Suggested Essential Equipment
for a New Beekeeper

Farnham Beekeepers (FBKA) frequently know of second hand equipment for sale and can assess the value. So do contact the Secretary before buying.   Items will also be published in the monthly Newsletter.   Anything bought second hand should always be flamed to make sure that they are free from disease, and second hand frames should never be used.

1. Protective Clothing

a. Suit or veil

Veil is the minimum requirement but a full suit with veil attached is preferable. (Sheriff  01872 863304 is the best bee-proof suit).  Make sure it is large enough to hang loosely (you will be bending and stretching) and that the veil will detach for washing.               

b. Gloves

Washing-up gloves with sufficient cuff to cover the wrist of suit.

Or Disposable gloves – can be bought by the hundred from many places with cotton household gloves (Boots) underneath.  These save the hands sweating and are far more flexible, but might be too small for large hands.

Preferably, never use the leather gauntlets – they are more difficult to handle the bees sensitively and difficult to wash,  therefore easy to spread disease.   

c. Footwear

Usually Wellington boots, although some find shoes with sock long enough to well cover trouser bottoms are sufficient.  Bees usually crawl up!

2. Smoker

With fuel and matches or lighter.

3. Hive tool

J type is best.

4. Hive

Please do NOT buy the beginners kit from Thornes  -  they include things not recommended by beekeepers. For one colony you will need two hives.  Bees are bound to swarm sooner than you think.

The first consisting of :-

  • Stand (or bricks)
  • screen floor
  • 1 or 2 brood boxes, preferably 2 (fitted with Hoffman frames and foundation)
  • 3 or 4 supers (fitted with Hoffman frames and foundation) 
  • framed queen excluder
  • crown board 
  • spare super (or small “eke”)
  • a waterproof roof
  • tacks for frames

The second hive will be essential when the colony decides to swarm and needs to consist of :-

  • stand
  • floor 
  • brood box (with frames and foundation)
  • super (with frames and foundation) 
  • crown board 
  • roof

5. Feeder

Contact feeder is essential, others useful at times.

THE  ABOVE  ARE  THE  VERY  BASIC  ESSENTIALS

 

6. Household box (or similar)

To carry odd bits of equipment such as coloured drawing pins, marker pen, spare smoker fuel, matches, match box, queen cage etc.

7. Cover Cloths

Three is a good number.  Final size about 2” larger than the size of a super, and weighted at two sides.  Plastic is easy to buy, use and discard.  Material would have to be easily washable and weights easily removed (sealed in a placket with a safety pin!)

8. Miscellaneous

  • Bee escapes
  • Mouse guards
  • Entrance blocks

9. Books on beekeeping

Ted Hooper’s “Guide to Bees and Honey” or Clive de Bryn’s “Practical Beekeeping” are both good reference books – both available on the internet.  For more information on obtaining them, phone Margaret Lennard.  “Bees at the Bottom of my garden” and “Beekeeping for dummies” are excellent beginner’s books.

10. Honey Extractor

Extractors can be hired from FBKA

11. Bees

Swarms can be supplied by FBKA but nuclei with assured good temper and free of disease can be bought from commercial firms.

12. Jars and containers    

For the Honey crop!  Plastic buckets and jars can be bought from Thornes, packet of household washing soda for sterilising equipment.

 

Foundation can be bought more cheaply from Anne Buckingham; keep it wrapped in plastic and inspect occasionally for moth.