The Best Beginner Beekeeping Kits

A beekeeping kit is a great way to get started if you’re interested in the hobby. These kits include all the essential components you need to set up and maintain your hive.

Whether you’re a beginner or have had some experience, there are a variety of beekeeping kits available to suit your needs. 

Keep reading and I’ll tell you more about the best beginner beekeeping kits out there that’ll help you get down to business as soon as possible.

The Best Beginner Beekeeping Kits

In this section, we’ll tackle the most prominent and popular beehive starter kits to help you get your colony started.

NuBee 10-frame Beehive Starter Kit

The NuBee 10-frame beehive starter kit is one of the most popular choices for beekeeping novices.

It comes with a beehive box and suits a colony for an ample duration. The kit doesn’t require assembly as it comes intact and painted, which works amazingly for those who don’t like woodwork or don’t have carpentry skills.

I found it convenient that there’s a 5-frame and 10-frame CellTech option, depending on whether you have a nucleus or a full colony that you’ll use to sell honey.

The Kit Includes:

• A 10-frame deep beehive body
• 100% wax-coated frames to prevent moisture and pests
• A pair of gloves (leather)
• Protective jacket with a reinforced veil
• Bee smoker
• Hive tool
• Queen excluder (plastic)
• Telescoping outer cover (inner cover included)
• Bottom board with an entrance reducer to keep out mice or other bees

Challenges:

This kit is for those who are experimenting with beekeeping and don’t plan on expanding quickly. However, if the colony grows bigger at a faster pace than expected, this kit won’t be suitable, and you’ll need additional boxes and frames.

BeeCastle 10-frame Starter Kit

The BeeCastle 10-frame kit comes with all the components you need to kick start your beekeeping endeavor.

The box comes fully assembled, so you won’t have to do any DIY work.

The Kit Includes:

• A deep box with a telescoping cover and inner cover
• Queen excluder
• Bottom board
• Entrance excluder
• Beeswax-covered box
• Protective wear includes a veil, gloves (leather), jacket, and pair of pants (suits 11–22” waist)

Challenges:

The BeeCastle starter kit is a fully integrated one with plenty of perks, but its cost may be a little high for some. Not to mention, the gloves and suit sizes don’t work well with big frames.

I found the wax coat isn’t as durable as needed in an area with a hot climate.

Bee Built Top Bar Starter Kit

The Bee Built Top Bar starter kit is a viable choice for you if you don’t want a conventional Langstroth hive that uses vertical stacking.

Its Top bar hive comes with 28 foundationless top bars, a dual-hinging peaked roof, and a Douglas Fir bottom board. Furthermore, it stands on four precision-milled Douglas Fir legs and has a dual-hinging peaked roof.

I found the construction and the horizontal setup to make it effortless to approach the colony and avoid bending. Add to that, the inspections were a lot easier and less invasive, which reduced disruptions to the colony.

And if you’re like me and like watching the bees up close, you’ll enjoy the long viewing window that runs along the hive. It’s both fun and allows you to safely monitor the bees without having to open the top or remove the frames.

The Kit Includes:

• Protective gear, including a jacket, round veil, and gloves
• A beekeeping brush
• Bee smoker
• Pure Tung oil (16 oz)
• Top-bar beekeeping book
• Ultimate hive tool

Challenges:

This Bee Built starter kit comes at a rather high price compared to other starter beekeeping kits on the market, which makes it challenging to take the step. You’ll need to seriously sort your finances out before you decide on starting your beehive using this one.

It also doesn’t come with an extensive set of tools. I wasn’t big on the idea as it means you’ll either need to expand using the same horizontal options or buy extra tools to suit vertical stacking options. Still, it’s good for starting out or if you’re planning to stick to horizontal setups.

Hoover Hives 10-frame Starter Kit

The Hoover Hive starter kit is a viable option for those who are still in their beginning phases of beekeeping but have some experience.

The kit doesn’t come with instructions on how to set it up or recommendations on how or when to add to the beginning kit. However, it does come with quality construction and is well-dipped in beeswax.

The Kit Includes:

• One 10-frame deep hive body
• 5 frames (CellTech plastic)
• Bottom board
• Entrance reducer
• Protective jacket with veil
• Elbow-length gloves (leather)
• Bee smoker
• Hive tool (J Curve)
• Telescoping outer cover and inner cover

Challenges:

The Hoover Hive comes with five frames, which means you’ll either have to invest in another five or fit your bees in a nucleus colony. 

Moreover, the gloves and jacket are free-size, which means that they might not suit everyone. I wasn’t so hyped that there’s no full bee suit, though the jacket and gloves do half the trick.

Dadant 10-frame Deep Beginner’s Kit

The Dadant 10-frame deep beginner’s kit is an excellent choice if you like some DIY fun. It comes unassembled, so you’ll have to put together the beehive, top bar frames, bottom board, and telescoping metal cover.

This option from Dadant suits those who are looking for some customizability when it comes to their assembly and how they run their beehive.

The Kit Includes:

• An unassembled beehive with assembly instructions
• All-purpose hive tool
• Entrance reducer
• Bee smoker
• Smoker fuel (1lb)
• A telescoping metal cover and inner cover
• Bottom board
• Grooved top bar frames
• Bee veil and string-resistant gloves
• Entrance feeder
• “First Lessons in Beekeeping” book for guidance

Challenges:

While the entrance reducers are an excellent way to keep your hive safe, the entrance feeders compromise their functionality a little. Moreover, there’s no option to select the glove size, which means they may not fit you.

Finally, the fact that you have to assemble plenty of the components yourself means that it’s not a plug-and-play option, but it’s a good way to get you in the mood for the kind of effort you’ll have to spend on beekeeping.

What Are The Essential Items to Start Beekeeping?

To begin or flourish in your beekeeping journey, there are some necessities you can’t go without. 

In this section, we’ll delve into the factors that you should keep in mind when choosing a beekeeping kit.

Beehive

A beehive is the foundation of your beekeeping kit, which is why it’s important to choose one that can withstand any weather and is easy to maintain.

The most common type you’ll find is the Langstroth hive. This type consists of a bottom board, a hive body, frames, and a hive cover.

Another good option is the Top Bar hive, which is viable if you want something that requires less maintenance and is more sustainable.

Bee Suit

Bee suits are important for protecting you when you’re handling the beehive. You should choose a suit that’s breathable to stay cool while you’re working with your bees.

Most suits come with a hat and veil to protect your head and face from strings, while others also incorporate gloves and boots. When choosing, try to find a package that offers most items so you don’t have to extend your budget to buy everything else.

Bee Smoker

When you inspect the beehive, you’ll cause a lot of commotion for the bees, and that’s where the bee smoker comes in.

It’s a tool that produces smoke that prompts bees to eat honey and become less aggressive. 

Smokers come in different sizes and shapes, and most are made of stainless steel. You should look for a durable one with smooth operation and sturdy bellows to blow the air into the smoker freely.

Hive Tools

The hive tools help you manipulate the frames and other components inside the hive. There are plenty of tools with different sizes and shapes, but most come with flat ends to help you pry apart frames. Some come with pointed ends for scraping off propolis and other hive debris.

Finally, ensure that there’s a tool with a hook to lift frames out of the hive.

Bee Brush

A bee brush is a soft-bristled brush that you can use to brush bees off the frames and other components inside the hive.

Make sure your brush is gentle enough to avoid injuring the bees while handling the beehive. However, it should also be firm enough to remove the bees from the frames.

Another aspect to consider is how big your brush is, as this would affect the ease of storage of your beekeeping kit.

Other Accessories

Some accessories come along with your kit, including honey extractors, feeding supplies, and protective foot and hand gear.

They’re not essential to beekeeping kits, but they’re a helpful addition. 

What Are the Challenges to Keep In Mind When Using a Beekeeping Kit?

While beekeeping is both rewarding and enjoyable, there are certainly some challenges you’ll face, even with a beekeeping kit. In this section, we’ll discuss some of the most prominent challenges to help you easily overcome them.

Assembly

One of the main challenges with a beekeeping kit is its assembly process. Some kits require that you assemble the hive components independently, which is time-consuming and requires carpentry skills.

If you want to save yourself the hassle, you may want to opt for a pre-built hive to avoid the tools and woodworking.

However, if you’re a DIY type of person, this may add to the fun you get from the beekeeping process.

Cost

Beekeeping kits come with plenty of components, most of which are essential, and that’s why their cost may be a huge challenge.

Not to mention, if you can afford the kit itself, beekeeping is a rather expensive hobby. Make sure you have a budget set aside for the hive components, protective gear, tools, maintenance needs, medication, bee food, and replacement bees.

Maintenance

Beekeeping will require you to do some regular maintenance to keep the hive healthy and productive.

You’ll need to inspect the hive, monitor for diseases and pests, and harvest honey. Your beehive will need maintenance at least once a month to stay in good shape and keep producing.

Safety

Knowing how to handle the beehive is highly important for your safety. You should learn proper handling techniques and wear your protective gear to avoid getting stung. You must minimize the risk of injury, especially if you’re susceptible to allergic reactions.

Weather

When keeping a beehive, you’ll have to be more in tune with the weather forecast and predictions. 

Extreme temperatures, drought, and heavy rain can all impact your hive’s well-being, and that’s why you should monitor the weather closely. Accordingly, you can prepare and take precautionary measures to protect your hive whenever necessary.

FAQs

How Many Bees Can I Use to Start a Hive?

The industry standard for bees is a 2-pound package. It comes with around six to seven thousand bees, which is enough to start a hive.

Two or three hives are good for a beginner, as they give you ample honey output while still being manageable. This combination allows you to take your time getting to know how bee colonies operate and how to maintain them.

What Type of Bee Is Easiest to Raise?

Of the four thousand species of bees found in North America, Mason bees are the easiest to handle. They’re affordable, educational, gentle, and good for the environment.

Mason bees also go by the names Blue Orchard or Orchard bees.

What Type of Beehive Is Best for Beginners?

The Langstroth hive is the easiest to deal with as its resources are the most accessible. You’ll find plenty of publications, supplies, and communities that can help you get started and keep going.

Final Thoughts

Beekeeping is a fulfilling and rewarding hobby, and it can even be leveraged as a business opportunity for beginners.

Yet, getting started requires some essential equipment and a good amount of knowledge regarding how to set off.

Hopefully, with the help of this article’s information and the beekeeping kit recommendations, you’re one step closer to beekeeping perfection.