Site location for your apiary is important. It is best to start with TWO hives.

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You will need a hive stand to elevate the hives off the ground. Not too high because you will need to stack the hive with brood boxes, honey supers and this will be difficult to inspect as the hive grows. A stand can be made from masonry blocks, online prebuilt purchased stands or you can custom build your own based on your apiary size. You must consider the weight of the hives as they will become very heavy as honey stores build up.

 

DO NOT PLACE YOUR HIVES ON A WEAK STAND.

I learned from experience!!! Luckily one side of the stand didn't collapse-WOW.

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Ground preparation.

You will need something under the hives to assist in prevention of hive beetles accessing the soil under the hives. This will lessen the opportunity for reproduction. 

Weeds--keep the area around and under your hives clean and maintained. I have seen roofing shingles used, rubber mats, landscape fabric and tarps.

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Fencing.

You must protect against predators-Bears. 

 

Electric fence chargers with an output of 2 joules will give a good jolt to send bears in NJ on their way. You can use a plug in-AC powered fence chargers or if your apiary is remote then you need to choose a solar fence charger.

Grounding is most important with electric fencing.You can ground your fencing two ways.

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There is a hot fence where the wires of the fencing act as a hot and ground--or you can install the fencing so that each wire is hot and the ground rods will work as the ground. This all depends on your soil and the rocks in the soil whether or not you can get a ground rod deployed.

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Pest fencing.

We recommend installing a pest fence around your apiary as an added measure against entry into your apiary. Pest fencing is in addition to the electric fencing.

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Gates--make sure your gate is wide enough to easily move your hives in and out.

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Consider your neighbors.

If your hives are in a close proximity to your neighbors-I recommend the following.

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1. Place hives at least 15 feet from the property line.

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2. Install 6 foot tall fencing or tall shrubs to force bees to fly higher in areas of close borders.

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3. Face entrances away from neighbors property.

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4. Provide a water source to keep bees away from your neighbors pools etc.

 

5. Purchase your first population of honeybees.

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1. A NUC (nucleus) contains a box with 5 frames of honey, pollen, and brood.With mated laying queen. Also found online or at your local beekeeper.

For new beekeepers starting an apiary this is your best option. The NUCs come with frames of comb already built on foundation. 

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2. Packages of bees. No frames. With mated laying queen.Usually about 3 pounds worth of bees. You can find these online or at your local beekeeper.

Typically you will start a hive with a package of bees if you lost a hive over the winter or you have extra built frames with comb that can be used.

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