Beekeeping Equipment

There are 3 major types of hives: Langstroth, Warré and horizontal hives like a Top Bar hive. We describe how they each work including pros and cons and why we think you should start with Langstroth.

Every beekeeper needs a bee smoker. We’ll describe this all-important tool and explain how it works, how to light it, when to use it and how to maintain it.

Bears can wreak havoc on your bees and hives. An electric fence is the best way to protect your apiary. This is how electric fences work and how to set one up.

Painting beehives is the most common way to protect pine boxes from weather damage. Rain, snow, and sun eventually rot unprotected wood. As a result, cracks may appear, and joints separate. Several types of coating protect wood, but painting beehives is a simple and inexpensive way to extend their useful lives.

A horizontal hive is generally a single-box beehive designed so that honey bees build their comb structures along a horizontal path rather than vertically. We cover the common types you’ll find and their pros and cons.

Before spending a lot of money on honey bees and beekeeping equipment, make sure you have a suitable location beekeeping. Here’s are some things you should consider when deciding where to place a beehive.