Equipment Required for Starting a Colony of Honey Bees

 

Hive Stand (A)

Used to keep bottom board up off the ground, keeping it dry and stopping it from rotting quickly. You may buy commercial stands or use concrete blocks, wood 4x4 or 6x6, or hardwood pallets. A hive stand also serves as a landing board for returning bees.

 

Bottom Board (B)

Brood chambers are placed on a bottom board to provide an entrance for bees to use. This board may be treated with copper napththenate to help extend its life.

 

Entrance Reducer (C)

Used to control the size of the hive entrance at various times of the season.

 

Brood Chamber(s) (D)

This is the area in which the frames are used by the colony to raise new bees. These boxes are also called hive bodies.

 

Frames (E)

These are rectangular structures made of wood or plastic and are used to hold wax foundation embossed with hexagonal worker cells.

 

Queen Excluder (F)

These are used between the brood boxes and the honey supers to prevent the queen from laying eggs in the supers. Some beekeepers also call these honey excluders as they report smaller honey crops. Opinion varies about the need, but a first year beekeeper will probably want to use one until you learn management techniques that allow you to produce honey without an excluder.

 

Honey Super(s) (G)

These come in three sizes: deep, medium and shallow. All are great and the difference is in weight. Medium and shallow supers are much lighter when full than a deep so if the heaviness of a honey super is a concern go with medium or shallow. There are also comb honey supers used to produce comb honey - you should wait until after your first year before attempting to produce comb honey.

 

Inner Cover (H)

This is a plastic or wooden board usually used with an oblong hole in its center. Its purpose is multiple: it keeps the bees in the hive when the outer roof is removed, may be used with a bee escape to remove honey, and assists in feeding bees. Also serves to rid the hive of excess moisture, particularly in the winter.

 

Outer Cover (I)

Made of metal-covered wood or plastic and used to protect the colony from the weather. Each cover should be secured by a weight (brick or stone of similar size) to prevent wind from blowing it off.