Tips from the Dadant & Sons How to Start a Bee Smoker Video Learning how to start a bee smoker — and keep it lit — is an essential skill for all beekeepers. Start With a High-Quality Smoker A bee smoker is one of the most important tools for working with a colony of honeybees. The Dadant Smoker 4 X 7 Stainless Steel …
When it’s time to install package bees, make sure you have all your equipment and supplies ready before you begin! Tips from the Dadant & Sons How to Install Package Bees Video Start with a hive stand and a screened bottom board Ventilation and temperature regulation are crucial for honey bee colonies. Adding a hive stand and screened bottom board helps the bees …
Making your own sugar syrup ahead of time is a great way to prepare for the arrival of your package bees! When your package bees arrive, having enough sugar syrup ready to feed them will help the honeybees adjust to their new home in your hives. For each package, we recommend making one gallon of syrup. How to Make Sugar Syrup for …
The beekeeper’s calendar is directly linked to the seasons. Preparing your hives for changes in temperature and shifts in the weather — before they happen — is crucial for raising healthy, strong colonies. While there are a number of variables that affect the timing of these tasks, getting a head start and preparing your equipment is always a good idea. This …
The In the first article in the series, Beehive Components Part I: Building a Hive from the Ground Up, we covered the basic parts of a hive and how they all fit together. In Part II, we’ll take a closer look at the interior parts of a hive: The frames and foundation. From laying eggs and raising young to storing pollen …
All winter long I waited for spring to come and, with it, my favorite honey: black locust. Well, that didn’t happen for us. Not this past spring season, anyway. The spring rains, on the other hand, did happen — and didn’t want to stop. The combination of blustery wind and heavy rain wiped out our locust bloom here in the west-central part …
The beehive is the cornerstone of all modern beekeeping. It provides a safe place for honey bees to store food reserves and raise the constant supply of young needed to keep colonies healthy and strong. Understanding the various components of the hive and how they function is an important first step to successful beekeeping. In 1852, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth patented a …
This year marks 202 years since the birth of Charles Dadant, founding father of modern beekeeping and founder of Dadant & Sons Beekeeping Supplies. The second of seven children born to a doctor in the countryside of the Burgundy region of France, Charles developed a passion for beekeeping at the early age of 12 while helping a neighbor remove honey from …