Beehives

  • Beehives,  DIY

    Safe Paint for Beehives

    While beekeeping can be considered an art in itself, some beekeepers have turned their beehives into literal works of art.  I’ve seen photos of many beautiful beehives, covered with intricate designs.  Even if you are not planning on painting pictures on your hives, most beekeepers do paint their hives at least one color. It’s for more than just looks.  Painting beehives helps to protect the wood from the elements, thus making the hive last longer.   The most important thing is that you must use safe paint for beehives. Other paint has too many chemicals that can be harmful to bees.  Also, remember to paint only the outside of your beehive,…

  • Beehives,  Reviews

    A Review on Busy Bees ‘n’ More Beehives

    When buying a beehive you want a quality product, made of durable materials that will last a long time. The Amish are known for their woodworking, so it makes sense that they’d excel at constructing beehives.   About Busy Bees ‘n’ More Located in Ohio, Busy Bees ‘n’ More are manufacturers of Langstroth beehives. What sets them apart from other beehive manufacturers is that these hives are made by Amish woodworkers.  The Amish are known for their quality craftsmanship and high quality woodwork.   All Busy Bees ‘n’ More hives are made in the USA using responsibly sourced wood.  They sell both 8 and 10 frame hives, as well as a starter…

  • Beehives,  DIY

    How to Choose Wood and Paint for Beehives

    In the wild, the home of a bee colony is called a nest.  Bees tend to build their nests in hollow trees or rocks. These nests are sometimes built exposed and consist of hanging rows of honeycomb.  The term beehive, however, refers to an artificial man made structure that houses bees. So, what are beehives made out of? The outside of beehives are made out of wood.  The inside of a beehive is made out of beeswax.   Beehives are made out of wooden boxes containing frames.  The inside of the beehive contains the bee colony, beeswax, and propolis. Beeswax is formed into cells that store brood, pollen, nectar, and honey.  …

  • wooden bee house on grass field
    Beehives

    Shallow vs Medium Super

    In beekeeping there are a lot of different terms that can get confusing for those just starting out.  For example, the boxes in the beehive have different names such as hive bodies, brood box, and super.   What is a Super? In a beehive, the supers are the hive boxes that are placed above the brood boxes.  These are the boxes bees use to store surplus honey.  That’s why they are also commonly called honey supers.  It also gets it’s name from the word superstructure, which means a structure built on top of something else. During a nectar flow, a queen excluder is placed so the queen cannot enter the supers. …

  • Beehives,  Beekeeping

    Protecting Beehives From Ants

    When inspecting your beehive, you may find more than just bees in there.  Ants are notorious for trying to get into beehives and set up shop. You may notice them on the ground around the hive, crawling up the legs of your hive stand, and even in the hive itself.  If you have a problem with ants in your beehive, this article is for you. I will be sharing tips for protecting beehives from ants.   Do Ants Harm Beehives? Sure, ants are annoying, but do ants harm beehives?  Ants are usually attracted to beehives because they want to get to the sugar water in the feeder or the honey.  A…

  • Beehives

    Never Paint a Hive Again – The Benefits of Wax Dipped Beehives

    In Australia and New Zealand, beekeepers have been using a special technique for preserving their hives.  It is eco-friendly, chemical free, and they say that their hives can last as long as 30 years before retreatment is necessary.  What is this technique?  It is called wax dipping.  This method involved dipping their beehives in molten hot wax to preserve the wood.  This results in wood that is durable and water resistant. This article will go over the benefits of wax dipped beehives, how they are made, and where you can find the best wax dipped beehives for sale.  What Are Waxed Dipped Beehives? Waxed dipped beehives are hives that have…

  • Beehives,  DIY

    What is the Best Coating for a Beehive?

    A well cared for beehive can last for years.  One of the most important things a beekeeper can do to preserve their hives is to protect it from the elements.  This is done by adding a coating to the beehive.  So, what is the best coating for a beehive?   Disclosure: As an affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. Why Coat a Beehive? Applying coating to a beehive gives the wood protection from the elements.  Beehives are outdoors, so they are exposed to sun, wind, rain, and snow all year round.  Without a protective coating, the…

  • Beehives,  Beekeeping,  Getting Started

    How Close Can Beehives Be to a House?

    Backyard beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular lately.  With beehives, beekeeping equipment, and bees easily shipped through the mail, many people can now enjoy beekeeping from their own backyard.  When deciding where to place your beehives, there are a few things to take into account.  You’ll need to consider the ground, the bee’s food and water sources, the sun, wind, and the proximity to houses.  How Close Can Beehives Be to a House? When keeping bees in a residential area especially, you don’t want your hives too close to houses.  You want to keep yourself and your neighbors safe, plus bees need ample space to fly up and over houses. But…

  • Beehives,  Reviews

    A Review on NuBee Beehives

    Like most hobbies, beekeeping can incur some costs.  The most pricey of them is buying a beehive. While quality beehives aren’t cheap, it’s important to get a good one to ensure a successful season. Plus, a good beehive can last many years.   That’s why I like NuBee beehives. Their goal is to create affordable, yet quality beehives for anyone interested in beekeeping.   Disclosure: As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. About NuBee NuBee was created to allow more people to pursue beekeeping.  To achieve this, they aim to provide lightweight, durable beehives at an affordable…

  • Beehives,  Reviews

    8 Best Bee Hive Starter Kits to Get in 2023

    Beekeeping is an extremely rewarding hobby to get involved in. Not only can one bee hive yield up to 100 pounds of honey, bees are excellent pollinators that would enhance any garden.  Beekeeping helps the environment too. Bee populations are declining everywhere due to pesticides and disease. Starting a bee hive helps increase the population of bees, which helps the ecosystem at the same time.   The easiest way to get into beekeeping is to buy a bee hive starter kit. But, what should you look for in the best bee hive starter kit?  All starter kits include a complete bee hive. Others will include the complete hive and accessories, such…