Reddit reviews The Backyard Beekeeper, 4th Edition: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden
We found 3 Reddit comments about The Backyard Beekeeper, 4th Edition: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Grab a book, then study said book, then buy some equipment and some bees.
Immediate disclaimer: There is a ton of stuff that can go catastrophically wrong within a beehive, and you have to be prepared to take action when you find those things. It is not easy or hands-off, contrary to what some people may think. You're gonna get stung. You're gonna lose hives. You're gonna be frustrated, sad, and sometimes just baffled at things that are completely out of your control.
That being said, I don't keep bees commercially and I only ever have 3-4 hives each year (1-2 of which are very small "contingency" hives) so it doesn't take up too much time - maybe an hour or two a weekend depending on if I am doing inspections with friends.
It's easy to get lazy with beekeeping though, and there is some seriously awful shit that can happen that should never be left unattended for any extended period of time (and you usually are required by law to burn the whole hive, equipment and all).
You use the smoker when you go into the hive to check it out. What the smoke does is it tells the bees that there's a fire (forest fire for example) and that they are in need of danger. Therefore, their goal is not to defend the hive (sting you, therefore they die) but to eat their honey and salvage what they can before the fire gets there. Don't worry - they won't actually run away from your hive ha! It's a distraction tool
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I'm a first year beekeeper so I feel like I can give you any advice you may have since sometimes veteran's advice is good but they can use words and processes that confuse a newbie like you and me. So, ask anything you need and keep in touch.
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The bee group/company you called should have everything you need. Definitely go to them for advice. Idk if they're into sales (most aren't) but you really don't need anything than this below FOR NOW:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BHKH29B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- the little plastic bottle thing is your feeder. make a 1:1 sugar (granulated pure cane) to water mix and boil it until it dissolves. Cool it down (time + ice) and then give it to your bees in a beer bottle flipped upside down into the plastic bottle feeder - it goes in the bottom of your hive area; the entrance. It will all make sense when you get your stuff and see it. Gloves, head gear, scraper, and feeder. You're good to start!
of course make sure you get frames and wax foundation - did that come in your kit? I assume so.
Idk what that yellow thing is but you don't need it for now.
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This is a good book. I LIKED it but didn't love it. It's informative but it didn't really get me ready for beekeeping honestly. I think it would be better if I read it 4 months in now than starting out.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1631593323/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=basics+of+beekeeping+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIoaJFMUu4Q
I got The Backyard Beekeeper when I started out and I thought it was very helpful and informative. One of my friends got Beekeeping For Dummies when she started and she really liked that one