When you are looking at bee hives for sale you will find that there are two primary different types.   You can get either an observation beehive or a beekeeping (honey producing) beehive - also called a Langstroth beehive.   What you buy depends on your objectives.An observation beehive is fantastic for someone who wants to learn about bees and watch their fascinating colonies go about their business.  Think of it like an ant farm.  When you look at these types of bee hives for sale, you will find many beautiful styles available.  These beehives are often placed indoors (they are completely enclosed) with a chute going outside so that the bees can collect their nectar.  This type of hive is strictly for observing bees and not for gathering honey.

If you want to start a beekeeping operation, than you will want to buy a Langstroth beehive with extra supers.  This type of honey bee hive for sale is not as good to look at as an observation hive, but is extremely functional.  This type of hive works by using removable frames which the bees build cells on and fill with honey.  Once the bees have produced enough honey to make it through the winter you can add extra sections or "supers" to your hive and they will fill them as well.  Then you can harvest the honey without damaging the bee colony.

If you decide to buy Langstroth hives and launch a beekeeping operation (either as a hobby or business) don't forget you will also need a beekeeping suit and a bee smoker.  These  two honey bee supplies will protect you from bee stings.

No matter which type of honey bee hive for sale you decide to buy, you are sure to find one that will fit both your style and your needs.  And you can start a hobby that will not only help you with your gardening or farming effort, but also be a very rewarding hobby or business in itself, so enjoy!

You can start beekeeping in your backyard (check to see if you need a permit) with just a single hive of bees, but beekeeping has it's own language that wee will call "BeeSpeak". Here are some definitions for some of the more confusing terms.

#1. Apiarist

Sounds like a position in the ape section fo the zoo doesn't it?  An apiarist is another name for a beekeeper.  Fancy, Huh?

#2. Honey Bee

Bees that produce honey.  What you probably didn't know though is that most bees do not produce honey and that the honey bee is in the vast minority of bee species.

#3. Hive Tool

This is the nifty tool that beekeepers use to pry frames out of bee hives.  If you are finding that they seem overpriced, just buy a paint scraper - it's the same thing.

#4. Super

When I first started beekeeping this one really, really confused me.  The super is the part of the hive that the bees put the honey in.  It contains frames.  In beekeeping guides you will see instructions to add supers in the spring and fall.  (And I was wondering Super what?)

#5. Smoker

Absolutely one of the most important tools in beekeeping.  Usually a metal pot with bellows attached to it.  It dispenses cool smoke that calms the bees.  You must get a smoker.  There is nothing worse than a hive of extra bees.

If you are feeling a wee bit overwhelmed at the stuff you have to learn to start understanding honey bees and beekeeping, don't worry... it's really not too complicated (I promise).

Recommended Resource For Beginning Beekeepers

They have a large selection of books for giving you a short course on beekeeping to candle making since many beekeepers also not only collect and sell honey, but they make things out of beeswax as well like candles. Most family owned beekeepers usually produce the honey and beeswax items on their farms and sell the products they make at local stores. Usually it's a family business that has been a long-standing tradition.

Most beekeeping families have been at this for several generations so it's not a new thing many families get into with this. A lot of children grow up making this into their livelihood since it's how their ancestors made their living. Many companies now are in fact commercially owned since so many family-owned businesses are forced out because of the rising cost of running a business and many mom and pop places that were not technologically advanced were the ones who suffered because those who had the resources to invest in websites and tools needed to stay ahead in the business were the ones who made the transition into the 21st century with their businesses. This was a business that began as a simple hobby and just a small way to make extra money on the side or to just have something extra for the dinner table since honey was super popular to be put on hot biscuits and toast for dinner and breakfast since it was used as a marmalade.

Honey wasn't really a huge resource at the time since people used sugar and other things like molasses to put in their food, but when it was discovered that honey was cheap and inexpensive to make that's when beekeeping had become a hugely popular and profitable business for many families in regions that beekeeping was a widely practiced activity. As a result of how inexpensive it was to produce honey, which became what beekeeping has developed into today. The only issues was in this day and age more pesticides was being used and the problems with having to treat much of the honey that was being made which left a lot of people wondering how safe it was to consume such a product.

It was a concern since you have the organic food movement that totally goes against the use of pesticides and any means to chemically alter or treat food or livestock used for food products. Today you have family owned companies at the commercial level that produce honey products and beeswax used in cosmetics and candle making.

Author: Graham Williams

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If you are handy, you can actually build your own bee hive from scratch.  There are many plans available to do this with and it is not hard if you know that basics of woodworking and don't mind a little painting.

However, if you are like me, you will find it much easier just to buy a bee hive already built.  The current standard in beekeeping - if your aim is to produce honey - is  to buy a "Langstroth" style beehive.  This is a hive with series of wood frames that are removable.  This type of beehive construction allows you to slide the frame out of the hive to inspect it without damaging the hive or the comb.  This enables you to both easily extract the honey and to see the development of the eggs, larvae, and pupae of the new bees.

When you are looking at bee hives for sale this type of hive is the optimum for keeping your bees happy and also for harvesting the greatest amount of honey from your hives.

Other equipment you will need if you are just starting out with beekeeping is a bee smoker to calm the bees and protective clothing.  Many novice beekeeper wear gloves and almost all beekeepers wear a veil and hat when handling the hive to keep from getting stung on their face and neck.

If you are just beginning as a beekeeper, be sure to check out this resource.