Posts Tagged ‘beekeeping tips’

1. How large beekeepers can make a profit
To be able to make a good profit large beekeepers cannot just sell their products within the local community but will have to spread their wings and get business from the super markets and grocery stores too. Only then can they cope with the financial expenditure and remain solvent financially. For this to happen the beekeepers have to pay heed to the packaging of the honey and other by products which should meet the standards set by USDA.

2. How do they decide on the packaging?
The container is what makes the package attractive and this is what the beekeeper has to bear in mind when thinking of the packing. These packings can be in various types of containers like glass bottles, plastic containers and cans. The sizes of the containers can vary from a few hundred grams to several kilos. The smaller containers come in attractive shapes and colors and can be reused for storing anything else by the buyer later. Another aspect is to keep the bottles and containers firmly sealed so that they can be shipped to any destination without fear of leakage.

3. Labels are equally important as a visual effect
After the container has been decided on you will have to think about the label which is what makes the container colorful and attractive and gives the buyer details about the product. Before designing the label or going to an artist who will help you with the design you should check with the government of your state about the laws that govern certain requirements. This will decide about the information that you are supposed to put on every label. The name of the product, which in this case is “Honey”, should be mentioned boldly on the label.

If you are using a distribution or packaging company their name and address as well as the name and address of your farm should also be on the label. Apart from all this the date of packaging the honey and the net weight should also be mentioned clearly. The size of the font on the label will be according to the size of the container and the label.
For those beekeepers who harvest honey of different flavors, the name of the flavor should also be mentioned on the label, as different people would prefer different flavors. Ig the honey is not filtered then you would have to mention that it is raw, natural or unfiltered on the label too.

4. USDA grades
The beekeepers who have the USDA certification will also have their honey graded and the grades will have to be mentioned on the labels too. These grades are based on the defects, quality of flavor, clarity and the amount of moisture in the honey.

Bee keeping is a hobby, believe it or not. These little stinging creatures can be a lot of fun if handled with care and there are a lot of sweet returns too. However, if you intend to take up this hobby iyou are best advised to get some basic knowledge about bee keeping – and the necessary mandatory equipment too if you do not want the post office calling you to collect your bees from their viscinity.
Now, the most basic piece of equipment that is required for bee keeping is the bee hive itself. Let us take some time to understand the structure and the necessity of the bee hive. It is not like you are required to go out and get yourself a natural bee hive from out of a tree. THis is not at all recommended as these little creatures are very possesive of theit home and the occupants so you may just as well land yourself in bed with multiple stings that may also prove fatal at times. The hive we are talking about is contruced out of wood and looks like a small wooden cabinet to be kept outdoors.
The beehive you need should have 5 supers. These are the most important part of a bee hive as this is the part of the hive that the bees use to store their product – honey. These 5 supers are placed between the base of teh hive and the top cover. Each of the 5 supers contain 9 to 10 frames where theb bees keep their off spring and honey. You decide if you want to have deep supers or shallow supers. Deep supers mean that you will have to get yourself a one – size foundation unlike the shallow super where you wil need multiple size foundations. The bad part of a deep super is that you will have to lug out a hundred pound weight when it is full.
When you are ready to set up yur hive ensure that you place it on a flat surface where it will be pretty difficult for the hive to tip over when a strong wind blows. Also place it in a place where people and animals will not be able to reach it and disturb the bees.
Now for something called a spacer. these are bits of equipment or rather wooden planks that are used to space out the frames in the super. You will need a few of these but do not wory a beehive kit will usually have all that you wil require to set up your bee hive.
Now when the bees have created enough honey and you need to get it out of the hive you will need to have a ‘smoker’. This is not a cigarette puffing human but a piece of bee keepng equipment that is used to ‘smoke’ the bees away from the hive so that you can safely cllect the produce inside the supers. Smokers are simple in design and are constructed out of a funnel and bellows. You will need to use some smoking material such as ‘Brlap’ to create a lot of smoke, dried corn cobs are another good alternative to create a lot of smoke.
Your bee hive will come with a metal hive tool used to pry open the beehive and scrape the honey from the frames. A furmer board is used to engourage the bees to leave a super and let you take their honeycombs. Now for the bees themselves, You could order them or set up your bee hive and wait patiently until they find it and build their colony themselves.
Go to the net and find the best way to order your bee hive and also the inmates. This may be the start of a very interesting hobby.

1. The new beekeeper
The new beekeeper will be more than enthusiastic to have his new bees arrive by post.
Before the bees arrive he would have chosen a suitable place to put his new bees in along with the new hive. The place for the bee hive would have to be in a secluded area where the bees will not be disturbed by both humans and animals. The hive also has to be in a place where strong winds will not knock it down.
Before the bees arrive it would be a good thing to try out the safety equipment and specially the body suit so that you are well protected and do not get stung. The post office will keep you informed on the arrival of the bees, and once they come will ask you to come and take your dangerous parcel away as soon as possible.
2. The newly arrived bees
In the container you will probably find a few bees lying dead, but this is to be expected after the stressful journey that they have undertaken. The rest of the bees will be alright and will have to be transferred to the new hive that you have set up for them from the container that they were shipped in. Before trying to transfer the bees make sure that you have the safety gear on and also the smoker ready. Inside the shipping container there will be a smaller container; this has the queen bee in it. This box will be closed with a cork, and if you remove the cork there will be another stopper inside that is made of sugar.
3. Placing the queen in the hive
The queen’s container should be hung inside the hive that has been prepared for the new bees. Now pierce a hole in the sugar so that the worker bees will be able to free the queen bee easier and allow her to escape into the hive. Care should be taken that the queen bee is not damaged in anyway while you pierce the sugar cube as it is not easy to find a replacement for the queen bee during winter months.
After the queen bee has been put into the hive, blow a puff of smoke into the container with the other bees and allow them out into the hive. The bees will automatically spill out of the container into the hive and settle down there. Make sure you put a feeder filled with ordinary sugar n to the hive. If there are any bees still in the container just leave the container near the hive and they will go into it on their own. The bees prefer being changed from the container to the hive wither early in the morning or in the evening time.
4. A week for the bees to settle down
The bees will take at least a week to settle down to their new hive and then the queen bee will start laying her eggs and the bees will also start making honey.

1. The new beekeeper
The new beekeeper will be more than enthusiastic to have his new bees arrive by post.
Before the bees arrive he would have chosen a suitable place to put his new bees in along with the new hive. The place for the bee hive would have to be in a secluded area where the bees will not be disturbed by both humans and animals. The hive also has to be in a place where strong winds will not knock it down.
Before the bees arrive it would be a good thing to try out the safety equipment and specially the body suit so that you are well protected and do not get stung. The post office will keep you informed on the arrival of the bees, and once they come will ask you to come and take your dangerous parcel away as soon as possible.
2. The newly arrived bees
In the container you will probably find a few bees lying dead, but this is to be expected after the stressful journey that they have undertaken. The rest of the bees will be alright and will have to be transferred to the new hive that you have set up for them from the container that they were shipped in. Before trying to transfer the bees make sure that you have the safety gear on and also the smoker ready. Inside the shipping container there will be a smaller container; this has the queen bee in it. This box will be closed with a cork, and if you remove the cork there will be another stopper inside that is made of sugar.
3. Placing the queen in the hive
The queen’s container should be hung inside the hive that has been prepared for the new bees. Now pierce a hole in the sugar so that the worker bees will be able to free the queen bee easier and allow her to escape into the hive. Care should be taken that the queen bee is not damaged in anyway while you pierce the sugar cube as it is not easy to find a replacement for the queen bee during winter months.
After the queen bee has been put into the hive, blow a puff of smoke into the container with the other bees and allow them out into the hive. The bees will automatically spill out of the container into the hive and settle down there. Make sure you put a feeder filled with ordinary sugar n to the hive. If there are any bees still in the container just leave the container near the hive and they will go into it on their own. The bees prefer being changed from the container to the hive wither early in the morning or in the evening time.
4. A week for the bees to settle down
The bees will take at least a week to settle down to their new hive and then the queen bee will start laying her eggs and the bees will also start making honey.

Bee keeping is a hobby, believe it or not. These little stinging creatures can be a lot of fun if handled with care and there are a lot of sweet returns too. However, if you intend to take up this hobby iyou are best advised to get some basic knowledge about bee keeping – and the necessary mandatory equipment too if you do not want the post office calling you to collect your bees from their viscinity.
Now, the most basic piece of equipment that is required for bee keeping is the bee hive itself. Let us take some time to understand the structure and the necessity of the bee hive. It is not like you are required to go out and get yourself a natural bee hive from out of a tree. THis is not at all recommended as these little creatures are very possesive of theit home and the occupants so you may just as well land yourself in bed with multiple stings that may also prove fatal at times. The hive we are talking about is contruced out of wood and looks like a small wooden cabinet to be kept outdoors.
The beehive you need should have 5 supers. These are the most important part of a bee hive as this is the part of the hive that the bees use to store their product – honey. These 5 supers are placed between the base of teh hive and the top cover. Each of the 5 supers contain 9 to 10 frames where theb bees keep their off spring and honey. You decide if you want to have deep supers or shallow supers. Deep supers mean that you will have to get yourself a one – size foundation unlike the shallow super where you wil need multiple size foundations. The bad part of a deep super is that you will have to lug out a hundred pound weight when it is full.
When you are ready to set up yur hive ensure that you place it on a flat surface where it will be pretty difficult for the hive to tip over when a strong wind blows. Also place it in a place where people and animals will not be able to reach it and disturb the bees.
Now for something called a spacer. these are bits of equipment or rather wooden planks that are used to space out the frames in the super. You will need a few of these but do not wory a beehive kit will usually have all that you wil require to set up your bee hive.
Now when the bees have created enough honey and you need to get it out of the hive you will need to have a ‘smoker’. This is not a cigarette puffing human but a piece of bee keepng equipment that is used to ‘smoke’ the bees away from the hive so that you can safely cllect the produce inside the supers. Smokers are simple in design and are constructed out of a funnel and bellows. You will need to use some smoking material such as ‘Brlap’ to create a lot of smoke, dried corn cobs are another good alternative to create a lot of smoke.
Your bee hive will come with a metal hive tool used to pry open the beehive and scrape the honey from the frames. A furmer board is used to engourage the bees to leave a super and let you take their honeycombs. Now for the bees themselves, You could order them or set up your bee hive and wait patiently until they find it and build their colony themselves.
Go to the net and find the best way to order your bee hive and also the inmates. This may be the start of a very interesting hobby.

1. Safety equipment for bee keepers
Beekeepers have to wear suits that cover them and protect them completely from head to toe and that cannot be punctured by the bees, and through which the bees cannot sting them. To protect their face they have a mesh screen and also use smokers to calm down bees that have become very agitated. The smoker calms down the bees while the beekeeper gets the honey out of the hive. They also have to check that the bees are in their hives getting on with the honey making procedure and the only way they can do all this is if the bees are calm. Beekeepers also have a crowbar to scrape the honey out which can be quite difficult to remove. The bee hives are usually placed in secluded areas so that the bees do not become a menace to those who are moving around in that area. This is also to ensure that the bees are not disturbed by too much of noise and human traffic which will antagonize them and make them swarm.
2. Beekeepers get their tools on the internet
Most beekeepers prefer to get their bee keeping equipment on the internet as this way they can access hundred of different companies and get exactly what they want. The need among other things, tools for grafting the comb apart for scraping up the honey, comb cutters, special cages for capturing the queen bee, and many other things like containers for the honey. Honey is the favorite food of grizzly bears and bee keepers have to safe guard their bees from pests which could eat them up. Bees also have to have particular kinds of feeds which keep them healthy. Bee hives also have to have treatment against invasion from flies and moths which carry infection and diseases from compost and animal manure to the hives.
3. Expenses incurred by the bee keepers
The body suits that the beekeepers wear are fairly cheap, and do not dent the finances of the bee keeper, but what is an expense is keeping the hive safe from pests. This is not an easy task as the hives are situated in places like dense forests where there are many pests and birds to disturb the hives. So the beekeepers have to keep abreast of the new techniques to maintain their beehives in a healthy manner and safe guard them against pests.