Beekeeping is a rather unusual activity, but at the same time it is interesting and exciting. It can become for you not only a kind of hobby, but also a source of income. After all, the main beekeeping product - honey - has always been in good demand due to its taste and healing properties. If you have decided to start beekeeping, you should start by buying the bees themselves. You need to approach this issue as seriously as possible, because the future fate of your apiary will depend on the quality of the bees.
Instructions
Step 1
The first thing to consider when buying bees is when to buy. The optimal period is considered May-early June. At this time, on the one hand, it is already warm enough to inspect the bees without risking exposure to cold temperatures. On the other hand, if the purchase is successful, you will receive the first honey harvest this summer. You can also buy bees in July-August, at the end of the honey harvest. In this case, prices for bees, as a rule, are lower than spring prices, but there is a difficulty in preparing for wintering - a difficult process for a novice beekeeper.
Step 2
Then decide whether you will buy bees separately, a whole bee colony with a hive, or a bee package. The best solution is to buy a family with a hive, because in this case, it is easier to transport the bees to a new place of residence.
Step 3
When choosing a bee colony, pay attention to the queen. Upon close inspection of the hive, it is not difficult even for a beginner to find it. the uterus is larger and slower to move. First, assess the appearance of the uterus - the integrity of the wings, the absence of mechanical damage. Then take a closer look at the quality of the brood. Brood is the larvae laid by the uterus. A healthy uterus lays larvae in each honeycomb, practically without gaps. If you see a large number of empty cells, the queen bee is most likely old or sick and will need to be replaced.
Then pay attention to the bees. Among them there should not be a large number of individuals with spoiled wings and other damage.
Step 4
After making sure that everything is in order with the queen and the bees, inspect the hive itself for the absence of various parasites. At the bottom of the hive, there should be no off-white lumps (their presence indicates ascopherosis, a common disease), check the absence of ticks and old, worn-out honeycombs. Old combs are easy to recognize by their color - they are most often black or dark brown. With these tips, you can choose healthy bees that will delight you with quality and delicious honey for many years.
