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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