How To Raise Bees
Posted By: Stacyh;
Category: Pets;
December 1, 2008
Author StacyH;
Here is some basic information on what is needed to raise bees.
1
You will need to find out about local laws or regulations for raising bees in your area. Contact your county extension service or a large agricultural university in your state. You may also be able to find a local bee club. Try searching "bee club,(your state)" on the internet or looking up bees or honey in the yellow pages.
2
You should check with your insurance company to see if you need to make changes in your coverage or if your homeowner's coverage could be affected. You may need additional liability insurance in case anyone is ever stung by your bees. (Honey bees are not aggressive and usually don't bother anyone who doesn't bother them.)
3
You should calculate or consider the expense involved in the start up and keep in mind that while you may be able to profit from beekeeping, it isn't necessarily a profitable business when done on a small scale.
4
You'll need protective gear, a smoker, the brooding chamber and other frames, a location where the bees can obtain plenty of pollen.
5
You will have to buy a queen, some workers, and drones. You may periodically have to buy another queen because they sometimes leave the hive with part of the bees.
6
You may have to provide starter food or sugar water in early Spring to get the bees started until there is plenty of pollen and nectar available.
7
Find a beekeeping mentor or join a bee club to learn about winter care, diseases, handling, harvesting honey, etc.
8
Contact abf.net.org, the American Beekeeping Federation for lots of help and information about beekeeping.
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