Choosing Equipment

There are lots of choices when it comes to bee equipment. We choose Langstroth hives because they mimic the natural environment that bees prefer - the hollowed out trunk of a tree. They are also affordable, flexible and versatile which makes it easy to grow your apiary.  I'm happy to discuss other equipment choices - from top bar to flow to apimae.  Any way you slice it, there are many choices to make.  Read through and then we can chat about it.

 

Choices in Langstroth equipment include:

​

Medium (6”) or Deep (9”) Boxes & Frames - This is a personal choice based on your needs. It’s easiest to choose one size and stick to it so all of your equipment will be interchangeable.

​

8 Frame or 10 Frame Boxes - If you are planning more than 4 colonies, I recommend 10 frame equipments - you get more space for your money and deal with fewer pieces of equipment. 10 frames are also better for petite beekeepers. In an especially good season you might find yourself with a colony that has 4-5 boxes. Dragging a step stool or ladder is not a fun way to work bees.

​

Paint or Wax : Boxes need to be protected from the elements. Exterior grade paint is the most common. Wax dipped boxes are also durable and beautiful. They do need to be dipped again as their coating fades.  My experience with natural cedar boxes is that in the Texas weather, they warp unless they are very rigorously glued and screwed.  While they are lightweight, I've had to convince my hubby to do lots of repairs on them. (They work really well in the UK with all the moisture there!)

​

Frames - Wooden frames are sold with most starter kits. They work just fine. In Texas we find that during the peak of summer it’s helpful to add some monofilament to wood frames to provide support to beeswax.

​

One of the best investments we’ve found are black plastic frames with double waxed foundation. The plastic frames are resistant to wax moths meaning they cannot chew the plastic like the can wood. The foundation prevents the moths from tunneling through your comb which can be a real mess. They also give you bees a jump start so they can begin building comb for laying or honey immediately. The foundation also provides sturdiness in the heat.

​

Extra Equipment - It’s always a good idea to have a few extra pieces of equipment on hand. Having an extra box with frames on hand for each colony will mean that you can add space ahead of the bees needing it. This will prevent swarming and maximize ability to store food.

​

Top Feeders - We like the convenience of top feeders. There are occasions, especially in Texas, where we have sunny days and the bees are flying but not finding any food. That means they are burning their store and not replenishing them. We might opt to supplement with sugar syrup to ensure the colony has the resources it needs to thrive. When you have a top feeder you can add syrup to the colony without exposing the cluster. You don’t disturb the bees or expose them to extreme temps.

 

Solid Bottom Boards - This is really personal preference, but we like solid bottom boards. They make it easy to see if there are issue like too many dead bees, dirt from moths and provide insulation in winter. There are also no moving parts so they don’t often require repair.

​

Telescoping Covers - We like telescoping covers because you only have one piece to deal with vs. an inner cover and flat migratory cover. And when using a top feeder, they are easy to release - no propolizing the lid down.

 

Lid Weights - It’s advisable to weight your lids down with a brick, rock or other heavy object. This will prevent raccoons and skunks from knocking the lid off with their prying hands. These can also be used to indicate the state of your colony. We use a right to left brick to indicate queen right (we have a queen) where a front to back brick indicates questionable queen status. This can help you know which hives you need to follow up on during future inspections.

 

Small Hive Beetle Prevention - We like beetle barns with mineral oil or diatomaceous earth. Bees will chase the beetles into the barns and they cannot get out. Swiffer or other fibers sheets also work.