What My First Year of Beekeeping in Colorado Taught Me
I run my first apiary at home in Welby, Colorado. This season taught me more than any book did. Here is what I would tell anyone thinking about starting bees along the Front Range.
What bees actually cost to start
This year I paid $165 for a 3 pound package of bees and $230 for each nucleus colony, called a nuc. Prices change by supplier and by year, so treat these as a snapshot, not a quote. Order early. Colorado bees sell out in winter and early spring, and the good sellers book up first.
Nuc or package?
A package is a box of bees with a queen, and the colony has to build everything from scratch. A nuc is a small working colony that already has drawn comb, brood, and food stores. A nuc costs more, but it starts the season ahead.
My advice is to ask to see the frames before you buy. Look at the age and condition of the comb. Dark, old comb is not what you want to bring home. I learned that one the hard way.
I lost a colony, and it was not the end
One of my colonies came down with European foulbrood, a bacterial disease that kills young larvae. It was discouraging. It also pushed me to inspect brood more closely and to get comfortable recognizing a healthy brood pattern. Having a beekeeper I trust nearby meant I could install a replacement nuc and keep going.
Find a mentor who answers your texts
The single best move I made was finding an experienced beekeeper who is willing to answer questions fast. Bees do not wait for business hours. A mentor can look at a photo of a frame and tell you in a minute what would take you a week of reading to figure out. If you want that kind of help, I offer one on one beekeeping mentorship.
Colorado is its own kind of beekeeping
Our climate is dry and our winters are cold, so winter preparation matters here. Plan for it early, and make sure each colony goes into the cold with enough food and enough bees.
Where I am headed
I am growing the apiary for next season and sharing the process as I go. If you want to follow a hive without keeping one yourself, read about adopting a hive. Follow along on Instagram at @BrianKeepsBees, and check back here for more posts.
Found a swarm or have bees in a building? Start with what to do about a swarm in your yard, or see my bee removal service.