How To Start Beekeeping in 2024

How To Start Beekeeping in 2024
Black Mountain Honey is a No Nonsense Beekeeping Channel.
We are based in North Wales and manage around 150 colonies of bees, plus nucleus colonies.
We produce Great Taste Award winning honey and sell nucleus colonies to members of the public.
Our 6 frame overwintered nucleus colonies sell out very fast every year so early ordering is advisable.
www.blackmountainhoney.co.uk/...
We supply F1 Mated Buckfast Queens throughout the season. These are genetics used by the UK's biggest bee farmer - Murray McGregor - and are not available to general public, except through resellers like us! Check out our queens page on our website.
www.blackmountainhoney.co.uk/...
We are passionate about beekeeping and really enjoy helping beekeepers through our KZbin channel.
On our channel you can find information on making splits with swarm cells, making increase with queen cells, grafting larvae, foulbrood and disease inspection, honey extraction and machinery, top tips for beginners, products reviews, instructions and guidance plus much more.
#NO NONSENSE BEEKEEPING is a UK based beekeeping channel, designed to keep beekeeping as simple and enjoyable as possible. There are no overly complicated techniques or intricate pieces of equipment.
We cover all beekeeping topics ranging from queen rearing, disease recognition/control, honey extraction, swarm management/collection, how to make splits and much more!
My personal favourite aspects of beekeeping are selecting queens for rearing, rearing queens for mating, making up nucs for overwintering and collecting swarms.
We aim to bridge the gap between commercial and hobbyist beekeepers and cater for beekeepers of all experience levels.
No matter what your level of experience, please hit the subscribe button and join us on our journey!
Join this channel to get access to perks:
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Joining our channel gives you a range of perks including 100% advert free videos and early access to premium video content.
Check out our US/UK Amazon Storefront. We earn a small commission from any products your purchase through our links and this helps support our channel. Thanks for any purchases :)
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If you are interested in learning more about our beekeeping activities, then why not follow us on social media or visit our website:
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Websites: www.blackmountainhoney.co.uk
Websites: www.hotfirehoney.co.uk
Nucs: www.blackmountainhoney.co.uk/...
Queens: www.blackmountainhoney.co.uk/...
If you enjoyed this video, please subscribe to our channel using the link below.
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Thanks for watching. Please give us a thumbs up if you enjoyed the video.

[@jhangfk]

I have been a beekeeper for 18 years and used National hive with standard frames. Darlington long hive with 14x12 frames, Tanzanian top bar hive with top bars and standard National frames. Also bought flow hive but I was disappointed with progress produced less honey. I am old and disabled so moved to a Beehaus hive which is similar to Dartington hive but not too heavy and a National hive as a spare. Love to watch your videos for hints and tips.

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Thats a great video. Doesn't time fly! Do keep these viewable. 😅

[@dioncampbell3384]

Hello Lawrence, thanks for your advice on bee keeping for beginners the information is valuable.

[@Goggles1]

Thanks for all the top tips and recommendations Lawrence. As a newby, it's appreciated amigo. I have a couple of occupied langstroth in red cedar and most recently bought 5 Layens 12 Frame deeps in pine from a guy in Almería, he'd given up due to harsh conditions namely lack of rainfall making it increasingly harder for the bees. I noticed signs of wax moth so torched all the boxes and frames and set them up around my neighbours land as they are always in the UK. I had a little bit of old comb for each one and rubbed the inside of the boxes and tops of the frames with bee wax that my step dad gave me. I've reduced them down to 6 frames using a divider board, and reduced the entrances significantly to make it easier for the prospective swarm to defend and regulate the temperature whilst they build up. There is a beekeeper with around 30 hives litteraly 200m away. A decent pair of binoculars tells me his apiary is a buzzing thriving active place for bees. I'm guessing his bees swarmed as both our occupied Langstroth hives are from swarms. They arrived 20th March and still going strong. I will inspect when next home as I haven't done that yet 😬 I'm really interested in natural bee keeping with minimal intervention inspired by Dr Leo. The horizontal Layens hive seems like a great way to do that and so I'm really looking forward to seeing how I get on. We're based in the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain. Can't wait to get back and see if we attracted more swarms to the 5 layens hives. I've used wax foundation on all frames apart from the ones with old comb and baited with lemon grass oil. My plan is not to buy any bees, only queens if absolutely necessary due to hopelessly queenless hives. I've scoped out a place just 6 miles away in Padul that sell laying queens for €6. A 12 frame deep layens with frames made of pine brand new costs €46 plus delivery which I think is very reasonable. Spain seems a little more affordable for hives and wax foundation. I paid €88 for 10KG unwired deep frame foundation. I can't say I'm looking forward to getting stung but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Happy beekeeping all. 😎

[@beewize9982]

Thanks for the video very well explained!!! 😊👍🏻🐝

[@GibsonB-ij3ph]

I just got my 10 frame nuc thank you for your information. 👍

[@johnedkins2078]

Thanks brilliant channel, helpful

[@privatebubba8876]

Very good intro to help beginners understand the basics needed for beekeeping in the UK. One thing I would mention is that beekeeping techniques depends on climate so the times for ordering and delivering bees will vary. We place orders in Jan. and depending on the weather we take delivery of nucs between mid March and the 1st of April.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Ah yes that's a very good point. Its definitely dependent on location and varies even across the UK, let alone other countries. Thanks for your comments.

[@LishmanJamie]

Really enjoying your videos, I get my first hive in the next few weeks, I’ve gone for a FlowHive as me makes beekeeping a bit more accessible as I’m disabled but have a spare poly hive just in case. I’ve joined my local BKA and have found some great support from local beekeepers. Just itching to get going now!

[@rickysantino4038]

instaBlaster...

[@bluelab5019]

Absolutely brilliant video.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@greghill9958]

Ok i am in the usa and your videos are a great learning tool for me.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Glad to hear it Greg! :)

[@malcolmleith5204]

Glad now I’ve purchased two Langstroth hives, and two nuc’s, looking forward to mid May, still a lot of reading and watching to do 😅, really having trouble finding bournville bee keeping associations though

[@PatrickCoste]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@andyleonard765]

Keep up the good work, looking forward to your future videos. I only started last March, got 3 hives in an orchard nr Monmouth and both my sisters agreed to have a hive each in their gardens, 1 in Cardiff and the other in Bristol.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Thanks Andy. Much appreciated. That sounds great. What's growing in the orchard? The bug is spreading through the family I see. Such a great hobby!

[@andyleonard765]

@@BlackMountainHoney Mixture of apple, pear and cherry. I missed the blossom last year as my bees arrived in May, but hoping for a great start this year, checked them last week, still alive , hope we don't get any snow anytime soon.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@andyleonard765 Ooh that's sounds a great mix. I love a mixed fruit orchard. I think I'd take a snap of snow now. Just dont want it in March or April! Fingers crossed for a great year all round

[@robtalliss]

Really helpful Laurence, thank you.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Cheers Rob. Nice badge! :)

[@robtalliss]

Black Mountain Honey 😊😊 Have just been watching the videos you did at the start of this year about your honey room and equipment. It made me think that it would be interesting to see a video for new keepers on how best to extract when you only have a few hives and what is the essential equipment. No rush for me as you know as I don’t get my bees until next year!! 🍯.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@robtalliss Great idea Rob. Ill get one produced first harvest of next year. Crush and strain is a great method and really easy.

[@ebenezerkoranteng7818]

I do follow u is a very good business

[@norfolkallotment]

Hi Laurence, Subscriber number 126 right here. Nice video, keep em coming. Just got my first. 3 hives last weekend. Looking forward to the coming weeks and months

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Hi Paul. Thanks for the comment and the sub! Much appreciated! I bet you are very excited. what format are you working on? Where abouts in the country are you?

[@norfolkallotment]

@@BlackMountainHoney I have 3 Nationals which I have on an allotment, but am looking for somewhere a little more private to move them to at some point. I'm in Norfolk, Gorleston, right in the East of the County.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@norfolkallotment Yes I understand your concerns. Allotments can be very difficult apiaries. I'm sure if you asked some local farmers, they would happily rent you some land for a pittance.

[@user-tp6zo3zk3e]

Hi A Queen I caught in a swarm is a small queen could this be a first year Queen? she is an amazing layer.

[@samkendall5311]

Lawrence great vid - 1 question! If you have a couple of National nucs arriving, but have 14x12 National hives...would you follow the process as per your 14x12 transfer vid ? I made a rookie error when buying...🤦‍♂️ if the above is correct, I assume I would then need to buy another National box anyway to put the nuc brood on top of the 14x12 box?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Sam. I have a few 14 x 12 hives that just have national frames in. They just draw them down and after a few cycles are perfectly usable. That's the cheapest method for you

[@josephcroft4268]

i would love to keep bees but i am allergic to wasp stings and i carry an epi-pen i was wonder whether to have an allergy test for both

[@stephenkelly2365]

Is your back not broke inspecting off pallets lol. Another great video!

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Thanks Stephen! it's not the best! Ouch! I tend to adopt a bit of a squat technique to keep it straight... ish...

[@marknorman3469]

Lawrence Thank you for these videos, they are really clear, and understandable to me. Not got bees yet, spending spare lockdown time watching your videos, and Richard Noels [bit too deep for me though at this time] and reading as much as I can. You say you have nationals, but would have Langstroths over again. I am at that point of deciding which way to go, in Uk Shropshire, have joined the local BKA , but of course the present times have killed all hope of meeting, seeing different hives, mentoring etc and Xmas is coming, and the sales are either on or coming, and I keep being asked have I decided on a hive type yet. Can see the 'everyone' has it benefit to national, but that's it, but then again people say they don't share kit for disease prevention and , rightly so. Can see more potential advantages in langstroth, especially the more I research a single size box. any thoughts from you or anyone else gratefully received.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

If I had to choose I would certainly start over with Langstroth. The only obstacle would be how to get your bees onto that frame size. Anything up to around 25 hives - im not sure the difference are huge. Langstroth becomes better when you are scaling things up and moving hives around

[@stephendawes7016]

@@BlackMountainHoney Langstroth rule in Aus. Unless you are into weightlifting avoid the 10frame. A full 8 frame is +25kg...... not cool when have more than 3 boxes and the 4th is full

[@painparty7937]

What do you with the bees when your hive gets overcrowded and you don't want to keep splitting? I'd like to have a couple of hives, but I don't want to split them and end up with 100.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

We make a demaree vertical split. I've made a video on the channel. Search for 'demaree'. Stops increasing numbers of hives but helps manage overcrowding

[@janeenshean4255]

How long will the sugar syrup last.. a day or a week

[@Toxic-Teddy]

Is it safe to put an eletric fence around the hive (it's to keep out bears)

[@BlackMountainHoney]

I see a lot of electric fences used in the US to stop bears and racoons. We only really have badgers to worry about and can protect hives without electricity.

[@spike2111982]

have you done anything or could you on the different types of bee availble traits pros cons etc

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Nice idea. Ill see if I can do a comparison video!

[@spike2111982]

Yeah that be great thank you

[@nickhulse643]

Hi I'm new to bee keeping how much do u sell ur nucleus for

[@BlackMountainHoney]

We have a few different options but we are totally sold out for 2021 I am afraid. They are around £250-£300 each

[@atlas4225]

Minute 22:00 (register your bees) Do i really want the equivalent of a plague doctor doing my basic check-up?

[@johnoliver9885]

Would having the beehives at least 10 to 12 inches off the ground make it easier for bees to sting the badgers underside?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Maybe, never actually thought of that! :D

[@johnoliver9885]

It works in Canada against raccoons and skunks.

[@wadebarnes6720]

Where did you get your smoker from

[@BlackMountainHoney]

I got my Rauchboy from Beckys Bees and the Dadant from Modern Beekeeping

[@Wilson18Tutorials]

What part of the country was you in when you initially started before moving to Wales? Do you think production improved when you moved?

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Birmingham. Yield was way better down there. Just warmer!

[@Wilson18Tutorials]

@@BlackMountainHoney ahh nice one, I went to university there :)

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@Wilson18Tutorials Cool! I lived there for 7 years. My wife went to uni there as well. I went to Leeds

[@markjohnadams1293]

How do you manage to cope doing a full time job as well as running a bee keeping business. I am a self employed electrician and Heating engineer and also have several hives, would like to expand it more into a business but cant see how I would find the time.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Its tough but I try and condense everything into as short time as possible. I do all my inspections on a saturday morning. Start at 630am and and done by about 3 or 4PM. I then do any extraction or treatments on the Sunday. Frame building or hive repairs are done in the evenings during the winter.

[@markjohnadams1293]

@@BlackMountainHoney My concern about that is in case you get poor weather on the one day you allocate for the inspections it gives no other options.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@markjohnadams1293 Yep. Sometimes you have to switch days or inspect in the rain! I've got a big umbrella! Sometimes you have to miss inspections. It can be helped. I always keep plenty of bait hives in the apiaries to catch any swarms

[@togwilson]

If your self employed just don’t take as much work on..... problem solved!

[@paulwilliams7915]

Hi Do you have any advice on the type of bees that are best for a beginner and taking into account the I live at 1200 ft. I have been offered a nuc and they have been described as mongrels lol

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Hi Paul. Most bees will survive at that altitude as long as they are strong going into winter. Personally, I would recommend an F1 Queen with proven, gentle characteristics. I only keep Buckfast bees due to their gentle nature and ability to produce an excellent honey crop. Nothing worse than aggressive bees for beginners. Nothing to say the mongrels will be aggressive though. Mongrels just been they have been open mated in the local area with uncontrolled drones.

[@paulwilliams7915]

@@BlackMountainHoney Thanks for the quick reply. I should have said that they are a cross between Buckfast and Welsh black bees. Sorry should have said that I find you videos great.

[@BlackMountainHoney]

@@paulwilliams7915I would actually be a bit concerned about that. Buckfast 2nd and 3rd gen I.e F2 and F3 can become very aggressive. Better off at F1 with either amm or buckfast. I'd go and see them first. F2/3 can have a real temper!

[@natashalion8028]

Brilliant information, thank you.

[@ebenezerkoranteng7818]

Am Ebenezer koranteng ,a ghanaian

[@cazsantics525]

I’m sure you’re lovely but your videos are a bit long winded I’ve had to force forward to quite a bit I feel very bad saying this it’s just a genuine criticism not mean to be mean

[@BlackMountainHoney]

Hey. We take the feedback on board :) You aren't the first to say it. Really trying to trim things down a bit. How's this one for you? kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWPTko2vnNCogdE