We've taken the work and confusion out of getting started with bees. All you need to do is assemble the bodies, paint the outside and stock it with bees. We recommend 2 coats of high quality exterior paint. Alternatively, hives may be stained & weather treated. We recommend dark & warm colors. Complete Hive Kit (Hive + Tools) - $295 Additional Hive Kit (Hive) - $255 Basic Hive Kit (Short Hive) - $190 Kit Upgrades Pierco to drawn plastic comb: Assembly & Painting Service If you order both bees and equipment we can assemble and paint your hive for a fee. This makes everything ready for you to pickup in one trip. Otherwise, you'll need to make a trip to pickup the equipment, plus assemble and paint the equipment, before picking up the bees. Hive body assembly is $5 per super or hive body. Painting a hive is an additional $60 for a complete or additional hive kit, $55 for a basic kit. We offer the following colors: Caribbean Blue, Slate Blue, Cedar Brown or White.
Recommendations:
· This kit does not include protective equipment like a bee-suit or bee-gloves. We recommend all new beekeepers get this. Please click here.
· Your hive site should be dry, and not exposed to cold winter winds or full direct sun during the summer
· Pollen Patties are a great way to kick start a hive. Hive may build comb up to 50% faster while fed by pollen patties and sugar syrup. Ours have real pollen and are 2 for $5. A hive in the spring could eat up to one per week. A hive in the summer could eat half a patty per week.
· Start with just one hive body and 10 frames. Every 5 to 10 weeks after the start of a new hive you'll add your next super. The second level is still the brood nest where the queen lays her eggs. Feed sugar water at least until all 20 frames are filled out or up to December. Do not feed bees while bees work on (fill) supers from which you plan to harvest honey. Bees need 20 to 22 deep frames of honey and a young queen to survive the winters of NJ. Queens who have lived through 2 winters should be replaced before the third. Winter survival rates increase with younger queens.
· Beekeepers who use only medium or shallow frames do this primarily to reduce the weight they need to lift at one time. We would like to point out, you can always take one frame out at a time if you can’t lift a full 10 frame deep. Additionally, most beekeepers don't move their hive locations.
Installation:
We offer delivery and installation service to your location to help people unable to pick up their bees. We will service locations within 20 mile drive. $10 per hive plus $1 per mile (round trip distance) and tolls. We often work with new beekeepers. During the install you may feel free to ask us questions. Charges are per trip. Due to our limited time, we will not be able to delivery all orders. Additional charges will apply if the install site is not within 15 feet of the driveway.
