The enjoyment of beekeeping is very much affected by your degree of preparation each time before you visit your apiary. You've heard "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? Well, that's certainly very true in this case.The enjoyment of beekeeping is very much affected by your degree of preparation each time before you visit your apiary. You've heard "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? Well, that's certainly very true in this case.
The amount of preparation required for your visit is determined by what you plan to do at the apiary. Whatever you are going to do, think it through thoroughly first. If you're already there with your suit on, your smoker bellowing, and the hive open, you can't exactly just run back and get something you forgot. So, plan ahead.
If you're planning to open the hives, review the following list of supplies and equipment as a checklist, to ensure you don't forget anything you might need. You will not need everything in this list every time, but go down the list anyway, and keep many things close at hand during your visit. If your apiary is a long distance from your honey house, have these items on hand when you visit the apiary, even if you only plan for a periodic inspection. Then you will have the ability to open the hives if your inspection uncovers problems that you need to attend to immediately.
Syrup to feed the bees if they need it
Pollen supplement to stimulate brood production
Grease patties for tracheal mite control
Extra smoker fuel
Flashlight, for inspecting inside the entrance
Matches or lighter
Extra twine for securing your bee veil, in case yours pops when you bend over
Cute little handheld fan to cool your face through your veil, if you sweat a lot when it's hot
Wheelbarrow to carry stuff from your truck to the bee yard
Water bottle to wash your hands or gloves, or to squeeze on your hot face and in your thirsty mouth
Extra hive bodies or supers, with frames
Clippers, weed-eater, hand saw or trimmers, to keep the vegetation at bay
Inner cover for temporarily covering removed hive boxes, if hive does not have an inner cover (such as when you are using a hive-top feeder)
Oil/grease mixture and brush for painting hive stand legs to stop ants
Medication
Extra honey super or brood box, in case the hive needs to expand; you may use an empty hive box to temporarily store frames from the hive you are servicing
Watering can and jugs of water, to water the bees if they have no other good water source.
Feeding and Watering
Grease Patties
Lighting the Smoker
Opening and Inspecting the Hive
Periodic Apiary Inspections
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