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What is a Super in Beekeeping?
A part of a beehive you may hear about often is the super. If you are new to the hobby, you may wonder, what is a super in beekeeping? This article is all about the super. It will discuss what exactly a super is, how to use it, and when to add a super. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. What is a Super in Beekeeping? Super comes from the word superstructure, which means a structure built on top of something else. So in beekeeping, a super is a box (or boxes)…
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Start Beekeeping Now With Bee Hive Kits for Beginners
Like most new hobbies, beekeeping requires a certain set of equipment before you get into it. Of course you need a bee hive and bees, but you also need protective clothing, tools, and supplies. Luckily getting into beekeeping is easier now than ever before. There is so much information on the internet and you can purchase everything you need in bee hive kits for beginners. Disclosure: As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. Beekeeping for Beginners Ordinances Beekeeping is a hobby that requires some preparation before starting. You don’t want to get all your equipment…
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How to Do a Hive Inspection + Free Printable Hive Inspection Sheets
An important part of beekeeping is the hive inspection. While healthy, established colonies may thrive without much intervention, newer colonies might need some help. You cannot just put bees in a hive and expect everything to go well without checking on them. The only way to know what is going on in the beehive is through regular hive inspections. When doing a hive inspection it is good to document your observations. It would be difficult to remember everything without keeping records, especially if you have multiple hives. This post contains free printable hive inspection sheets that you can download and print for free. What is a Hive Inspection? During a…
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What is the Best Beehive Stand Height?
Most beekeepers already know how important beehive stands are to successful colonies. Beehive stands have so many benefits that it is often considered a must have in beekeeping. Whether you buy a beehive stand, or build your own, many people wonder, what is the best beehive stand height? Beehive stand height is crucial because if it’s too low, pests could easily invade the hive. On the other hand, if it’s too high, it will be difficult to lift the supers off of the top. The supers can get quite heavy when they are full of honey, so having a beehive that is elevated too much can be a hassle for…
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Pollen Traps for Beehives
Everyone knows that you can harvest honey from beehives, but did you know that you can harvest pollen as well? Pollen is a valuable commodity in the health industry, as many people take it as a dietary supplement. Beekeepers collect pollen by using pollen traps for beehives. What is Pollen? Pollen is a fine powder that is produced by male plants. This powder contains the male reproductive cells of flowering plants. To reproduce, the pollen must move from the stamen of the male plant to the pistil of the female plant. Some plants are self pollinating and can do this on their own. Others require pollination from the wind, birds,…
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Foundation vs Foundationless Beekeeping
One of the big debates in beekeeping is whether or not to use foundation. Each method of beekeeping has it’s advantages and disadvantages, so it’s best to do your research before deciding on what is right for you. Read on for all the details on foundation vs foundationless beekeeping. What is Foundation? Foundation is a sheet made of plastic or wax that is placed in the middle of the frame. Foundation forms the base of one honeycomb, therefore giving the bees a guide on which to build the rest of their comb. It looks like a flat sheet with a hexagonal pattern molded into it. Plastic Foundation Plastic foundation is…
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How to Use a Robber Bees Screen
It’s something all beekeepers have to deal with at one time or another – robber bees. Left unattended, robbing can be a big problem for colonies. Using a robber bees screen is a great way to prevent robbing from starting in the first place. What Are Robber Bees? Robber bees are bees that enter a different colony with the intention to steal their honey. These are forager bees that simply want to collect food to bring back to their own colony. Since robbing isn’t an easy task, robbers will target a weaker colony to steal from. To enter the hive she must first fight the guard bees at the entrance. …
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How to use a Top Feeder for Bees
There are three different types of feeders used in beekeeping. An entrance feeder sits right outside the entrance of the beehive. A frame feeder goes in the hive, replacing one of the frames. A top feeder sits on top of the upper box of the beehive, with an empty hive box placed around it. Each type of feeder has it’s own benefits and disadvantages, so different beekeepers prefer different feeders. The top feeder for bees is good because they are protected from the sun and they usually hold a lot of syrup. What is a Top Feeder for bees? There are different designs for top feeders for bees, but they…
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Benefits of a Beehive Frame Grip
Hive inspections are a critical part of beekeeping. In order to do hive inspections you must lift a frame out of the box to inspect the brood. A good brood pattern means that you have a healthy colony. Lifting the frames out of the box can be a little tricky though. Frames can get heavy and sometimes propolis makes them stick to the box. Normally a hive tool does the trick of levering the frame out of the box, but there is a better option – a beehive frame grip. What is a Beehive Frame Grip? Beehive frame grips are used to remove a frame from a brood box or…
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Beehive Super Dimensions
You will notice that a Langstroth Beehive consists of several wooden boxes. Different boxes have different functions. The boxes on the bottom are called brood boxes, and the boxes on the top are called honey supers, or beehive supers. Supers are where the bees store their honey. If you buy a complete beehive it might come with 1 super, but as your colony grows and makes more honey, you will need to add onto it. Luckily, you can get beehive supers separately. This article will discuss everything you need to know about supers, including beehive super dimensions and their weight when full of honey. What is a Beehive Super? The…
