Thinking about becoming a beekeeper? Here are some thoughts as to what you need for equipment, bees and accessories.
For example, wooden ware as it is known consist of 8 frame vs 10 frame boxes. Also, do I want to have 2 deep boxes or 1 deep and then medium frame boxes? For starters if you want to maintain boxes that are not as heavy when loaded with honey and bees, I suggest the 8-frame box! Now that you have made that determination the cost will vary, but the results will be the same. HONEY at the end of the second year!
I do not recommend buying from Amazon, or any non-bee companies, you get what you pay for, an inferior product.
10 frame deep box unassembled with nails, bottom board and telescopic metal top, inner cover, 10 wood frames, 10 waxed foundation, one smoker, one basic hive tool, one frame feeder, and finally ultra bee single pollen patties the total cost $199.95.
Bees, do I want a package or a nucleus, and do I want Italians or Carniola’s? Prices for a Packages run much less than a Nuc and have more bees in the bee bus, upwards of 20,000 -30,000 bees. Current price for a package is $155.00.
To buy a nucleus where the queen is laying, there is brood in the cells and the “mini hive” is building a good base, you will spend $250.
These are just to get you started, then you have the everyday cost of buying sugar, mite treatments and other treatments needed to maintain your bees on an ongoing basis! No hobby is cheap or reliant upon mother nature as beekeeping is, however, the rewards are great and the end product, honey is a delicious reward!