Beekeeping in Texas

Backyard chickens are the rage now, but increasing in popularity tend to be backyard beekeepers. San Saba sisters Ashley and Sara Smith share some information about how to keep a happy hive.

1. The Space Match is essential

Photo: Marcy Stellfox

We’ve all experienced the unpleasantness of a bee sting, but exactly how ‘bout hovering over the hive trembling things up without security. Maybe not a good idea. Therefore safety gear is vital. Beekeeping suits differ in expense from $20 – $50 for a jacket to $70 – $125 for a complete fit. In accordance with Sara, “significantly more expensive but well worth the price” are specifically vented beekeeping suits produced from mesh – essential when it comes to hot Texas summers. Because bees require their hives checked frequently to ensure the wellness for the queen, productivity amounts, and proof of life pattern stages, you’re gonna want the duds to do the job. Gear is available from area niche beekeeper shops or internet based.

2. Smoking Out Your Bees is a Good Thing

Another machine required to beekeeping could be the smoker. Interestingly adequate, smoking out your bees “relaxes all of them and encourages all of them for eating, ” claims Sara. That way, once you begin disassembling their hives to-do your upkeep inspections or introduce supplemental feed in drought conditions, these are typically less likely to be an angry mob.

3. All Hail the Queen (larger bee with elongated body pictured at center)

Bees have a distinctive colony system. The queen is the most essential person in the hive, but cannot do her work without multitude of servants she has to keep her healthier. Drone bees develop from unfertilized worker bee eggs. Their job is mate using the queen and do-nothing else. These are typically seen as a drag regarding hive during winter season while the queen is not laying, so that they tend to be killed off inside autumn to store precious resources when it comes to various other bees to properly endure the cold. Employee bees basically that. Distributed to gather nectar and pollen, keep the hive clean, feed newborn bees, and set eggs generate drones, these bees are certainly maintaining hectic.