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A checklist for the new beekeeper

Introduction

The PerfectBee 3-Step plan to your first beehive walks you from your initial curiosity, through the purchase and installation of your beehive (and bees!) all the way to success as a beekeeper, with a healthy beehive.

One of the joys of beekeeping is that the learning never stops. Beekeepers with 40 years of experience will tell you that they learn something new from their bees every year. This is, of course, much of the attraction of beekeeping, amongst many other benefits.

But it’s important ​to have a plan and PerfectBee is happy to present the following high-level checklist, easing you through each step. We link to important content and guides throughout and the intent is to provide an initial “roadmap” as you start down the path towards becoming a successful beekeeper.

Part 1: Preparing to Be a Beekeeper

Is beekeeping right for you?

  • Budget
  • Spare time
  • Safety
  • Relations with neighbors
  • Location

See Is Beekeeping Right for You?

Why bees are important

  • Pollination
  • Honey
  • Propolis

See The Benefits of Bees

How the hive works

  • The lifecycle of bees
  • Roles of workers, drones and the queen
  • How bees communicate
  • Surviving the seasons
  • When and why bees leave the hive
  • Hive materials

See Inside and Out of the Beehive

The science of bees

  • Interaction with the environment
  • Bee anatomy and functions
  • Bee senses and their purpose
  • Pheromones and their purposes
  • Breeding and genetics

See The Science of Bees

Part 2: Getting Set Up As a Beekeeper

Types of beehive

  • Langstroth
  • Warre
  • Top Bar

See Beehive and Equipment Choices for the Beekeeper

Equipment and clothing

  • Smokers and fuel
  • Beeswax collector
  • Cap scratcher
  • Uncapping knife
  • Hive tool
  • Frame perch
  • Bee brush
  • Honey harvester
  • Follower board
  • Mite collector
  • Beekeeping suit
  • Veil
  • Gloves
  • Ankle protector

See Beehive and Equipment Choices for the Beekeeper

Planning and purchasing

  • Beehive location
  • Timing
  • Locals laws
  • Finding a mentor
  • Number of hives
  • Kits or components

See Planning and Purchasing Your Beehive

Installing your hive

  • Finding an appropriate location
  • Assembling your beehive
  • Painting
  • Stacking

See Installing and Preparing Your Beehive

Obtaining and installing your bees

  • Package of bees
  • Nucs
  • Swarms
  • Troubleshooting

See Obtaining and Installing Your Bees

Part 3: Keeping Your Beehive Healthy​

Understanding threats to bees

  • What bees need and don’t need
  • Colony Collapse Disorder
  • Diseases
  • Pests
  • Pesticides

See Threats to Bees

Maintaining the integrity of your hive

  • Swarms
  • Queenslessness
  • Requeening
  • Robbers
  • Overwintering
  • Feeding
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