In recent times, with the increase in migration from urban to rural areas, interest in hobby beekeeping has also grown. Both commercial beekeepers and hobbyists can now research and apply beekeeping techniques. So, what do you know about these?

In today's world, where returning to nature is essential, technical beekeeping has become more popular than ever before. In this beekeeping model, which utilizes all the opportunities of modern times, desire, goals, and follow-up are undoubtedly among the most important requirements, in addition to accumulated knowledge. When done correctly, collecting honey in the necessary quality and quantity becomes a relatively easy task. Whether you pursue beekeeping as a hobby or for commercial purposes, the information we have prepared for you below may help you find many answers regarding beekeeping techniques!

1. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MODERN BEEKEEPING?

For successful beekeeping activities, selecting a suitable apiary location, paying attention to the suitability of the environment, choosing high-yielding bee breeds, and using modern tools and equipment are among the indispensable conditions.

1.1. CHOOSING AN APIARY LOCATION FOR HONEY YIELD

The availability of suitable nectar and pollen sources and nearby clean water sources are primary conditions for productive beekeeping. Additionally, for a high honey yield, you can also pay attention to the following points:

• In winter, you can choose regions with warm climate conditions for beekeeping. Since bees are in their brood period during winter, colonies can enter spring stronger.
• In early spring, you can utilize natural fruit trees and meadows. Especially in this season, citrus areas can be much more productive.
• In late spring and early summer, you can consider spring flowers and bushy plants that bloom in plateaus as the most productive sources.
• In summer, besides wildflowers, you can also choose cultivated plants like sunflowers, cotton, clover, and sesame as sources.
• To maintain productivity in autumn, you can move your hives to pine forests during this season.

1.2. MEETING SUITABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR BEES

When choosing an apiary location, you should ensure that the area is not exposed to strong winds and is closed off from traffic areas; you should especially make sure it is away from people, animals, and noise. Additionally, if there are no clean water sources near the chosen apiary location, you must place a feeder in the hive.

1.3. SELECTION OF HIGH-YIELDING BEE BREEDS

Just like other animals, the productivity level of bees varies according to their genetic makeup. When working with low-yielding bee breeds, even if the conditions are excellent, sufficient yield may not be obtained. Therefore, the producer needs to determine the suitable breed/ecotype for their desired conditions and find a fertilized queen bee according to these conditions. This is because the queen bee directly determines the productivity of the colony. When a new queen bee is replaced in the hives, the colony acquires the genetics of the new queen bee in as short a time as 2 months. The most important rule in beekeeping is to work with young and high-quality queen bees and, consequently, strong colonies. This is because the unit productivity per bee in strong colonies can be 2 times higher than in weak colonies.

1.4. CORRECT USE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Beekeeping needs to be considered not only as animal husbandry but also as an industrial activity. In this regard, many tools and equipment are produced that facilitate the work. To achieve efficiency in beekeeping, it is necessary to make good choices in equipment and to know the functions of these pieces of equipment.

2. WHAT TOOLS/EQUIPMENT ARE USED IN MODERN BEEKEEPING?

The most important tools and equipment that must be used in modern beekeeping are as follows:

2.1. HIVES

Hives, which can generally be easily prepared according to the conditions of their location, come in many varieties. These are divided into three basic groups: primitive, transitional, and modern hives. Primitive hives consist of tree trunks, woven baskets, or wooden boxes. Since these hives can only be opened to collect honey in autumn, they have low productivity and do not allow for maintenance and repair before their time. Therefore, they are not suitable for modern beekeeping. The most ideal alternatives in this regard are transitional hives and modern hives. Small-framed hives with lids on the front and back, made of four rectangular wooden pieces, are called transitional hives. Modern hives, on the other hand, are types of hives that can be easily transported, have standard dimensions, and allow for all kinds of beekeeping applications. These models, which can be easily opened and closed, contain movable frames manufactured in dimensions suitable for the bees' needs. Thus, bees can move freely within the hive. Additionally, these hives, which have sufficient brood and honey storage areas, can yield 40-50 kilograms of honey under normal conditions.

2.2. COMBS

In modern beekeeping, comb selection is also of great importance. This is because the right comb increases both productivity and savings. Combs made of beeswax, of a quality that can be used for a long time, and with regular hexagons, can be quickly worked by bees. Additionally, seasonal conditions must be considered when selecting combs. For example, in regions that are very hot in summer, thick combs supported with melted beeswax are more useful.

2.3. MASK AND GLOVES

In beekeeping, a mask and gloves are among the most important requirements to prevent the risk of bee stings when opening the hive.

2.4. BEE SMOKER

A bee smoker helps calm bees with smoke when combs need to be maintained. For easy and long-lasting use, the smoker should be made of galvanized material.

2.5. HIVE TOOL

Despite being a simple tool, the hive tool stands out as one of the most functional pieces in beekeeping. This tool, used for opening hives, removing frames, and cleaning hive parts, is also used for scraping wax and propolis from the hive entrance hole and over the frames.

2.6. QUEEN EXCLUDER

The queen excluder, which only allows worker bees to pass through, is used to prevent the queen bee in the hive from going to the upper floor. This plate, which resembles a filter in appearance, is placed between the brood chamber and the super.

2.7. BEE ESCAPE

A bee escape is installed between the super and the brood chamber before honey harvest. This tool facilitates the passage from the super to the brood chamber but prevents passage from the brood chamber to the super. When there are no bees left in the super, harvesting can be done much more easily.

2.8. UNCAPPING EQUIPMENT

Tools that clean the wax caps on the combs before they enter the extractor are called uncapping equipment. These are divided into different types such as uncapping forks or uncapping knives. To learn more about beekeeping, you can also register for our Balparmak Beekeeping Academy distance learning platform. Moreover, through this platform, you can access enlightening information not only about honey but also about high value-added bee products such as royal jelly, pollen, and propolis!

Source:

Prof. Dr. Muhsin Doğaroğlu, Modern Beekeeping Techniques (2012)