogspot.com/2011/05/feeding-pollen-3-15-11.html

BOTTOM BOARDS Solid – the standard for over 100 years Screened – improves ventilation and varroa mite control Freeman – improves ventilation, mite control and small hive beetle control http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frame-Cypress-Bottom-Board/productinfo/668/ http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frm-IPM-Bottom-Board/productinfo/277/ https://kelleybees.com/Products/Detail/?id=3336333733383337&grouped=1

HIVE BODIES The Box that holds the Honeycomb Can be a “Brood Chamber” Deep, Medium and Shallow (Height) “10 Frame” & “8 Frame” (Width) Protects bees from the environment Can be a “Brood Chamber” Houses …Brood! Bottom of hive Can Be a “Super” Holds the Honey Top of the Hive http://www.draperbee.com/beesupplies/woodenare.html

FRAMES and foundation Where bees build their wax honeycomb Removable, Inspectable Comb used to raise brood and/or store food 8 or 10 per hive body depending on the size of the hive body.

Shallows, Deeps & Mediums (oH My!) Weight Comparison between 8 and 10 frame hives (Approximate!) Body/Frame Size 8 Frame Weight w/Honey 10 Frame Suggested Use Shallow 30lbs 25lbs yield 35lbs 30lbs yield Honey Medium 40lbs 50lbs 40lbs yield Brood or Honey Deep 70lbs 55lbs yield 90lbs 70lbs yield* Brood Weights collected from various sources, rounded to nearest 5lb increment, for relative comparison only! “Deeps” not recommended for Honey Supers (too heavy!) Same amount of work to extract from a Small, Medium or Deep Frame But, More honey comes out of medium frames than shallow frames

FOUNDATION Foundation is the starter/base for each frame Has imprints/etching of hexagon cell pattern Bees will add own beeswax to build honeycomb Types of foundation: Beeswax Plastic (black or white) Typically has beeswax coating Black foundation helps make eggs visible

FRAMES (Wood or Plastic?) (continued) Frames hold the Foundation Wooden: Frame plus separate foundation Plastic: Frame & foundation are one piece Beekeepers have their preferences! Wooden Frames require assembly, mostly reusable (keep frame, replace foundation) Plastic can be less expensive, no assembly required, more sturdy, hard to reuse (after time) They say not to mix & match, but…

INNER COVER Solid Screened Most common http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frame-Goble-Inner-Cover/productinfo/671/ Solid Most common Suggest one with hole in center and notch in side (extra entrance) Screened Max ventilation Late spring and summer only https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=891

OUTER COVER Telescoping Migratory Most common Covers hive, extends down sides Usually metal top Migratory Allows placement of colonies side by side (no space in between) Important when shipping colonies for pollination contracts Not suggested for Hobbyists http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Painted-Telescoping-Top-10-Frm/productinfo/667P/ http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/10-Frame-Migratory-Top/productinfo/416/

BROOD CHAMBERS Bottom Portion of the Hive where bees make new bees 2 or 3 Hive Bodies with Frames 2 Deeps or 3 Mediums Sufficient to survive MD winter http://mybeessecretlives.blogspot.com/2011/08/last-six-weeks.html

HONEY SUPERS Where bees store honey for winter Or, where we steal it from!  Uses the same hive bodies and frames as brood chamber Typically mediums or shallows (weight) Placed above brood chamber when nectar flow starts (usually April in Maryland) Add as many Supers as necessary to accommodate honey flow!

HIVE INSPECTION TOOLS Veil 1 per interested person Types http://www.mannlakeltd.com/ProductDetail.asp?idproduct=365&idCategory=45 http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Inspectors-Jacket/productinfo/989Z/ http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Square-Veil-w_elastic-string-tie-down/productinfo/701/ Veil 1 per interested person Must protect eyes! Types Hat with veil Jacket w/attached hood One piece jumpsuit w/hood

HIVE INSPECTION TOOLS (continued) Hive tool – 1 per person Smoker – 1 per family https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=56 http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Frame-Lifter-Hive-Tool/productinfo/762/ https://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=46

Woodenware What needs paint? Paint these: Hive stand (if wooden & not pressure treated) Bottom board (all sides) All hive bodies – outer surfaces only Outer cover Don’t paint these: Inner cover Inside of the hive bodies Frames

Questions? http://www.sonomabees.org/honey/index.html