Of course, if you are going to do beekeeping, the future beekeeper is trying to figure out what equipment he will need for work, and probably comes in silent horror he saw in books or on the pages of the beekeeping sites long lists of seemingly necessary equipment. I hope my article will help you understand what sort of inventory will need to purchase in the first place, and what can be purchased along with the development of the apiary.
Let's start with things that are not so expensive, but when you work with bees without them will be difficult:
- Beekeeping chisel. You can certainly and easily do without it, using for example, a large screwdriver, but not so expensive it worth to complicate their lives.
- The front mesh.
- Smoker.
- Center knife and fork. First of all, these tools are needed when pumping honey, but sometimes necessary when examining bees.
- Bee queen cell Titov. Not the fact that you will need at first time, but a few pieces just in case it's worth to buy.
Then we shall consider this mandatory to the care of the beekeeper,as the equipment of the apiary frames with honeycombs. When buying bees in the spring usually takes from 4 to 12 frames, then the growth of the family, the nest need to expand the already-built frames (empty combs) and frames with honeycombs, which bees make honeycomb full (rebuilt).
Someone says that you can do without sushi, but I advise mandatory to buy every family at least 5 already-built framework. Dryness of the buy from existing beekeepers should pay attention that the drought had a light brown color. Frame with black honeycomb not worth buying. The same rejection subject cell with a large area of drone cells.
The remaining part of the required set of frames will have to do for you and your bees.
The required number depends on the design of hives in your apiary. You will need:
- Procurement framework. They can be buy and to order the carpenter, and to do, if possible.
- Nails
- Wire. Sold in beekeeping stores.
- Wax. Also in beekeeping stores you can buy.
- The mold – a flat Board or plywood, which shot down a frame with wire equipped with honeycombs. This device itself can be easily done.
- Spur – a tool for pressing the wire into the wax.
Work on lining honeycombs on frames provides for piercing or boring holes in the side rails framework, for which many beekeepers use a variety of tools to speed up work. But in the beginning you can do the usual with an awl or drill, and in the future will be able to decide whether you need such accommodations.
Image Credit
The honey extractor. The thing is expensive, but without it is impossible. Most likely, even in the first season of beekeeping you will need it. Alternatively, you can negotiate with a friend the beekeeper and the use of his honey extractor, but to postpone the purchase of honey for a long time will not work.
Pillows for the hives. The top of the nest should be well insulated, what would the bees make it easier to maintain the necessary microclimate. As material for pillows, you can use any old mattresses or blankets.
I thought I listed all that will need a novice beekeeper immediately after the purchase of the bees and what will be needed in the near future.
But the formation of the apiary is a long process and then will certainly need to acquire other useful equipment. In the future, experience will tell you what you should buy, and without which the apiary and so perfectly live.
