How do I get my bees, if I want to start beekeeping?

Question

I have seen all kinds of links on how to raise queens, and where to buy hives, and all kinds of links for buying beekeeping products, but where do I get bees in the first place????

Answer 1

You can do it in two ways:

- Order a box of bees and queen from apiaries, typically in the south (USA)   They will ship to you and you "install" in a prepared hive body.  The queen comes in a little box (about 1"x3/4"x3" with a sugar cake and a couple of worker bees.  The 2,3, or 4 pound bunch of workers will have a can of sugar syrup for nourishment during the trip.  The come in a boot-sized box with window screen stapled to both sides.  I can assure you that you will get a call from the Post Office early in the day to "come get your bees," as soon as they arrive.

- Capture a swarm in your area.  Your local police, sheriff, or beekeeping association might keep of list of people willing to remove swarms from peoples' property.    

In either case, you have to work in the right time of the year, typically mid-spring in your locale.  This would be when the first blossoms start to bloom.

Answer 2

ok,it is not hard to get them into the hive,rather then go on for 20 minuets try browsing howe to attract honey bees....www.ehow.com.good luck.