Beekeeping for Beginners: Setting up a Hive

If you’re seeing this, you’re probably curious about delving into the world of bees. Today, I will show you how to set up your hive by sharing my journey. The first step is to start educating yourself; you must know the basics. (Look out for a future post!) This is part of a beekeeping for beginners series where I take you from zero to starting beehives to harvesting honey.

The first and most important step is to find the right location. Believe it or not, deciding where to place the hive is often crucial in terms of the hive survival. For example, hives with access to direct sunlight tend to be healthier as more bees leave the hive to be productive when they can sense light outside. By putting the hive into direct sunlight, you maximize the chances that the bees leave the hive and in turn increase productivity and healthiness.

Another important consideration with location is climate. While I know many of y'all can’t change the climate of where you intend to start your hive, it is important to be mindful of weather and climate patterns, as these can adversely affect a hive. Living in Texas, climate wasn’t too big of a problem for me, however folks in colder areas may find more difficulty starting your hive. 

Finally, accessibility to safety and shelter should also be kept in mind. While we don’t plan on being stung, it does happen, and being able to isolate yourself from the bees to provide treatment is important.

After picking a location, the next challenge ahead is to pick the hive and size. For any new beekeeper, the go-to is the Langstroth hive. It is simple, produces good amounts of honey, and is durable. All 15 of my hives are Langstroth hives. 

Giving so much advice and information, I thought that it would be best to show y'all my beehive setup. First, I start with a nice strong base. A good foundation is crucial for the stability and longevity of your hive. I use a sturdy hive stand to elevate the hive off the ground, which helps protect it from moisture and pests. This also makes inspections and maintenance easier on your back!

Next, I place the bottom board on the stand. The bottom board serves as the floor of the hive, providing a solid base for the rest of the hive components. After the bottom board, I add the hive bodies. For a new hive, I start with one deep brood box. This is where the queen will lay her eggs and where the colony will raise its young. As the colony grows, I add another brood box on top to give them more space.

Each hive body contains frames that hold the foundation for the bees to build their comb. I use wax-coated plastic foundation for durability and ease of use. When installing the frames, make sure they are evenly spaced and securely positioned to avoid any gaps that could lead to cross-combing.

Once the brood boxes are in place, I add a queen excluder. This metal or plastic grid keeps the queen confined to the brood chambers, preventing her from laying eggs in the honey supers. This makes honey harvesting much easier as you’ll have clean, brood-free honey combs.

On top of the queen excluder, I add the honey supers. These are shallower boxes where the bees store surplus honey. Depending on the nectar flow and the strength of your colony, you may need to add multiple supers throughout the season.

The inner cover comes next. This cover provides insulation and an upper entrance for ventilation. It also prevents the bees from gluing the outer cover to the frames with propolis, making it easier to remove the outer cover for inspections.

Finally, I place the outer cover on top. This serves as the roof of the hive, protecting it from the elements. I prefer telescoping outer covers with a metal top for added durability and weather resistance.

With the hive set up, the next step is to introduce the bees. I prefer starting with a nucleus colony (nuc), which is a small, established colony with a queen, workers, brood, and honey. It’s a great way to give your hive a strong start. 

Now that your hive is officially set up, it is crucial to consistently check on its status and health. The initial health of the hive often has major implications on the hive's trajectory and longevity, so making sure the bees are healthy multiple times a week is necessary. 

If you want a post for an inspection checklist or a continuation of this series, stay tuned by signing up for notifications with your email. I’m buzzing to see you next time!