10 Beginner Beekeeping Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

When Steven first wanted to keep bees, I went along with it fully expecting not to like it. I figured I'd help out for a season and leave the bees to him. Instead, I fell completely in love. That was the first thing I got wrong about beekeeping, and it definitely wasn't the last.

Nobody gets beekeeping perfect in their first year, and the bees are surprisingly forgiving. Still, some mistakes come up again and again with new beekeepers (including us). Knowing them ahead of time can save you a lot of stress, and maybe a colony or two.

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1. Starting with just one hive

With one hive, you have nothing to compare it to. Is that brood pattern normal? Is the colony slow, or just small? With two hives, you can compare them side by side, and borrow a frame of eggs or honey from one to rescue the other if something goes wrong.

2. Skipping mite tests

This is the big one. A colony can look strong in August and be gone by February because of varroa mites. Testing takes about ten minutes a month and is the single best habit you can build. (We walk through it step by step in our mite testing guide.) A mite testing kit makes it quick.

3. Underestimating how fast bees grow

We learned this one firsthand. We started with a Mini Flow hive, and our bees filled it up much faster than we expected. It was simply too small for a healthy, growing colony, and we've since moved our bees into full-size Langstroth equipment and retired the Mini Flow for good. Our advice: start with standard-size boxes so your bees have room to grow. In spring, add a box when bees are using about seven or eight frames, not when they've already filled all ten.

Keep a spare hive box and frames on hand so you're ready when they need it.

A crowded colony is also a colony getting ready to swarm, and once a swarm leaves, it's hard to get back. We once watched one of ours settle into a tree about 35 feet up, far out of reach. All we could do was wave goodbye.

4. Peeking at the hive in the wrong clothes

Guilty. It's so tempting to pop out for a "quick look" in whatever you're wearing, and for me that's often a dress or leggings. The bees find every gap, and thin, stretchy fabric is easy to sting through. The most I've gotten at once is four stings. Stings don't panic me much anymore, but I really don't recommend learning this lesson the way I did, since some people can have serious reactions. If you're opening the hive, suit up, even for a peek.

A ventilated beekeeping jacket hanging by the door makes suiting up easy. (And a calm approach helps too. See How to Calm Your Bees During Hive Inspections.)

5. Forgetting about water

Bees need water every day, especially in hot weather, to cool the hive and feed brood. If you don't give them a reliable source, they'll find one, and it might be your neighbor's pool or dog bowl. Set up water before the bees arrive so they learn it first. A bee waterer keeps them from drowning, or you can build a simple bee bath.

6. Taking too much honey

Honey is the colony's food supply, not a bonus. Leave the bees what they need, especially going into fall and winter. In the first year, the goal is a strong colony, and honey is a maybe. (Here's how we harvest without shortchanging the bees, and what to do if a hive runs light.)

7. Not keeping notes

You think you'll remember which hive had the spotty brood or when you last saw eggs. You won't. A few quick notes after each inspection turn guesses into patterns. (Our Apiary Management Journal was made for exactly this.)

8. Panicking over normal behavior

The first time we saw bees bearding, a big clump of them hanging off the front of the hive on a hot day, we were honestly worried something was wrong. It turns out that's just bees cooling off, like people sitting on the porch on a warm evening so the house doesn't get stuffy. Some other things that look alarming but are perfectly normal:

• Orientation flights: a cloud of young bees hovering at the entrance on warm afternoons, learning where home is
• A few dead bees at the entrance: older bees die every day, and housekeeping bees carry them out
• Drones being kicked out in fall: harsh, but it's how colonies save food for winter

When something seems off, take a photo, watch for a day or two, and ask someone before making big changes.

9. Ordering bees too late

Packages and nucs often sell out months ahead. If you want bees in spring, plan to order in winter.

10. Going it alone

Books and videos are great, but nothing beats having someone experienced look at your frames with you. Join a local beekeeping club, go to their meetings, and find a mentor if you can. Most beekeepers love helping new ones.

For a book to keep on the shelf, The Beekeeper's Handbook is a classic reference.

The takeaway

Mistakes are part of learning. The beekeepers who do well aren't the ones who never mess up. They're the ones who pay attention, write things down, and keep asking questions. And sometimes the biggest mistake is thinking you won't love it.

Just getting started? Begin with our Beginner's Guide to Beekeeping. 🐝