Backyard Beekeeping 101: All You Need to Know (porch.com)

All beehives must be registered with the Department of Primary Industries in your State.

What you need to get started :

Please note that some items will need to be assembled as they are sold in kit form.

DPI Pack Registration forms etc QLD Free.

Bee boxes or "supers" as they are known come in 2 sizes. The smaller size can hold 8 frames and the larger can hold 10 frames. A double bee box is basically 2 of the single boxes stacked on top of each other. The double will hold twice as many frames according to the size chosen ie 2 x 8 frames or 2 x 10 frames. The double box also comes with a Queen excluder.

Single Box Starter Kit (8 frames or 10 frames) - FLAT PACK

• 1 x Bottom Board 
• 1 x Super (which is the main box) 
• 1 x Lid
• 8 or 10 Frames with eyelets inserted (Full Depth)
• 8 or 10 Sheets of Full Depth Foundation (Wax Sheets) 
• Entrance Closer
• Hive lock & strap
• Roll of Wire 
• Pack of Tacks 
• 65mm x 2.8mm Nails
• 25mm x 1.4mm Nails
• Spur wheel Embedder
• Embedding Board

Double Box Starter Kit (2 x 8 frames or 2 x 10 frames) - FLAT PACK

• 1 x Bottom Board 
• 2 x Supers (which are the main boxes) 
• 1 x Plastic Excluder
• 1 x Lid
• 16 or 20 Frames with eyelets inserted (Full Depth)
• 16 or 20 Sheets of Full Depth Foundation (Wax sheets) 
• Entrance Closer
• Hive lock & strap
• Roll of Wire 
• Pack of Tacks 
• 65mm x 2.8mm Nails
• 25mm x 1.4mm Nails
• Spur wheel Embedder
• Embedding Board

Single Box Starter Kit (8 frames or 10 frames) - ASSEMBLED

• 1 x Bottom Board 
• 1 x Super (which is the main box) 
• 1 x Lid
• 8 or 10 Wired frames with foundation attached
• Entrance Closer
• Hive lock & strap

Double Box Starter Kit (2 x 8 frames or 2 x 10 frames) - ASSEMBLED

• 1 x Bottom Board 
• 2 x Supers (which are the main boxes) 
• 1 x Plastic Excluder
• 1 x Lid
• 16 or 20 Wired frames with foundation attached
• Entrance Closer
• Hive lock & strap

For a list of available starter kits and prices see our catalogue here.  

Starter Kits

Once the hive is assembled and painted you are ready to introduce the bees known as a (nucleus) around $130.00 - $200.00 depending on the beekeeper.

Protective clothing options:

•  Gloves (prices start from $26.00)
•  Veil (prices start from $17.00)
•  Jacket (prices start from $129.00
•  Full suit (prices start from $165.00)

Tools:

•  Bee brush $12.70
•  Hive tool (prices start from $18.00)
•  Smoker (prices start from $45.00)

Extracting equipment:

•  Cappings scratcher (prices start from $24.00)
•  Plain knife $22.00
•  Electric knife $239.30
•  Extractor (prices start from $310.00)

How do I get a hive of bees?

The simplest way is to buy a single hive from a local beekeeper. This will consist of a brood box and lid, eight or ten frames, a queen and around 15,000 worker bees.

The downside, for a new beekeeper, is the difficulty of inspecting the brood and finding the queen, in a fully populated hive.

A better way to learn, is to buy the box, frames, lid etc and assemble the brood box yourself. Then purchase a nucleus hive which consists of 4 or 5 drawn combs, a young queen and sufficient bees to cover the frames. You place these in the brood box you have made.

With the nucleus hive, it is easier for a beginner to observe the hive, inspect the frames and find the queen.

Experienced beekeepers often capture a swarm to start a new hive. This is not recommended for beginners.

Joining a local beekeeping club is highly recommended. A book with clear diagrams/ pictures and relevant to your country is also of great value. In Australia "The Bee Book", published by the Queensland DPI (Dept Primary Industries), is an excellent manual. We normally stock this book, and a list of local clubs.