What equipment should I have

[Maddog87]

Hello all.

Having asked a couple of people I know I’m looking for Langstroth hives, I can get queens and swarms quite locally to start me off. That’s the bees sorted but what else will I need?

I know a suit is needed but what brands do you recommend and can i get them online? What else should I have at the beginning?

Finally, when is the best time to start a new colony? Is early summer best, not too near the colder weather, or is any time ok?

Thanks.

 

[Apiarisnt]

"That’s the bees sorted but what else will I need?":

Guide to Bees and Honey - Ted Hooper
The BBKA Guide to Beekeeping, - Ivor Davis and Roger Cullum-Kenyon
Haynes The Bee manual - Adrian Waring

Membership card of local syndicat of UNAF https://www.unaf-apiculture.info/

 

[madasafish]

"That’s the bees sorted but what else will I need?":

Guide to Bees and Honey - Ted Hooper
The BBKA Guide to Beekeeping, - Ivor Davis and Roger Cullum-Kenyon
Haynes The Bee manual - Adrian Waring

Membership card of local syndicat of UNAF https://www.unaf-apiculture.info/

Best time to start is around Spring nectar flows.. which is May. In my view.
But I know people who started in October and their hives survived winter - but only with experienced help...

I started in May and managed to keep my first bees over winters so if I can, anyone should ....

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Guide to Bees and Honey - Ted Hooper
The BBKA Guide to Beekeeping, - Ivor Davis and Roger Cullum-Kenyon
Haynes The Bee manual - Adrian Waring

I wouldn't bother with the filling in that sandwich, save your money and buy a decent book

 

[Poly Hive]

This is beginners one oh one eh...

Hives, you say you are going Lang. So go poly. Three supers per hive minimum.

Crown boards, clearer boards, ekes for feeding fondant. Couple of nuc boxes.

Hive tool, smoker, scissors and marking paint, gloves and veil, record card and pencil, drawing pins'

Thats what I need.

PH

 

[mjt68]

This is beginners one oh one eh...

Hives, you say you are going Lang. So go poly. Three supers per hive minimum.

Crown boards, clearer boards, ekes for feeding fondant. Couple of nuc boxes.

Hive tool, smoker, scissors and marking paint, gloves and veil, record card and pencil, drawing pins'

Thats what I need.

PH

Also an extra pack of frames (deep and medium if that's what size your boxes are) beyond what you need to fill all your boxes. One extra brood box isn't a bad idea but not essential.

 

[Vortex]

This is beginners one oh one eh...

Hives, you say you are going Lang. So go poly. Three supers per hive minimum.

PH

I agree here. Either the Honeypaw hives (from Happy Valley Honey or direct from Honeypaw) which take 10 frames and have the same internal dimensions as a wooden Lang or the Lyson (either direct from Lyson or from Abelo) hive which takes 9 frames and has the same external dimensions as a wooden lang. The 6 frame Lang poly Nucs from Abelo are better than the honey paw ones and they can be bought with a second stackable body to turn them into 12 frames.

 

[mjt68]

I agree here. Either the Honeypaw hives (from Happy Valley Honey or direct from Honeypaw) which take 10 frames and have the same internal dimensions as a wooden Lang or the Lyson (either direct from Lyson or from Abelo) hive which takes 9 frames and has the same external dimensions as a wooden lang. The 6 frame Lang poly Nucs from Abelo are better than the honey paw ones and they can be bought with a second stackable body to turn them into 12 frames.

Those Abelo nucs are the business. Cheapest around as well.

 

[blackcloud]

I wouldn't bother with the filling in that sandwich, save your money and buy a decent book

Which would be?????,

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Plenty of choice - the must have would be Clive de Bruyn - practical Beekeeping

 

[Maddog87]

Best time to start is around Spring nectar flows.. which is May. In my view.
But I know people who started in October and their hives survived winter - but only with experienced help...

I started in May and managed to keep my first bees over winters so if I can, anyone should ....

Thanks for that. I did think next spring might be best. We’ve still got digger work to be done clearing near where I want to place them as well and I’m sure they’d love that!
Gives me more time to learn, get my equipment sorted, etc.

 

[Maddog87]

Also an extra pack of frames (deep and medium if that's what size your boxes are) beyond what you need to fill all your boxes. One extra brood box isn't a bad idea but not essential.

Wow! Lots to look into. Thanks

 

[Maddog87]

Like a good read

Plenty of choice - the must have would be Clive de Bruyn - practical Beekeeping

 

[Madge]

Thanks for that. I did think next spring might be best. ...

With a spring colony, you’ll probably get last year’s queen. That’s fine - but you might have to deal with a swarm. If you wait a bit longer for a colony with this year’s queen, she is less likely to swarm, and you might have an easier first year.

 

[Curly green fingers]

With a spring colony, you’ll probably get last year’s queen. That’s fine - but you might have to deal with a swarm. If you wait a bit longer for a colony with this year’s queen, she is less likely to swarm, and you might have an easier first year.

There's nothing wrong with last year's queen's the probability of them swarming if looked after properly is very small .
If you do get an over wintered nuc you might even get some honey and have to split the hive .
I wanted to say take this time to be observant of what forage you have locally through out the seasons .
Do you plan to plant any bee loving trees shrubs etc.
Welcome by the way and best wishes .
Mark..

 

[Maddog87]

There's nothing wrong with last year's queen's the probability of them swarming if looked after properly is very small .
If you do get an over wintered nuc you might even get some honey and have to split the hive .
I wanted to say take this time to be observant of what forage you have locally through out the seasons .
Do you plan to plant any bee loving trees shrubs etc.
Welcome by the way and best wishes .
Mark..

Thank you. We already have sweet chestnut, several fruit trees and wild cherries, plus plenty of dandelions and nettles. We also plan to have a bit of wild flower meadow.
I’m thinking next spring might be kindest on the bees.

 

[Poly Hive]

Sorry to burst any balloons but last winter was a pussy.

PH

 

[MerryBee]

One item of essential equipment often not mentioned - a large shed to store all the stuff you will have accumulated after a year or two of beekeeping.

 

[enrico]

And then another shed!!!!
E

 

[thedozzer]

As you are in France the one thing i would suggest is getting some Hornet/Wasp traps as the Asian hornet is a problem. have a look at all the different ways that people have used to stop the Hornets Hawking in front of the hive and speak to the local association about what they do.