Bee breeding is considered a promising area. With the right approach, it helps to make excellent profits. However, this type of activity has many nuances. First of all, it is important to find out exactly how much a hive with bees costs. In fact, the exact price depends on many factors. These include the quality of the bee colony, time of year and other features.
average cost
Before purchasing a high-quality bee swarm, it is worth analyzing all the offers on the market and average prices. In this case, it is advisable to buy bees that live near an existing apiary.This point is due to the fact that transporting families is associated with certain risks of loss. Sometimes working individuals die during transportation to a new location.
If there are no offers in a certain region, you should look for a family with a queen in other regions.
The average cost of bee communities in Russia is 5 thousand rubles. The price differs depending on regional characteristics. 1 bee package will cost about 3 thousand rubles.
Purchase Features
Before you start breeding bees, you should familiarize yourself with the main features of their purchase. It is important to consider the following:
- It is recommended to make a purchase after a cleansing flight. During this period, it will be possible to objectively assess the condition of the insects. The best time to buy bees is from late April to early May.
- It is important to purchase modern hives that are in good condition. At the same time, they need to be carefully inspected, opening the honeycombs. They should be light brown in color. It is important that the cells have the correct shape.
- A healthy bee colony takes 5-6 frames. They include fertilized larvae and individuals of different ages.
- The quality of the swarm is indicated by sufficient reserves of honey in the hive. They must be at least 5 kilograms.
Before purchasing a hive, it is important to make sure that the bees have survived the winter well. They must vigorously fly out of their homes to cleanse the body of fecal accumulations. Weak bees that do not move well are likely to be sick in the winter.
The main parameter that you need to pay attention to when purchasing hives is the presence of a productive queen. The young individual lays her eggs in continuous circles. If they cannot be found, the uterus is most likely old.Also, you should not buy a hive in which the queen bee did not expel the drones in the fall.
Bee packages
Many beekeepers buy bee packages for their apiaries. Their cost is 3 thousand rubles, while a swarm of bees will cost at least 5 thousand. The results of wintering may affect the price of the family. If it was unfavorable, prices often increase.
When purchasing a bee package, it is important to take into account a number of features. According to GOST, it should contain 4 or 6 full frames - the specific number depends on the type of package. The four-frame package includes 2 cover frames with food and 2 inner frames with printed brood. Inside should contain 1.5 kilograms of workers and a young productive queen.
When purchasing a bee package, it is recommended to focus on the following features:
- family activity;
- absence of visible death of bees - the number of dead individuals should not exceed 20;
- presence of a uterus.
Initially, you should buy 2-5 bee packages. As the apiary develops, they will form 10 full-fledged families. After the bees are delivered to the farm, the package must be placed in the place where the family will permanently live. Insects should not be disturbed during the day. During this time, they will adapt to the new place and calm down. After this, it is recommended to install a permanent hive in place of the package box and move the frames with the bee colony into it.
Buying season
It is worth buying a bee colony in the spring or early summer, when it contains brood of different ages - from open to closed. However, you can make a purchase in the fall.
How much does a family of bees cost along with a hive?
To save money, it is better to buy a ready-made hive with bees. The minimum price for a family with a hive is 4 thousand rubles. At the same time, on average, you will have to pay 6 thousand rubles for a full-fledged family. The cost of a bee colony with a hive decreases with the onset of hot summer.
To engage in beekeeping, you need to purchase everything you need. The most important thing in this matter is the purchase of hives with high-quality bee colonies.
To make the right choice, you need to consider many factors. These include the number of worker bees, the presence of a productive queen, and the presence of brood on the frame. Also, when purchasing a bee community, you should definitely consider the time of year and cost.
