So, you've decided to become a beekeeper. Great! For starters, you must decide what equipment to use. We recommend starting off with a beehive kit. In this article, we will discuss four great options to choose from. Beehive kits for beginners simplifies the process of purchasing equipment, and you'll be on your way to beekeeping in no time at all!
There is a lot to learn about the art of beekeeping. One of the most important things you will need to familiarize yourself with is the bees themselves. Luckily, there are many great books available to help you understand bees and the different types of bees within a hive.
You will also need to familiarize yourself with the actual art of beekeeping. Keep in mind that this will be an ongoing learning process, due to the ever-changing beekeeping sub-culture. Important factors to consider for successful beekeeping are region, seasonality, and ecology. These things will affect the success of your beehive.
Equally important is having knowledge about beekeeping equipment, and there are many options for each piece of required equipment to choose from. If you have already taken the time to research the subject and felt daunted by the sheer number of choices, you are in good company. That's why we recommend starting off with a beehive kit for beginners. Beehive kits for beginners streamline the process of purchasing equipment by providing you with all the essentials in one complete kit.
The success of your beehive and the livelihood of your bees will greatly depend on the equipment choices you make.
We Reviewed the Following Beehive Kits for Beginners:
The aforementioned are four similar bee hive kits for beginners. Each review will discuss what's included with each kit, their individual strengths and their individual weaknesses. By the end of this review, you will know what to expect from each starter kit, and you will have the information you need to get started on your beekeeping journey.
Bee hive kits for beginners take the complexity out of choosing your equipment and provide you with everything you need to get started in one convenient kit. Despite their name, these starter kits are not necessarily exclusive to novice beekeepers. They suit various levels of beekeepers as the convenience factor is appealing from the novice level to the professional level. Therefore, with the possibility that this initial purchase may last past your beginning stages, it is especially important that you carefully consider your options and your own needs.
Read on for detailed overviews of the following four kits.
- Goodland Bee Supply SS Tangential Manual Honey Extractor
- Incudes 2 Kiln Dried Premium Minimal Knot 3/4-Inch Pine Supers
- Complete With 20 Frames and 20 Pierco Pre-Waxed Plastic Foundations Plus Free Frame Spacer
The Goodland Bee Supply Complete Kit offers all the beekeeping essentials in one kit. All Goodland Bee Supply products ship unassembled and professionally packaged. This is to guarantee that potential damage does not occur during shipment. The Goodland Bee Supply Complete Bee Hive Kit comes with a 2-frame, stainless steel, manual honey extractor. The honey extractor is ideal for the beekeeper with 1 to 10 hives.
Pricing and Weight
The Goodland Bee Supply Complete Bee Hive Kit is priced Around $350. This package weighs 55 pounds.
Product Specs
Ratings
Ease of Use | Beginner friendly. | |
Assembly Time | Around 1 hour. | |
Design Quality | High-quality materials. | |
Warranty | Lifetime Warranty Included. |
Pros
Cons
- Made in the USA
- Completely assembled and ready for bees
- Kit includes one painted 10 frame 9-5/8-inch assembled hive body, ten 9-1/8-assembled wood frames with yellow waxed...
The Mann Lake Starter Kit is designed with all skill levels in mind. Whether you are a beginner, a hobbyist, or a professional, this starter kit will suit your needs. Made in the USA, this kit comes completely assembled and even painted.
Pricing and Weight
The Mann Lake Starter Kit is priced around $200. This package weighs 41.6 pounds.
Product Specs
Ratings
Ease of Use | above average. | |
Assembly Time | Comes completely assembled. | |
Design Quality | Above average. | |
Warranty | Not included – available through a request. |
Pros
Cons
- 20-Frame Hive 10 Deep and 10 Medium
- Complete kit that is easy to assemble
- Deep super frame and medium super frame with foundations
The Honey Keeper Beehive Complete Box Kit is a great option for beginners and professionals as it contains everything a bee colony needs. It has an aesthetically-pleasing design with a highly customizable pine-wood finish. It comes with all the essential equipment for beginners. It is made of high quality and sturdy materials. It comes with the added bonus of a galvanized metal-capped telescopic roof that will keep the rain away from your hive and protect it from the sun.
Pricing and Weight
The Honey Keeper Beehive Complete Box Kit is priced around $140.
Product Specs
Ratings
Ease of Use | Easy to use – beginner friendly. | |
Assembly Time | Assembly is easy and takes less than an hour. | |
Design Quality | Excellent quality, appealing wood design, and sturdy. | |
Warranty | Not included – available through a request. |
Pros
Cons
The Honeybee Headquarters Starter Kit comes with most of the essentials in beekeeping equipment, but it does not come with a honey extractor. It is highly versatile, and suitable for both the beekeeping novice and the professional. It is made of high quality and sturdy materials.
Pricing and Weight
The Honeybee Headquarters Starter Kit is priced around $300.
Product Specs
Ratings
Ease of Use | Beginner friendly. | |
Assembly Time | Assembly takes around 2 hours | |
Design Quality | High quality | |
Warranty | Not included |
Pros
Cons
We Highly Recommend
Goodland Bee Supply Complete Bee Hive Kit
The Goodland Bee Supply Complete Bee Hive Kit is your most expensive option around $350, but you will be getting what you pay for. Of the four, it is the most comprehensive kit, with all the essentials you need and more. All items in the kit are made of high-quality materials. The kit also comes covered with a lifetime warranty.
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The Honey Keeper Beehive 20 Frame Complete Box Kit
The Honey Keeper Beehive 20 Frame Complete Box Kit is the most affordable choice around $170. It is a versatile option and can serve you well past your novice stages. Considering its price, the quality of its materials is excellent. On top of that, it has a very aesthetically pleasing appearance with a nice wooden finish. The only downside is that it is quite heavy once assembled.
For the price, the Honey Keeper Beehive kit is the best bargain among other beehive kits for beginners.
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The Honeybee Headquarters Beekeeping Beehive Starter Kit
Lastly, the Honeybee Headquarters Beekeeping Beehive Starter Kit is the second most expensive option around $300. However, it should be noted that the price has seen a sharp rise as stock became limited. It is currently unavailable online, and it is unclear if the price will drop to its normal pricing once it is back in stock.
Considering the steep price tag, and that it does not include a honey extractor, it is hard to justify this choice over the other beehive kits for beginners. It is a versatile option, serving both beginners and professionals, and it is mostly made of high-quality materials, but it does not offer anything more than the other three kits.
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OUR Final thoughts
Beehive kits for beginners will help streamline the many choices of beekeeping equipment, by offering all the essential pieces in one convenient kit. If you can afford it, the Goodland Bee Supply Complete Bee Hive Kit is easily one of the best beehive kits for beginners. If it is out of your price range, the Honey Keeper Beehive Kit is an excellent second choice.
