Starting a beehive in your backyard is one of the most rewarding and fascinating projects you can undertake.
At Vegas Bees, Pete and I began with a single hive several years ago, and we’ve been completely captivated ever since.
The experience of watching honeybees work their magic—pollinating flowers, creating golden honey, and thriving as a small, interconnected community—is always fun for us.
It’s a journey that extends far beyond just honey; it's a connection to nature and provides continuous learning, and a meaningful way to contribute positively to our environment.
If you’re contemplating starting a hive, we're eager to share our knowledge and guide you towards becoming a successful backyard beekeeper.
We’ll walk you through each step, from initial planning to the joy of harvesting your own liquid gold, providing insights that blend our personal experiences with practical advice.
Why We Started Beekeeping (And Why You Might Want To)
The rewards of beekeeping extend far beyond the delicious honey. For us, it began with a deep desire to support local pollinators, contribute to a healthier environment, and for Pete to deal with his fear of bees.
Honeybees are important not only for honey production but also for the reproduction of numerous plants, including many of the fruits and vegetables that form the basis of our diet.
By keeping bees, you are taking a step in supporting the health and diversity of your local ecosystem. Our bees are always working the neighborhood we live in and they keep the vegetation looking nice and healthy.
Beyond these environmental benefits, beekeeping allows for a unique, and sometimes lost, connection with nature. Observing the social structures within a bee colony, their tireless work habits, and their dedication to the hive is incredibly rewarding.
You gain a front-row seat to witness nature’s most complex and fascinating systems at work. And of course, there’s nothing quite like tasting the honey from your own backyard – a sweet reward for you and your bees’ collective hard work.
The taste of locally produced honey is a unique taste of your area that you just can't find in a store.
It’s important to realize that beekeeping is also a significant responsibility. Bees are living creatures that somewhat depend on you for their well-being and proper care. Before you commit, acknowledge that this is not a hobby you can set and forget.
Beekeeping demands ongoing learning, commitment, and a readiness to adapt to the challenges it brings. However, when approached with the right preparation, dedication, and a dash of patience, the rewards that beekeeping offers are immeasurable.
Step 1: Planning Your Hive Setup – Laying the Foundation for Success
Starting a hive requires careful and thorough planning, and it's so much more than just buying a box and adding bees. Here’s what we think is essential before you begin:
Understanding Local Regulations: Before making any purchases, it's essential to investigate your local ordinances regarding beekeeping. Regulations can vary significantly between locations, from requirements for hive registration and limits on the number of hives you can keep, to rules for hive placement, including setbacks from property lines. Some areas also have requirements to ensure you’re keeping bees in a way that doesn’t become a nuisance to neighbors. These regulations exist to encourage responsible beekeeping and promote community harmony. Contact your local zoning office, agricultural extension, or even a local beekeeping association for specific information that applies to your situation. We can't stress enough how important it is to understand your local regulations to avoid potential fines and issues.
Considering Your Neighbors: Engaging with your neighbors about your plans is crucial. Some may be curious and others may have concerns. Explain the benefits of beekeeping, such as improved pollination for gardens, to alleviate potential fears. Open communication and transparency are key. It's especially important to speak with anyone who has bee allergies or a fear of bees. These discussions before any surprises arise can help your neighbors feel safe, and make them more likely to appreciate your contribution to the local environment.
Step 2: Choosing the Perfect Location – Creating the Ideal Bee Home
The location you choose for your hive can dramatically impact the health and productivity of your bees. Based on our experience, considering the following factors is crucial:
Sunlight and Orientation: Position your hive so that the entrance faces south or southeast to capture the early morning sunlight. This provides needed warmth to the colony, helping to raise the temperature in the brood chamber to an optimal level for developing larvae.
Protection from the Elements: It’s important to protect the hive from harsh winds and excessive rain. Natural windbreaks such as shrubs, fences, or walls can work very effectively, keeping your hive dry and warm, thus reducing stress on the colony.
Elevation Off the Ground: You should keep the hive off the ground by using a sturdy stand or platform. This not only improves ventilation and reduces moisture but also deters pests like ants and rodents. A little elevation can make a big difference.
Ease of Access: Ensure your hive is placed in an area that is easy for you to access for inspections, maintenance, and eventually harvesting honey. Make sure there is enough space around the hive so you can comfortably work, and ensure there are no obstructions close to the front of the hive which could disrupt the bee’s flight path.
Consider the Flight Path: When the bees leave, they typically will fly upward first, and when they arrive, they will be coming downwards. Because of this, you should place the hive where their flight path doesn't take them near high traffic areas such as decks, walkways, or pools.
Access to Water: Bees require a reliable source of fresh water for cooling the hive, producing honey, and maintaining a healthy colony. Provide a shallow dish, birdbath, or tray filled with pebbles near the hive so the bees can land safely while drinking.
Remember, selecting an ideal location can greatly impact your colony's success and well-being. Consider the health and needs of your bees when you select a site.
Step 3: Equipping Yourself for Beekeeping – Essential Gear
Beekeeping does require an initial investment in essential equipment, and choosing durable, quality gear that will last is most important. Here's what we believe you'll need to start your beekeeping journey:
The Langstroth Hive: This hive design is a popular choice for beginners because of its ease of management and modular design. It's constructed of several key components including: the bottom board, which forms the base of the hive and often has a screened bottom for ventilation; the brood boxes where the bees live, build their comb, and raise their young, holding several frames; frames with foundation made from beeswax or plastic which fit into the boxes and provide a template for the bees to build their comb; honey supers which are placed on top of the brood boxes for honey storage and are shallower to make them lighter; the inner cover which sits on top and allows for airflow; and the outer cover, which is a weatherproof lid to protect the hive from the elements and provide shade.
Protective Gear: It's important to invest in a good quality, full bee suit with elasticated cuffs and ankles. It should be made from a thick, breathable material like cotton or mesh. You will also need a good veil and gloves thick enough to prevent stings, yet flexible enough to handle your tools. Remember that protecting yourself is important.
The Smoker: A smoker is essential for calming the bees during hive inspections. The smoke disrupts the bees' alarm pheromones, reducing the chances of them becoming aggressive.
The Hive Tool: This small, multi-purpose metal tool is essential for prying apart hive boxes and frames, which often stick together with propolis, a sticky substance the bees produce. Gently slide the flat edge of the tool into a gap and apply a gentle pressure to separate parts.
Feeders: You may need syrup feeders to provide supplemental sugar syrup for your bees, particularly in early spring, late fall, or during nectar shortages. There are many types of feeders. Top feeders, frame feeders, and entrance feeders are all common choices, and there are many online vendors that can provide you with detailed information about how to use them.
Other Helpful Tools: Consider buying a brush for moving bees gently and a queen catcher for safely handling the queen during inspections. A frame grip can also be invaluable for safely and securely lifting out frames of honeycomb, and is particularly useful when the frames are full of honey.
The initial cost for a hive, bees, and essential tools will be between $450 and $700, but you can reduce costs if you shop around for deals or by buying some used gear (though thoroughly cleaning used items is essential).
Step 4: Ordering and Introducing Your Bees – Welcoming Your New Colony
As spring approaches, it’s time to order your bees. We recommend that you order them in advance of when you expect them to arrive, usually during the winter months, as suppliers tend to sell out very quickly.
Choosing Your Bees: We recommend Italian honeybees for beginners because of their gentle temperament, good honey production, and lower tendency to swarm. There are other types of bees you can choose, but be sure to research what is best for your region and your needs. Bees are usually sold as a package, which includes a queen in her cage and a few pounds of worker bees. Look for reputable vendors in your area.
Introducing the Bees: First, assemble your hive with the frames installed. Gently open the bee package and pour them into the hive - they will naturally begin to make their way to the frames. Then carefully suspend the queen cage between two frames, leaving the candy plug intact. This will allow the worker bees time to adjust to her pheromones while they chew through the candy plug over a few days to release her. Finally, place a syrup feeder in the hive with a 1:1 mix of sugar and water, so the colony has resources as they begin building comb. Close up the hive, and give them around a week to settle before attempting your first inspection.
Step 5: Supporting Hive Growth – Ensuring Your Bees Thrive
Bees are incredibly productive, and their colony can grow rapidly. Providing enough space and resources is a key responsibility.
Expanding the Hive: When your bees have filled seven out of ten frames in a 10-frame Langstroth brood box with brood or stored resources like honey and pollen, it’s time to add another box. This simple action prevents overcrowding and reduces the risk of swarming, which happens when part of the colony leaves to establish a new hive elsewhere.
Supplemental Feeding: Apart from the nectar and pollen that they collect from flowers, bees sometimes require supplemental feeding. We use a 1:1 mix of sugar and water as a supplemental feed in early spring or late fall. You should also ensure that the bees always have access to fresh, clean water.
Step 6: Continuous Learning – Expanding Your Beekeeping Knowledge
Beekeeping is an ongoing journey, and the commitment to continuous learning is key to your success.
Join Local Beekeeping Groups: These groups are invaluable for accessing advice, troubleshooting tips, and a sense of community.
Take Workshops: Hands-on workshops such as the ones that we offer at Vegas Bees, can help beginners feel confident with the practical side of beekeeping.
Keep Detailed Records: Track all of your inspections, weather conditions, honey production, and any other changes you might observe. Patterns will emerge over time, allowing you to anticipate issues.
Be Observant: Bees communicate through their behaviors. Learning to "read" your hive and recognize the signs is key to noticing problems early.
Addressing Common Questions:
Time Commitment: For a single hive or two, plan to dedicate about one or two hours each week to inspections and routine maintenance. Time demands increase during the honey harvest and when dealing with swarm control.
Backyard Beekeeping: Absolutely! Even small urban backyards can support a healthy hive as long as you have proper placement and manage your bees carefully.
Stinging: Honeybees are generally docile if left undisturbed. By positioning your hive away from high-traffic areas, you can minimize interaction and reduce the risk of stings.
Harvesting Your Honey – The Sweetest Reward
After a year of establishment, it's time to reap the rewards of your and the bees' hard work by harvesting your honey.
Wait for Capped Honey: Always harvest honey from frames that are mostly capped with wax – this tells you that it is ripe and has the correct moisture content.
Remove the Bees: Use a bee escape board, bee blower, or even a fume board to encourage the bees to leave the honey boxes before harvesting, which will reduce the likelihood of being stung.
Uncapping and Extraction: Use an uncapping knife or fork to slice off the thin layer of wax that seals each honeycomb cell. Then, use a honey extractor to spin the honey from the combs, which allows the bees to reuse the wax again.
Filtering and Bottling: Strain the extracted honey through a fine mesh filter to remove any impurities, and then bottle it in clean jars for storage. Remember that you must leave sufficient honey for the bees to see themselves through the winter.
Final Thoughts – A Journey Worth Taking
Starting a backyard hive is a journey filled with discovery, responsibility, and immense joy. We’ve learned from our experience at Vegas Bees that each hive is unique, and each season brings new lessons and surprises. We know that with the right approach, dedication, and ongoing learning, you will find beekeeping to be one of the most fulfilling hobbies.
If you’re prepared to start your beekeeping journey, dive in—we are here to support you each step of the way.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
Education is an ongoing journey, especially in a dynamic field such as beekeeping. That's why we continually update our knowledge base, collaborate with other experts, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.