Beekeeping, like every other activity, has its own dos and don’ts. Beginning beekeeping usually involves buying bees and the needed equipment. However, some people who are beginning this hobby usually make a few mistakes. It is okay to make mistakes, and this article can help new beekeepers avoid making the same mistakes others have in the past.
Here are three mistakes which every beekeeper should avoid:
1. Not knowing the best time to start a beekeeping business or hobby can prove to be a disaster. It can lead to a loss of money and your bees. Winter is the worst possible time to start, since most bees die during the winter. This would force a beekeeper to buy a new batch of bees, which would cost more money. Autumn is another poor time to begin beekeeping, since there are fewer flowers, thus a smaller amount of honey harvested. The best time to begin beekeeping is during summer, which is the time of the year where there are plenty of blooming flowers.
2. Buying used equipment and old books on beekeeping. This is a common mistake made by many beginning beekeepers. It is understandable that one would want to save money as much as possible, but buying used equipment and old beekeeping books isn’t a good idea. First, used equipment can come with “inherited” problems. The extractor outlet might have a leak, or the uncapping knife might not be sharp enough to uncap all the wax in one go. This would certainly affect the quality of one’s honey, which isn’t an ideal situation especially if a beekeeper is planning to start a honey-selling business. Second, old books can provide outdated information on beekeeping. One might be stuck using the traditional method when there are faster and better ways to maintain beehives and manufacture honey.
3. Refraining from buying protective gear. Think about this. If one doesn’t wear protective gear when handling the hives and collecting the honeycombs, he/she will most likely come out as a pincushion with all the bee stingers stuck to their body. Protective gear is expensive, yes, but it will help beekeepers avoid having to pay medical bills from all the bee stings.
These three mistakes have been presented here to help future beekeepers avoid them. Before getting started beekeeping, it is best to consult a professional beekeeper. If buying a certain item seems too expensive, always think about the end cost (if they don’t buy this item now, will it cost them more later on?). In the end, it is up to the person to decide the best course of action.
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