Do you have beekeeping questions? Read this article for more information about beekeeping hives.

1. Beekeeping Questions - Beekeeping & the Bee Hive
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Perhaps you have beekeeping questions. If you do, I hope that this article will give you
some information. In fact, an important part of beekeeping is the hive. Over the years
beekeepers have improved upon the hives for the bees in order to make honey
gathering easier. The Langstroth hive is the most commonly used in the United States
by beekeepers today. It is what is called a movable frame beehive. The support
structure of the Langstroth hive is a rectangular wooden frame which holds the combs
within it. There are typically nine or ten of these combs inside the frame. Amazingly,
there is no top or bottom of the frame. The combs hang freely within the frame. The
combs are made of a sheet of wax or plastic foundation. The bees are able to produce
wax and build honeycomb by using the wax sheets as a starting point. They are then
able to deposit honey and pollen into the cells of the comb. The box is designed to
easily be able to remove the frames full of honey to be extracted.
Some hobby beekeepers within the United States are using top-bar hives that are
commonly found in Africa. Was this one of the beekeeping questions that you had (In
case you had some)? A top-bar hive has bars across the top of the structure which
allows the honey bees attach and hang wax combs from. Different from the frames that
are used in a Langstroth hive, the combs on bars cannot be reused after the honey
extraction. This type of design results in a lower production of honey. But the honey
from the clear yellow combs Produced in a top-bar hive is of the highest quality. It can
be sold as an in-comb honey product.
Regardless of which hive design the beekeeper decides to use, certain aspects of
keeping these hives on the property must be considered. First off, before the
beekeeper decides to keep bees on their property they must research the local
restrictions to keeping bees found in some areas. They should also consider the
amount of room that is available on their property and the placement of the hive. The
bee hives should not be placed near homes or areas that are used for recreation. Bees
can be bothersome to some people especially those who suffer from bee sting allergies.
The bee hives also needs to be placed near nectar and pollen sources in order to give
the bees easy access to a food source. Some beekeepers use bees solely to pollinate
their crops. The hive should also be placed near a fresh water source. This can be a
natural water source or something that is supplied by the beekeeper. Another important
aspect that should be considered when placing a bee hive on one’s property is
predators and vandals. The hive needs to be protected from natural predators like
bears and skunks and from human vandals that might be interested in gathering some
free honey. The hive also needs to be protected from severe weather conditions and it
needs to be accessible throughout the year. Although bees are most active during

2. certain times of the year, beekeeping is a job that lasts throughout every season of the
year.