faqs.

how much space do I need to have a beehive?

We recommend that you place the hive out of any direct line of human or animal traffic with a 10-15’ radius to allow for the bees to fly in and out undisturbed. We can help you evaluate and decide on the best spot.

what about children and animals?

We do not recommend placing hives close to an animal enclosure or children’s play equipment. Children and other animals can live with a beehive without incident as long as safety precautions are followed.

will a hive of bees provide better pollination for my garden and trees?

It depends. If you grow a type of flower that is attractive to honey bees and in enough quantity you may receive visits. Honey bees practice “floral fidelity’ in which they will visit 1-500 of only one variety of flower on a single trip. This makes them very efficient in commercial pollination but sometimes not so great for the home gardener who will often have a variety of different blooms. Honey Bees will forage locally or up to 2-5 miles away from the hive, so it depends often whether or not there is something more attractive nearby. BUT! Your garden may be providing vital resources to our native bee populations, so don’t give up!

when will I get honey and how much?

Again, it depends on weather and what is in bloom in your area in addition to the health and well-being of your beehive. Honey is food for honey bees and while we do supplement with sugar syrup, we feel it is important not to deprive the bees of what they work so hard for. Oftentimes it can take over a year for a hive to make enough honey for a harvest. Hive maintenance clients can count on a minimum amount of honey which Little Rhody Beekeeping will provide if your hive does not produce (amounts are based on type of hive maintenance package)

do you treat the bees with medications or antibiotics?

We are not a treatment free operation. Little Rhody Beekeeping treats bees on an add-needed basis. We monitor mite levels with frequent testing and will treat the beehive if the varroa mite level meets or exceeds the acceptable infestation levels put forth by the Honey Bee Health Coalition. We can discuss with you the best course of action if a hive needs help. We will only give antibiotics to a hive if it needs it and the antibiotics are prescribed by a veterinarian as per law.

aren't bees wild? can’t you just let them take care of themselves?

Honey bees are considered domestic livestock. There are many pests and diseases, issues of pesticide use, poor nutrition from lack of forage for the bees to contend with and they need all the help they can get. Most hives in Rhode island will die off in the first one to two years after installation if not properly cared for.

what happens if my bees die or I discontinue service?

Many things can go wrong and we cannot guarantee that your bees will survive. Unfortunately, sometimes a colony of bees will die. With the whole hive package, we will replace your bees as soon as possible (season permitting, availability etc), with our “soup to nuts” package you can purchase another package or colony of bees and we will waive the installation fee. If you decide to discontinue service, the bees and the hive remain with you. Little Rhody Beekeeping will notify the state beekeeping inspector that we have discontinued serving your hive.

do I have to register my hive?

Little Rhody Beekeeping will register your hive for you or provide the paperwork to do so. It is state law that all hives are registered in the event of a disease outbreak. All information is kept confidential. Hives must be registered each year.

can I get lessons in beekeeping while you are servicing my hive?

We will provide 1 personal hive tour a year for you. Because scheduling can change easily due to needs at another location or weather, any and all beekeeping lessons are conducted separately from scheduled hive maintenance and with an additional cost.