If you are just starting beekeeping or thinking about starting, then this is the time to
catch the wave to get setup for the 2008 bee season. The first year of caring for
bees in the top bar hive is a simple setup.

You will need to:

1) Get bees for your hive
2) Purchase a hive or build a hive from plans
3) Coat the top bars with beeswax
4) Pick a proper location on your property to set the hive
5) Wear proper clothing
6) Install the swarm or package of bees
7) That's it to getting started

1) Order Bees: Now is the time to order bees or get onto a swarm list. Refer to Resources link, for a list of Swarm Removers or the list of apriaries selling packages fo bees. 

2) Get a Hive: Purchase a BackYardHive or build your own from the plans on our website. We also offer top bars only if you make your own hive and do not have the equipment to make the top bars.  The window in the hive is key, it helps you see what is going on inside the hive without having to disturb the bees.

3) Coat the top bars with melted down beeswax  (paraffin will not work it needs to be natural bees wax) Coat only the 'spine' of the top bars. This encourages the bees to build comb on this 'spine'. You can order beeswax  on our website or purchase it from your local art supply store.

4) Placement of the hive: You will want to place the entrance of the hive away from foot traffic. The less foot traffic at the entrance of the hive the better for the bees and you and your friends. You'll need to consider the winter weather in your area and which direction the wind comes from. Face the hive entrance away from strong winter. The ideal direction would face somewhere between east and south. It is a good idea that the hive gets some shade in the afternoon in the summer and plenty of sun in the winter months if you live in cold climate. An ideal location is something like under a tree where it will get shade in the summer afternoons (12-3pm) and in the winter it will get sun most of the day when the leaves are gone from the tree. Putting it next to a building or some structure can have the same effect, the east side is best. You may also want to raise it off the ground a few feet so that it is easier to work with. A couple of cinder blocks works well for this.

5) Proper clothing means different things to different beekeepers. When installing the bees they are usually not concerned with stinging since they are more concerned with finding their colony and getting into their new home. But you may want to wear a veil and protective clothing when first starting out with beekeeping. This helps you feel comfortable around the bees allowing more concentration on your task. Purchase a beesuit or wear thick clothing closing all arm and leg sleeves. Wrapping duck tape works well for this.  And if you are in question about being allergic, you should get tested by your doctor.

6) Install the bees: Now it is time to install the bees into your hive. Count 8 top bars from the front of the hive. Take out the next 5 bars. This leaves on opening to install the bees. Whether it's a package of bees you bought or a feral swarm, you will want to make sure the queen is in the hive. If it's a package of bees the queen comes in a separate cage. Place this on top of the hive until you get the other bees into the hive. Give one stern shake of the box and let the bees settle, then if needed give the box another stern shake. There will be bees flying all around hopefully most of them are in the hive. They will soon start to fan, this is the bees calling out to each other that their queen is at this hive and everyone come and get into the new home. This process can take an hour or so. If the queen came in a cage you can put her into the hive with the bees. It is best to unplug the cage and allow her to walk in through the entrance of the hive. Our DVD on beekeeping with the top bar hive demonstrates installing bees.

7) That is it for now! You are setup and ready to be a beekeeper! Let the bees do their thing. It is best not to disturb them for the first few weeks and just observe them from the window and watch them as they carry out their deserved title 'busy as a bee' !