Beekeeping: Is It a Right Home Based Business?
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Most people when looking for a good home business, most of the time over look the beekeeping option. Apiculture is a good business model, because it is a low cost business, the product is needed, and is environmentally friendly. It's a great way to make extra money for your family, on the other hand producing your own honey, wax and other useful products.
- What you need to start your Beekeeping Business
You really don't need a lot to start this type of business. Not that much space is needed as well, because hives can even be kept in a small garden or even in a rooftop garden. But they should be kept close to plants that produce nectar, like meadow flowers, or clover. Oilseed rape is also liked by bees, so if you are in an area where that is grown, starting a beekeeping business would be a good idea.
Now this doesn't mean it has to be right next door, because bees travel as many as four miles to get their nectar. Once you have picked the area to keep your bees, you need to choose the type of hive you want. The type of hive that is most used in beekeeping is the Langstroth hive, and is named after the inventor. This is the wooden box with frames of wax that come in the honeycomb pattern.
- Start by Learning
When managing a hive, you should manage it in such a way that the honey production is kept at a maximum. It does take some knowledge and skill, and anyone who is thinking about starting a beekeeping business, needs to learn, maybe not everything about beekeeping, only the basics. If you are seriously thinking about this new enterprise, then you should pick up a few books on the subject, and if possible join a local beekeepers association. You will learn a lot from being around other beekeepers.
- The Needed Tools
One good thing about beekeeping is that you don't need a lot of tools, especially if managing around 2 hives. You will need a hive tool, which helps you in opening the hive to inspect it. You will need the hive and the bees. The other equipment needed is beekeeping gear and the smoker box. The smoke box calms the bees, and when you puff some smoke into the hive it calms the bees, and lets you inspect better.
- Getting Your Bee Colony
The easiest way to get your bee hive is to buy a ready made colony, which is bought from beekeeping suppliers. If this way doesn't appeal to you, then you might consider a nucleus, which consists of a queen with workers that come from another colony. You can place them in your hive and then feed them with sugar water until they are established, and ready to find their own nector to feed on.
Finding a bee colony is the 3rd way but is dangerous and involves getting a swarm. You have to find a swarm which has a queen bee and lots of workers. These can be found on trees. You do this by cutting the branch and make the bees fall into your box. Take your box to the hive and lay a sheet on the ground. Then just shake the bees so thy get out of your box onto the sheet and then they will find your hive.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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