Things You Should Know When Getting Into Beekeeping Are you considering beekeeping? It is a great hobby, and you can also turn kit into a profitable business. But, just remember the bees you choose are vital to your success as a beekeeper. While looking for package bees, these few tips can help you make your buying decision. Besides helping you combat environmental challenges for the bees, these tips can also help you become a responsible beekeeper by adding better genetics to your local honeybee gene pool and even help you fight off varroa insects.
Look for different genetics Having diverse bees genetics can help in producing new bees that are hardier. So you can consider getting bees that are not of one particular breed.
Pay attention to hygienic bees Most of the bees have been bred to have the VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) trait. They can detect and remove varroa from the hive without the use of chemicals or intervention from you.
Buy a nuc verses package A nuc is an overwintered already established hive with a laying queen. When you look for package bees, know that the bees and the queen have just become acquainted when they were packaged at the apiary. This is why she comes in a cage to protect her from rejection and death.
Keep more than one hive Having more than one hive will help you monitor and compare the activity of the bees. An extra hive that is strong can save a weak hive by borrowing brood, honey and so forth.
Consider buying local bees Local bees are often the best. You can start the process by looking for an apiary that sells bees in or nearby your county. The reason for choosing local bees is that these bees are already acclimated to your climate.
Check to see if any fellow beekeepers are selling splits Another thing that you can do when looking for package bees is to look for any fellow beekeepers who are selling splits. These bees are local and also considered strong enough to have survived the winter.
Verify the source and breed before requeening Before requeening, consider your source and breed. Make sure that you check whether the queen bee is hygienic and if she has been mated or not.