Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Beekeeping Equipment - Get Your New Hobby Off To A Good Start

Many people when thinking about domesticated
animals will immediately consider their beloved
pets. Cats and dogs probably come first to mind,
followed by farm animals that can be harvested
for their various products. But what if you
could own a tiny pet that could produce multiple
products that could be marketed? Are you going to
let the thought of a few little stings scare you
away from the bees?

Believe it or not, these little creatures can
bring great pleasure. If you'd like to set
yourself apart from the crowd, read on about
beekeeping equipment that can turn you into a
beekeeper and kick your previous fears of these
little beings and misconceptions to the curb.

One of the most obvious pieces of equipment
you'll need is the hive. There are a number of
types you can choose from, but the most commonly
used is the Langstroth hive. The construction is
a basic four-sided frames that are pulled out of
a box.

It has many variants, but one beehive type
completely different from it is the top bar hive,
which as the name implies, only has the top bar
for the bees to create and attach their honeycomb
to. The Langstroth hive is arguably easier to
manage (although propenents of the top bar hive
will dispute this!) and will produce more honey.
Top bar beekeeping is a more natural way to keep
bees, and closer to how the bees would act in the
wild.

While you may envision most beehives set in the
middle of giant pastures, you actually don't need
a whole lot of space to keep bees. You can get
away with a small backyard or even a balcony.
Bees just need reasonable shelter, minimal
disturbance, and access to greenery and fresh
water. On a rooftop garden in the city, the
simple addition of a bird bath may be all that is
needed to satisfy a small hive.

Once your bees location, placement and housing
has been decided, it's time to get together the
list of beekeeping equipment that you will need.
I do have to warn you that with even the best
protection out there you can still get stung -
but the right apparel reduces that risk immensely.

As a beginner it's highly recommended you fully
suit up, but as some become more experienced they
may just go out with a hat, veil, and gloves.
Only the highly experienced with years of
beekeeping behind them may be seen with no
protective clothing at all. This should not be
tried by amateurs and requires the highest level
of confidence in your skill and with your hive.

A hive tool acts as an all in one kind of magic
wand that serves multiple purposes. It can be
used to pry open a hive. It can help you
segregate the hive bodies, and it cleans the
frames by scraping them. A thin ended tool will
be easier to use and will cause much less damage
than one with a thick end.

To ease the bees you will definitely want to get
a smoker. Top of the line are made from stainless
steel. While they are a bit more expensive, they
really are the best type available.

Finally on the list of beekeeping essentials is
the addition of a special feeder. This is placed
on the top of the hive colony and provides
nourishment for the bees. A bulk feeder can hold
up to 20 liters of syrup and can carry your bees
throughout the winter. Your second option will be
a contact feeder, but this will only hold about 2
liters and really is best for topping up.

With your list of beekeeping equipment you are
now on your way to a safe, lucrative, and
enjoyable new hobby with tiny pets that will
truly set you apart from the crowd.

----------------------------------------------------
Val Wilson is passionate about all things
beekeeping! It is an incredibly rewarding hobby
in so many ways, so if you would like more
information about how to start beekeeping, go to
http://www.bestbeekeeping.com and sign up for the
FREE 7 day beekeeping ecourse.

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