Beekeeping Supplies

Beekeeping supplies include items such as a smoker – a device used to calm bees; protective clothing, including hats, nets, gloves, boots and boiler suits; and of course the hives themselves.

The two most commonly used modern beehive types are the Langstroth and the Top-Bar Hive. The Langstroth beehive is the standard beehive used in many parts of the world for commercial beekeeping. The advantage of this hive is that the bees build honeycomb into frames, which can be moved with ease. The main pieces of equipment used with this type of hive are: the frames, the Cloake board, the queen excluder, the feeder and the escape board. Top-bar hives are especially useful in areas where resources are limited, but are also increasingly popular among hobby beekeepers in industrialized nations.

A honey extractor is a mechanical device used in the honey extraction, most often by commercial beekeepers. A honey extractor extracts the honey from the honey comb without destroying the comb. Extractors work by centrifugal force. A drum or container holds a frame basket which spins, flinging the honey out. With this method the wax comb stays intact within the frame and can be reused by the bees.

Some beekeeping supplies businesses will deal principally with large-scale commercial beekeepers, whilst others will be able to assist even the smallest of hobbyist keepers.