Learn what a beekeeping 'deep' is, its role as the hive's brood chamber and pantry, and how it compares to other hive components.
Discover the exact depth of a medium bee box (6 5/8") and how its design simplifies hive management, reduces weight, and boosts efficiency.
Learn how adding a second brood box helps manage swarming by relieving brood nest congestion. Understand the timing, benefits, and common pitfalls.
Learn the ideal number of hive boxes for brood chambers and honey supers, based on season, colony strength, and your beekeeping goals.
Discover why two deep brood boxes is the standard for hive health, swarm prevention, and winter survival. Learn the pros and cons of different setups.
A medium bee box is 6 5/8 inches deep. Learn the pros and cons of this versatile size versus deep and shallow boxes for your beekeeping needs.
Discover why two deep hive bodies is the standard brood chamber setup for colony health, winter survival, and swarm prevention in beekeeping.
A standard deep bee box is 9 9/16 inches (243 mm) deep. Learn how this size impacts brood rearing, honey harvesting, and hive management.
A hive box is the central brood chamber for a honeybee colony. Learn its critical role in beekeeping, how it differs from honey supers, and common mistakes to avoid.
Deep vs. medium bee boxes: compare height, weight, and function. Learn which system is best for your beekeeping goals and physical capabilities.
Discover why two deep boxes is the recommended Langstroth hive configuration for brood space, winter survival, and swarm prevention.
Learn the difference between a hive's total honey production and a beekeeper's sustainable harvest from 10-frame deep and medium boxes.
Learn how to harvest honey sustainably. Discover the factors that determine harvest frequency, from nectar flow to colony health, for maximum yield.
Learn the factors affecting honey yield per hive, from colony health to forage, and the responsible beekeeping practices for a sustainable harvest.
Discover the essential beekeeping equipment checklist: hive components, protective gear, and tools for a safe and successful start to your apiary.
Learn the optimal hive inspection frequency for each season, balancing bee health, swarm prevention, and honey production. A guide for effective apiary management.
Learn the optimal honey harvest frequency for healthy hives. Discover key signs like capped honey and how to avoid over-harvesting risks.
Discover the ideal beehive placement: morning sun, wind protection, and proper drainage for a thriving, productive colony.
Learn the average honey production per hive (60-100 lbs/year), key factors affecting yield, and sustainable harvesting practices for beekeepers.
Start beekeeping right with our guide to the 4 essential equipment categories: the hive, protective gear, basic tools, and sourcing bees.
Learn the key factors for successful honey harvesting, including colony strength, nectar flow, and how to identify a surplus for 2-3 annual harvests.
Discover the ideal native bee hive location: morning sun for activity, deep afternoon shade to prevent hive meltdown. Learn expert placement tips for a thriving colony.
Learn the essential steps to successfully install a package or nuc, ensure queen acceptance, and build a thriving honey bee colony for your apiary.
Learn how to protect wooden beehives from moisture and insects to extend their lifespan beyond the 10-year average. Essential tips for commercial beekeepers.
Learn the difference between a bee brood box and a honey super. A Langstroth hive is a modular system critical for modern beekeeping success.
Discover why the Langstroth hive is the easiest choice for beginners, offering standardized parts, abundant resources, and a smooth learning curve.
Learn the complete process for installing a package of bees into a new hive, from preparation and placement to post-installation care for colony survival.
Learn proven methods to attract bees to a new hive box, including scent lures, drawn comb, and techniques for splits or bait hives. Boost your beekeeping success.
Learn the 3 keys to attracting solitary bees to a bee house: correct placement, proximity to pollen-rich flowers, and providing essential building materials.
Learn proven methods to attract honey bee swarms using strategic placement, powerful scents like lemongrass oil, and the right bait hive setup.
Learn why a queen bee cannot survive alone and the correct methods for starting a new honeybee colony, from packages to nucs.
Learn why a queen bee alone cannot start a hive and the two proven methods for successfully establishing a new bee colony.
Learn the precise terms for beehive compartments, from honeycomb cells to supers. Essential knowledge for beekeepers and apiary managers.
Discover the three castes of bees, honeycomb architecture, and the vital roles of brood, honey, and pollen inside a thriving beehive.
Learn the core purpose of a beehive: a climate-controlled fortress that protects the queen, brood, and resources for a thriving colony.
Learn the seasonal time commitment for beekeeping, from a beginner's first year to managing a honey-producing side business.
Compare Langstroth, Top Bar, and Flow Hives for beginners. Learn the pros, cons, and which hive is best for your beekeeping goals.
Discover why honey bees swarm, a natural process for colony reproduction. Learn how to identify and manage this key beekeeping behavior.
Learn how to attract bees to a new box using scent lures like lemongrass oil, proper hive volume, and strategic placement to mimic an ideal home for scout bees.
Learn why an empty bee box won't attract bees and discover the proven methods, like using bait hives, to reliably start your colony.
Learn why a queen bee alone isn't enough to start a hive and discover the two proven methods for successfully establishing a new colony.
Compare Langstroth, Top Bar, and Flow hives for beginners. Find the best beehive for your goals in honey production, natural beekeeping, or ease of harvest.
Discover the types of beekeeping boxes, from deep brood chambers to honey supers. Learn the differences between 8-frame and 10-frame hives.
Discover the real challenges of starting beekeeping, from the initial investment to the learning curve and mental hurdles. Learn how to succeed.
Learn the realistic timeline for mastering beekeeping, from foundational first year to confident colony management. Get started with expert guidance.
Learn how to legally and responsibly keep a bee hive in your backyard. Discover key steps for placement, neighbor relations, and hive management.
Discover why beekeeping is harder than it looks, from varroa mite management to the steep learning curve. Essential reading for new beekeepers.
Compare polystyrene vs. wood insulation. Polystyrene offers 3-8x higher R-value for superior thermal control in non-structural applications.
Compare wood, polystyrene, and plastic beehives. Find the best material for your budget, climate, and beekeeping goals with our expert guide.
Learn why not removing honey from a hive leads to swarming, disease spread, and colony decline. Essential reading for responsible beekeepers.
Learn the key difference between acute (less than 6 weeks) and chronic (6+ weeks) urticaria hives and how to manage each type effectively.
Polystyrene isn't an acute poison but causes sub-lethal harm like weight loss in bees. Learn the risks and how to protect your hives.
Polystyrene hives offer 8x better insulation than wood, leading to healthier colonies, higher honey yields, and less beekeeper maintenance.
Learn why winterizing is essential for hive survival. Our guide covers food management, moisture control, and wind protection for healthy colonies.
Learn the critical temperature for beehives, how the winter cluster works, and key factors like honey stores and ventilation for colony survival.
Discover why starting with two beehives is the best strategy for new beekeepers, enabling resource sharing and providing a critical safety net for colony health.
Discover the key differences between long hives and top bar hives. Learn about comb management, honey extraction, and which horizontal hive is best for your beekeeping goals.
Compare polystyrene vs. wood beehives: superior insulation, lighter weight, and lower maintenance for thriving colonies and efficient apiaries.
Discover why polystyrene hives last decades without rotting, their vulnerabilities to UV and physical damage, and key management practices for maximum longevity.
Discover why polystyrene beehives offer 8x better insulation than wood, leading to improved winter survival, faster spring buildup, and increased honey production.
Discover the best winter bee hives: compare Warré, Horizontal, and Langstroth designs for superior moisture control and heat retention to protect your colony.
Learn the key role of hive insulation in managing condensation and temperature stability for successful wintering, not just warmth.
Explore the pros and cons of plastic beehives vs. wood. Discover key benefits like superior insulation, pest resistance, and ease of handling.
Compare Langstroth and Top-bar beehives: key differences in honey production, inspection effort, and cost for commercial and hobbyist beekeepers.
Discover the top bar hive: a horizontal, foundationless bee hive that promotes natural beekeeping with no heavy lifting. Learn its pros, cons, and components.
Discover the key benefits of top bar beehives: eliminate heavy lifting, reduce back strain, and enjoy less intrusive hive inspections for a more natural beekeeping experience.
Explore the pros and cons of top bar hives vs. Langstroth hives for natural comb, ease of use, and honey production. Find the right system for your apiary.
Compare Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) and Langstroth beehives for your Kenyan apiary. Learn about cost, yield, bee health, and climate suitability.
Discover how the Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) enables active colony management, sustainable harvesting, and higher honey quality versus traditional log hives.
Compare Langstroth, Top-Bar, and Warre beehives. Learn about their designs, management styles, and which is best for your beekeeping goals.
Learn the best methods for feeding bees in a Layens hive, from using honey frames to in-hive sugar syrup feeders for colony survival and growth.
A horizontal beehive is called a long hive. Learn its benefits for easier management, natural comb building, and reduced heavy lifting for beekeepers.
Learn the ideal beehive orientation (southeast) and key principles for morning sun, wind protection, and heat management to boost your apiary's success.
Discover the key benefits of horizontal hives: complete elimination of heavy lifting, simplified inspections, and enhanced accessibility for all beekeepers.
Learn how many jars of honey a hive can produce. Key factors include hive health, nectar flow, and proper beekeeping practices for optimal yield.
Discover the top bar hive's key benefits: no heavy lifting, natural comb building, and less invasive hive management for a calmer beekeeping experience.
Learn how much honey a healthy hive can produce, from 25-100 lbs, and the key factors that determine your sustainable harvest.
Discover why the Langstroth hive is the top choice for maximum honey production. Learn how its expandable design outperforms fixed-cavity hives like the Top Bar.
Learn the difference between a Langstroth frame's top bar and a Top-Bar Hive system. Essential knowledge for beekeepers choosing equipment.
Explore the key differences between Langstroth and top bar hives, including design, management, and honey production, to choose the right hive for your beekeeping goals.
Compare Kenya Top-Bar and Langstroth hives: discover which is best for honey production, accessibility, and natural beekeeping.
Discover the long hive, a horizontal beehive design that eliminates heavy lifting and mimics natural bee habitats for a more accessible beekeeping experience.
Explore the pros and cons of horizontal hives for beekeepers. Learn if their ergonomic design and simplified management are right for your apiary.
Discover what a top bar hive (TBH) is, its core principles, advantages, and key trade-offs for natural, low-impact beekeeping.
Top bar hives yield 3-5 gallons of honey per year. Understand the trade-off between honey production, simplicity, and valuable beeswax harvest.
Discover the top bar hive's key benefits: eliminates heavy lifting, promotes natural bee behavior, and simplifies honey harvesting without expensive equipment.
Learn the critical 32–36°C brood nest temperature range and how to support your bees' natural cooling mechanisms during a heatwave.
Discover why a proper hive roof is critical for protecting bees from weather, regulating temperature, and ensuring colony health and productivity.
Learn the ideal beehive orientation (southeast) and key site factors like wind protection and drainage for a thriving, productive colony.
Learn how to choose the right hive stand and location. Get tips on ground preparation, pest control, and ideal siting for a thriving bee colony.
Learn how to attract solitary bees to a bee house by providing essential resources like food, water, and building materials, not by using lures or baits.
Learn the most effective methods to attract a honeybee swarm to a new hive using pheromone lures, lemongrass oil, and proper hive placement techniques.
Learn the best lures for a bee box, from lemongrass oil for swarms to sugar water for new packages. Attract the right bees for your beekeeping objective.
Discover why 6-7 feet is the ideal height for a bee house to protect solitary bees from predators and moisture while ensuring easy access.
Discover the ideal hive stand height (16-18 inches) to deter pests, protect your back, and ensure colony health. Learn the key factors for your apiary.
Discover the ideal 16-18 inch beehive height for pest control, hive health, and beekeeper comfort. Learn the risks of incorrect placement.
Discover why a hive stand is crucial for bee health, pest control, and reducing physical strain. Learn how it protects your hive and your back.
Discover why metal roofs are essential for beehives, providing unmatched waterproofing, durability, and protection against rot and UV damage.
Discover the ideal 12-18 inch hive stand height range for optimal pest protection, beekeeper ergonomics, and hive health. Find the right balance for your needs.
Discover the ideal beehive stand height (12-18 inches) for pest protection, moisture control, and ergonomic beekeeping. Learn the trade-offs of different heights.