Beekeeping Tips & Terms

Hives should clearly show your beekeeper registration number
Use untreated timber for the hive floor
Treat wood ware with metalex mixed with turps 3:1 and leave for a few days before use
Paint only the outside of beehives and not the entrance way or front part of the base floor board
Cheaper paint can sometimes be purchased from paint retailers by asking for mis-tinted colours
Use fencing staples or a small bit of wood on the runners of the base to act as a guide for the box on top
Mesh bases/floor boards can be used to check for Varroa
Boxes / supers come in three depths – full, ¾, or half
Can have one or two boxes for brood chamber
Each box needs frames sized to suit
Frames can be wooden or plastic or a combination of both
Top board / Hive mat / Crown board
- Sits on top of the top box below the lid
- Can put small holes in the board to reduce dampness in the top box

Used for collecting or splitting a hive
Narrow box with a small entrance
Often has a hole at the back with mesh for ventilation
Is usually only in two pieces box (including base) and lid – this makes transportation easy

Need to check bees have enough stores
If feeding use 2 litres sugar to 1 litre of water but do not use icing sugar
Need to put dried vegetation or wood chips in the liquid so the bees don't drown.
1 feed should last around 10 days
Some commercial bee keepers use dry sugar in August as the liquid can stimulate the bees too early

All about Queens

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