Equipment Needed
BASIC EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO START YOUR BEEKEEPING JOURNEY
As a new beekeeper you can spend a lot of money on equipment. Here is a list of the few essentials that you will need to get started. Once you have these and you gain confidence and a better understanding you can then add further items as and when you decide.
TO PROTECT YOU
Bee Suit or Jacket with hat/veil.
Bees tend to attack the face of mammalian intruders, thus, protective clothing is an essential tool for beekeepers. We would encourage all beginners use at least a jacket and hat/veil combination. Better still, a full body bee suit for additional protection. There are many options on the market and prices can vary depending on what you want.
Boots
Wellington boots are the best option as the bee suit/trouser can be tucked in to protect the legs.
Gloves
Beekeeping gloves are made of soft leather or other tough but flexible materials to protect against stings without jeopardizing comfort or manoeuvrability of the fingers.
TO WORK ON THE BEES YOU WILL NEED:
Hive Tool
Your hive tool is one of your most critical pieces of equipment. Bees glue everything in the hive together with their resin-like propolis. This requires the beekeeper to pry the seal open with a hive tool. A hive tool allows you to detach comb from hive sides, cut and scrape propolis, and pry frames.
Smoker and Fuel
A smoker is an invaluable tool for all beekeepers as it makes aggressive bees more docile. Primarily, smoke makes honeybees believe there may be a wildfire nearby. This prompts them to eat as much honey as they can in preparation for a potential move. Honeybees are more docile with a full stomach due to physical difficulty in tipping their abdomens up to sting. Smoke also masks the alarm pheromone given off by guard bees, minimizing the defensive reactions of the colony. Experienced bee keepers will use various types of fuel in their smoker but as a beginner loosely rolled cardboard will suffice.
Bee Brush
This allows you to sweep bees off frames whilst working with the bees.
Queen Cage
To enable you to capture and mark queens.