As a hobby beekeeper, I’m always looking for ways to keep costs down while building my apiary. So I often get asked by newbies if it’s possible to start a beehive without purchasing bees from a supplier. The packages of bees for sale aren’t cheap, so some seek alternatives to avoid that upfront cost. While it is possible to skip buying packaged bees, it comes with tradeoffs. In this article I’ll share my experiences trying to go the free route, and why purchasing quality bees ultimately has advantages.
Catching a Swarm
One free way to acquire bees is intercepting a swarm in nature during spring swarming season. If you can capture it and quickly install it in a hive, you skip the cost of packaged bees. Last season I got lucky and caught a medium sized swarm that issued from a feral hive nearby. I was able to shake it directly from the tree branch into a hive body full of frames and get them established. That gave me a new colony without any upfront bee expense.
However, this is unreliable since swarms are unpredictable. You need to be ready to mobilize quickly when a swarm emergency occurs, which depends largely on luck and timing. I was fortunate that first year but have failed to catch a good swarm since due to their unpredictability. Sitting waiting for who-knows-how-long is hard when you just want to get started beekeeping as soon as possible. Still, with persistence it’s a cost-effective method.
Removing Unmanaged Hives
Another option some beekeepers pursue is finding feral hives out in structures, trees or elsewhere and removing the colony to an installed hive. If you can safely extract the colony and get the queen and majority of bees moved, it populates your equipment easily.
The trouble is first finding these unmanaged hives, then removing them without damaging the integrity of the colony. You may luck upon a massive feral hive in a barn wall, but it’s not a reliable method for obtaining bees. And be sure to check legality – some states require licenses or inspection before removing an unmanaged colony, even from your own property. It’s not technically “free” bees if you get slapped with a fine!
Splitting from Existing Hives
As my apiary grew, I learned to use splits from strong colonies to obtain free, local bees. By dividing big hives that could spare some population into daughter nucs (nucleus colonies), I expanded my hive count affordably. It does require you to have bees to start with however.
This approach allows you to rear queens and splits with regional adaptations and proven mite/disease resistance. But it again requires an existing hive surplus to get started. I now use this method annually to bolster numbers and requeen, but buying an initial package is still needed when you’re starting from zero. Splits are “freebees” but not for brand new beekeepers with no colonies established yet.
Bait Hives to Attract Swarms
Another route is using bait hives – set up complete hives with drawn comb and swarm lures – and waiting for scout bees to find it and move in. I’ve had hit-and-miss luck with this. One season a bait hive remained vacant, another year a small cast swarm moved in. Like catching swarms, it’s unpredictable.
Bait hives can take weeks or all season to attract a colony. Some recommend bait hives at range of locations, figuring the more chances the better odds of a hit. But that’s labor intensive for what may result in low yield. Better to start with a purchased nuc than wait on bait hives that may stay empty.
Long Wait Times
The downside of most of these free bee methods is the extensive time investment waiting for bees to arrive. If you miss the spring swarm window, you may have to wait many months or until next season. That can be quite demoralizing for eager new beekeepers raring to start their adventure. Impatient types may be better off just ordering packaged bees.
Of course if time is no issue, you can attempt traps, baits, and lures repeatedly until it works out. But for many, shelling out for bees is worth it to start sooner. Waiting half a year for bees can lead to losing interest in beekeeping entirely.
Genetic Diversity Concerns
Another consideration with attracting random swarms is genetics. You have very little control or understanding of their background, traits, and breed purity. A wild swarm could be a domesticated hive swarm or carry Africanized hybrid genetics in some regions.
Starting with quality packaged bees from reputable suppliers gives you known genetics. Having diverse bee stock with tested characteristics helps hives stay healthy and productive. Swarms are a genetic dice roll unless you can get them tested.
Risk of Disease/Mites
Related to the genetics is the risk of introducing diseases, mites, and other health issues when allowing in swarms from unknown sources. All it takes is one contagious swarm to infest your equipment or spread illness to managed hives.
Established operations are reluctant to take in swarms for this reason – better to control genetics and health factors than risk devastating viruses. Again, purchased bees from suppliers undergo health checks first.
Legalities of Removing Hives
One quick note on removing unmanaged hives – be absolutely sure it’s legal. Simply taking a colony you find, even on your own property, can violate laws in some states requiring inspection or licenses. You don’t want to get in hot water over bee theft due to ignorance!
Removing bees often requires certification as a bee remover in addition to being a registered beekeeper. Even collecting swarms can fall under agriculture department governance. Check your local laws thoroughly first!
Benefits of Quality Packaged Bees
Given the unpredictability and risks of finding free bee sources, purchasing quality packages has real advantages. You know you’ll get sufficient bees to start strong colonies in spring when conditions are ideal. Reputable suppliers provide healthy, disease-free stock from diverse genetic lines.
Introduction packages also come with mated, laying queens ideally suited for your region. Combining quality genetics and youth means purchased packages build up quickly into robust hives for maximum honey production.
Yes, packages cost money upfront. But they allow reliable establishment of thriving hives. For beekeepers who prioritize bootstrapping colonies in spring, quality packages are a worthy investment.
Joining a Beekeepers Association
One final tip for financing your beekeeping venture – join a local beekeeper association! These nonprofits provide huge amounts of guidance and often help members find deals on bees, equipment, and other supplies to reduce costs.
Through my local association, I saved over $100 per package on bulk bee orders. They also offer equipment grants and a shared extractor program for members. Mentorships, classes, and other free services also accelerated my learning curve dramatically.
Associations want you to succeed and provide great resources to new beekeepers. The nominal annual membership fees can yield big long-term savings and knowledge gains even if you pay for packaged bees upfront. Tap into that valuable community resource.
In summary, obtaining bees for free through swarms, traps, or hive removals is possible with some luck and patience. But for many new beekeepers, packaged bees from suppliers make starting strong, healthy hives each spring more reliable and still very worthwhile. With good mentors and beekeeper community support, the initial equipment and bee expenses are a surmountable challenge. Through education and experience, you can offset those costs over time – but quality bees are essential to get things flying each season!