Keeping Honey Bees - The Top 5 Mistakes Made by Beginners
Posted 16/09/09 by Matt B in the Unspecified category
A guest post by Jane Vaughan
Keeping honey bees isn't a difficult hobby to get started with, however a bit of organized research before you start can go a long way to making your hive a success. It is said that people learn best from making mistakes - all well and good but this can be costly. It is so much better to learn from other people's mistakes - the top 5 are listed below.
- Buying second hand equipment - This sounds like a cost effective way to get started, but should be done with caution. When you buy hive equipment from someone else, you could be inheriting a whole raft of problems from them - disease and pests are the biggest risk, whilst poorly maintained equipment will hinder even the most experienced of beekeeper.
- Start the wrong time of year - The best time of year to start keeping bees is in spring, when the flowers and trees are in full bloom, meaning lots of food for your bees. It is no good setting up a hive in the late autumn and expecting lots of lovely honey within a couple of months. If you are impatient like me and want to get started right away, you should buy a good book or two and get some good ground knowledge. You could also use this time to research equipment suppliers and also possibly offer to help local beekeepers with their hive chores.
- Read outdated books - This might not sound serious but these days it could prove to be a big mistake. If you are reading a book that is more than about 20 years old it is unlikely that the book will discuss the problem of the varroa mite. This mite has destroyed most of the wild bee colonies in the world and is a serious threat to any hive. A well managed domestic hive can combat many of the threats and problems of the varroa mite, but you need up to date information first.
- Skimp on protective clothing - Many people don't want to spend much money on protective clothing when they first start keeping honey bees. It is natural to want to put your investment into the hive first and think about clothing later. This is a big mistake - for example you need to know that dark clothing can make the bees feel threatened and turn them aggressive. Although all beekeepers get stung at some time, It is very important to give yourself as much as protection as possible and not undertake any unnecessary risks.
- Try to go it alone - When you are starting any new hobby it helps to have the moral and practical support of someone who has walked the path before. They can offer you lots of tips on what to look for in equipment as well as offering advice specific to your locality. As mentioned above, spending some time with them first, helping them out is always a good way to get started.
These are the most common mistakes made by beginner beekeepers. If you follow the advice above and research the subject thoroughly you will already have a head start on someone who just dives into this fascinating hobby.
My name is Jane Vaughan and I enjoy researching how a natural lifestyle can make a big improvement to our quality of life. If you want to start keeping honey bees but don't know where to start, read my reviews of the best beekeeping books on the market at http://www.trustnature.info
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