Starting Beekeeping: Bee Hives
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What Does My Bee Hive Need?
If you are thinking about taking up beekeeping then the bee hive is clearly your most important piece of equipment as it houses your bees. When first thinking about starting beekeeping then it is easy to become daunted by the array of beekeeping equipment available, so it is important to be confident that you are choosing the right beehive and to become familiar with its component parts.
You can learn more about bee hives at Discover Beekeeping.
You can learn more about bee hives at Discover Beekeeping.
What Type of Beehive Should I Use?
There are a number of bee hive designs available and different beekeepers will express various views about the benefits of each of them. The most important thing though, is to choose one type and stick with it. If you have a more than one hive of different types then you will not be able interchange parts.
The hive that many people think of as being the picturesque terraced bee hive is the William Broughton Carr hive. This is a double walled hive using inner boxes and outer covers called "lifts". This type of hive has now fallen out use in favor of single walled hives with movable frames.
The bee hive in most common use is the Langstroth hive. The Langstroth is designed in such a way that the bees build honeycomb into frames which can be easily removed.
The hive that many people think of as being the picturesque terraced bee hive is the William Broughton Carr hive. This is a double walled hive using inner boxes and outer covers called "lifts". This type of hive has now fallen out use in favor of single walled hives with movable frames.
The bee hive in most common use is the Langstroth hive. The Langstroth is designed in such a way that the bees build honeycomb into frames which can be easily removed.
More Information About Beekeeping for Beginners
For more great articles about beekeeping visit Beekeeping for Beginners
Parts of a Langstroth Bee Hive
When starting beekeeping, it is necessary to ensure that you are familiar with the parts of your bee hive.
Outer cover - This is a wooden or polystyrene cover that fits on the top of the hive.
Inner cover -The inner cover provides a barrier between the outer cover and the bees. An inner cover means that the top cover is easy to remove from the hive. A hole in the middle allows bees to reach emergency food placed above by the beekeeper if needed during the winter months.
Hive body and hive (honey) super - These are four-sided boxes with standard inside dimensions. Deep and medium hive bodies are provided to serve as the brood chamber, the part of the hive where the queen lays eggs and the bees care for the larvae. Medium, shallow and comb honey supers are used for honey stores and to harvest the honey.
Bottom Board - Needs to strong enough to take the weight of the hive when it is full of honey.
Queen Excluder - Not essential, but used by many beekeepers. It is a wire mesh that separates the queen from the honey supers and prevents her from laying eggs in the honey.
Feeders - These come in various styles and provide the bees with food when there is not sufficient nectar available.
Outer cover - This is a wooden or polystyrene cover that fits on the top of the hive.
Inner cover -The inner cover provides a barrier between the outer cover and the bees. An inner cover means that the top cover is easy to remove from the hive. A hole in the middle allows bees to reach emergency food placed above by the beekeeper if needed during the winter months.
Hive body and hive (honey) super - These are four-sided boxes with standard inside dimensions. Deep and medium hive bodies are provided to serve as the brood chamber, the part of the hive where the queen lays eggs and the bees care for the larvae. Medium, shallow and comb honey supers are used for honey stores and to harvest the honey.
Bottom Board - Needs to strong enough to take the weight of the hive when it is full of honey.
Queen Excluder - Not essential, but used by many beekeepers. It is a wire mesh that separates the queen from the honey supers and prevents her from laying eggs in the honey.
Feeders - These come in various styles and provide the bees with food when there is not sufficient nectar available.
More About Beekeeping
Get more information about beekeeping at The Beekeeper.
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What do You Think about Beekeeping?
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VickiSims
Jul 28, 2011 @ 9:09 pm | delete
- I am interested in becoming a beekeeper, so this was very helpful information. Featured lens on my great sunflower project lens.
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GreenfireWiseWoman
Jun 22, 2011 @ 8:54 am | delete
- Very interesting lens - thank you.
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jeffrichley
May 24, 2011 @ 12:36 pm | delete
- Don't you just love beekeeping! It is amazing how much there is to those little critters.
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vallain
Mar 17, 2011 @ 9:05 pm | delete
- I had no idea that a beehive was so complex. It would be great to see inside one (without the danger of getting stung.)
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Al
May 11, 2010 @ 4:29 am | delete
- Thanks for this... I'm thinking about starting beekeeping and have been deliberating over which hive to get. I think I've finally come to some decisions though: http://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2010/beekeeping-what-equipment-do-i-need-the-hive/
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