Best Beekeeping Practices

San Diego Beekeeping Society

January 24, 2011

Purpose

• Promote Safety and Prevention • Fulfill our #1 mission statement• Work in progress• Intended for backyard beekeepers• Advocated by SDBS

General Best Beekeeping Practices

• Education• Hive Placement• Providing Water Source• Limiting Hive Density• Hive Management• Colony Temperament

Education

• Join beekeeping association, SDBS• Get a mentor• Take beekeeping classes• Obtain solid understanding of beekeeping• Read books and other publications

Hive Placement• Locate your hives as far away as possible from

– Neighboring property– Roads– Sidewalks– Rights of Way

• Allow a minimum flight path extending 10ft • Consider relevant municipality restrictions

Hive Placement Considerations

• Allow for bees to fly across your property

• Use barrier to direct bees flight if needed

• Safety of people, pets, and other animals

• Have a secure bee yard if necessary

• Ensure easy accessibility to your hive

Water Source

• Bees need water• Train your bees to use your water source• Become a good neighbor • Prevent bee drowning• Avoid mosquito breeding

Hive Density

• Limit to two beehives in urban setting

• Neighborhood’s safety

• Availability of resources– Foraging area

• Pollen• Nectar

– Water Source

Hive Management• Open your hive only on favorable conditions

– Neighbors– Weather– Time of the day

• Use smoker when working a hive• Wear your protective gears• Keep only few number of hives

Other Considerations

• Prevent Swarming• Check for Disease and Pests• Maintain a good recordkeeping

Colony Temperament

• Queen genetics• Weather• Availability of food• Disturbances around hive

Queen

• Change the queen, you change the colony• Consider requeening once a year• Keep good record• Prevent a hive from self requeening

Best AHB Practices

• Avoid keeping aggressive bees• Be extra cautious when extracting AHB• Assume any feral swarm to be aggressive• Allow docile colonies to produce drones • Novice beekeepers should not attempt to

extract AHB bees

Hive Regulation & Notification

• Be informed on regulatory requirements• Register with San Diego County• Get notification when pesticides are used