10 Things You Must Know Before You Start Your First Hive

Zoning Laws

• Before you build your beehive, check with your local government and the office of zoning for laws about having beehives in your backyard. Many towns have restrictions on the types of pets you can keep, and some may have ordinances about how close a backyard hive can be to your house and houses around you.

Get Your Neighbors' Blessings

• A beehive might be unobtrusive in your backyard, but your neighbors might not see it the same way. Be courteous and ask the neighbors on each side of your house if they have any objections to your backyard beehive; you never know who might have a serious allergic reaction to bee stings.

Talk with Your Family or Housemates

• If you share your home and backyard with others, talk with them about the rules of the hive. Determine who will take care of the bees and collect the honey. If someone isn't comfortable taking part, he doesn't have to. All people working with the hive should study the methods of beekeeping to ensure maximum safety and efficiency.

Get Tested

• Ask your doctor to perform an allergy test on anyone who will be near your backyard beehives. Don't be caught by surprise by an extreme allergic reaction if you're stung while taking care of your bees.

Scope Out Your Backyard

• Scout your backyard for the best place for beekeeping. Keep your hive about 18 inches off the ground so animals are less likely to harm it; this will also keep the stress off your back since you won't have to bend over as much. The ground should be level, so the hive doesn't fall over. Place mulch, gravel or old carpet under your hive stand to stop mud from taking over.

Learn About Hives

• Honeybees naturally form hives when they find open cavities of about 2 to 3 cubic feet. Build your hive with natural hives in mind: honey at the top, pollen and brood nest in the middle and the brood at the bottom.

Bee Boxes

• Find a good, sturdy box to give your bees a home. Your bees will live on vertical, hanging framed beeswax sheets, so get a box that will allow for this. A groove at the top will hold the frames in place. Some boxes hold up to 10 frames, others just eight. Choose how many frames you want, but take into consideration how heavy they will be. Don't overexert yourself; the heaviest boxes can weigh up to 90 pounds when they are full of honey.

Choose Your Frames

• Deeps, mediums and shallows are the names for the different size boxes and their corresponding frames. Deeps are 9.5 inches tall, mediums are 6.5 inches tall and shallows are 5 7/8 inches tall. Choose your frames by how much honey you want to produce, and how much you are willing to work with.

Suit Up

• Protect yourself. A hat and a veil will protect you from stray bees getting tangled in your hair. Wear a full bee suit -- jacket, pants, boots, gloves and veiled hat -- until you are comfortable working with bees. For heavy-duty hive work, a full suit is always recommended. If you're just checking your hive, you might get by with only the veiled hat. Wear whatever you're comfortable with.

Choose Your Bees

• Three types of bees are readily available and good for beginners. Italians are gentle, productive and easy to manage, and they are the most available type of bee. Carniolan bees are good for places with harsh winters, as they withstand the cold weather well. Carniolans are gentle but demanding of management. Russians are docile, but can be erratic. Russian bees are slow to start but build fast once they do.