Whether you are just starting to invite bees into your garden or are an established beekeeper already reaping the sweet rewards, you know that it is important to ensure your bees are happy and healthy! Here are 7 tips that will help your bees not only survive, but thrive this season.
#1 Purchase clean hives and equipment
It is important to purchase clean hives and equipment to avoid disease. If you are new to beekeeping, the Little Giant® 10-Frame Deluxe Beginner Hive Kit will set you up with everything you need to keep your bees secure, healthy, and happy!
Little Giant® 10-Frame Deluxe Beginner Hive Kit
- Contains everything you need to get started beekeeping in one box
- Features our Little Giant 10-frame Langstroth hive with frames and foundation installed
- Includes gloves, veil, smoker, smoker fuel, bee brush, hive tool and frame feeder
- Also includes complete instructions and the book Beekeeping for Dummies
- Just add a package of honeybees
#2 Keep apiary equipment clean
Cleaning your equipment regularly can prevent pests and disease from taking over your hive. Make sure to clean smokers, hive tools, and other apiary equipment of any accumulations of wax, propolis, or honey before starting a new hive.
#3 Provide water for a hydrated hive
Just like all other creatures, bees need to have constant access to a safe and clean water source. Keep a shallow dish or bird bath that provides a safe space to land nearby.
#4 Plant lots of flowers
Ensure your bees’ happiness by planting lots of flowers that they can use as sugars and proteins from the nectar and pollen. They need these to grow healthy and reproduce, so be sure to not only plant an abundance, but also a variety that bloom at different times and different heights. Not every bee eats the same!
#5 Let the air flow
When temperatures start heating up, it is important to let the air flow to prevent your hive from overheating and the honey melting. This could both ruin your honey crop and your bees’ winter food supply! You can prevent this by using the Little Giant® Beehive Screened Bottom Board and Inner Cover.
Little Giant® Beehive Screened Bottom Board
- Screened bottom board with mite grid for easy mite counts
- Great for extra ventilation for your hive
- Solid wood construction with screened bottom
- Comes with plastic corrugated mite board
- Works with all Little Giant® 10-frame Hives
Little Giant® Beehive Inner Cover
- Adds extra ventilation and reduces condensation in your hive
- Keeps outer cover from sticking to the hive boxes
- Adds an extra measure of insulation
- Made of 1/2″ plywood with tongue and groove framing
- Hole in top correct size for use with Little Giant® Bee Escape (sold separately)
#6 Expand the hive when necessary
When your busy bees have filled up the frames with bees and brood, it is time to expand your hive! You can simply add the Little Giant® 1-Frame Medium or Deep Box Super right on top of your current hive.
Little Giant® 10-Frame Medium Super
- Can be used as a Brood Box or Honey Super
- Fits a 10-frame standard Langstroth Hive, made of unfinished pine
- Precision-milled interlocking box joints for maximum strength
- 10 frames with wax-coated, natural-colored plastic foundation installed
- Completely assembled, ready to use no tools required
Little Giant® 10-Frame Deep Box Super
- Can be used as a Brood Box or Honey Super
- Fits a 10-frame standard Langstroth Hive, made of unfinished pine
- Precision-milled interlocking box joints for maximum strength
- 10 frames with wax-coated plastic foundation installed
- Black foundation provides easier viewing of hive activity
- Completely assembled, ready to use no tools required
#7 Inspect regularly and stay alert
When it comes to monitoring your bees’ overall health and happiness, bee-ing alert and performing regular hive inspections are key. Keep an eye out for beehive pests and diseases that may develop and prevent your bees from being healthy and happy.
For more tips, check out “How to Keep Bees Calm” from Beekeeping Like A Girl.
Already using products from our Little Giant® Beekeeping collection? Show us how your hives are doing!
hello do bees get sick
Honey bees are infected with many different kinds of viruses. However, most virus infections are not problematic, if the honey bee colony is healthy and does not experience chronic stress.