Beekeeping Consultation

Getting your apiary started!

Establishing a successful apiary begins with informed decisions about hive location, orientation, and equipment. Proper site selection is crucial; hives should be placed in areas with ample morning sunlight, good air circulation, and protection from strong winds. Such conditions help maintain optimal hive temperatures and reduce moisture buildup, which can deter pests and diseases.

Pest Management: Having a discussion about pest management and various treatment options as well as answer any questions you may have about your current hives and their conditions.

Hive Inspection: We can help you with your inspections.  We can show you what to look for in a colony to determine its health.  We can provide information that your queen is healthy and that your workers are too.  Depending on the season we can advise about upcoming durths, summer and winter, to ensure your hives have enough food stores.

Hive Equipment: Thoughtful equipment selection and maintenance—like using clean, well-fitting components—are vital for preventing pest infestations and ensuring colony health.

Splitting: If you have a healthy hive(s) and want more hives we can help you do the split(s).  We can help you find the queen and select the frames to move into the new hive.  We can provide instructions on how to grow a new queen or help you introduce a queen you have purchased.

Honey Harvesting: When your nectar flow is over it is time to collect honey. You may not know what frames you can take and which you should leave.  Is it honey or still nectar?  We can help inform you about the right frames to collect and possible extraction methods. 

Personalized and tailored: Our Apiary Evaluation service provides personalized recommendations tailored to your specific environment and goals, setting the foundation for a healthy and productive beekeeping experience.

What does it cost: This is an on-site discussion.  Price includes travel time within 25 miles of Ten Acres Ranch and 60 minutes of discussion time.  For locations further than 25 miles, we charge for $2 each mile over 25 miles to the apiary.  So if we travel 30 miles to reach your apiary we would charge an additional, 5 miles * $2 = $10 dollars.  Any time over the original 60 minutes is charged in 15 minute increments at $15.  So $75 + $15 (15 additional minutes) = $90 (75 minutes of dicussion)