GUIDE TO BEEKEEPING AND SAFETY Beekeeping is giving proper care and attention to your beehives so that the occupied bees do not abandon their hives and you can safely harvest maximum honey.
Honey harvesting is preferably done with 2 to 3 people, and is often done at night or early morning, when the bees are resting to avoid beestings with children and livestock. When harvesting honey at night, use a red light as bees are colour blind to red and also react aggressively to white light.
Avoid opening occupied beehives if it is raining or windy. The recommended designs of beehives allow safe harvesting of honey, without much disturbance to the bee colony.
Regular maintaining of clean hives is crucial as bees are very clean themselves and want a clean home.
Langstroth Beehive
KTBH hive
Traditional log hive
Protective Clothing Bee keeping requires a whole kit that includes:
They will not move into a hive that is dirty or has become inhabited by pests such as wasps, spiders, moths, lizards or even some snakes. Always provide clean water for the bees as they require water for the colony to function well, and water mixed with sugar (sugar syrup) during the dry periods. Place long sticks inside the water to prevent bees from drowning.
1.
Light coloured bee suit and veil
Thick beekeeping gloves
Gumboots or closed shoes