Host A Hive

Coalgate Honey Co. - Host a Hive
We are taking expressions of interest for our host a hive options for people living in Selwyn*, this is a great opportunity for people to have all the benefits of bees in their garden without the hassle of managing them, check out the options below and use the contact button below to get in touch and register your interest!

Packages

Backyard Package $35 per month $420 per year 1 fully managed Beehive 8kg of honey per year Frame of Comb Honey

Home and Garden Package $55 per month $660 per Year 2 fully managed beehives 14kg Honey per year Frame of Comb Honey

Lifestyle Block Package $95 per month $1140 per year 4 fully managed beehives 24kg honey per year Frame of Comb Honey

The Process

Step 1. Register you Interest 

Step 2. We will arrange a site visit

Step 3. Payment 

Step 4. Delivery

FAQ’s

How much space on my property do I need to Host a Hive?

As Bees can fly up to 3km to find food, they don’t know boundary fences and therefore only require a small space on your property. Beehives can be placed anywhere from apartment rooftops to small backyard sections in the city center. We are very careful to locate the beehives in a position on your property where the bees will not create a nuisance to you or anyone else. Register to see if your property is appropriate.

What happens when bees are first delivered?

Bees will progressively exit the hive and fly in small circles around the hive entrance. The circles will get gradually wider and further away from the beehive entrance. This is so the bees can get their bearings and familiarize themselves to their new surroundings. After 1-2 days, the bees will be accustomed with their new surroundings and will fly in straight lines to their closest nectar source such as your vegetable garden or fruit trees.

What about my pets?

Cats and Dogs are absolutely fine on the property while a beehive is present. Cats seem to be more inquisitive than Dogs but both are wise enough to know not to antagonize the bees! However, the odd one soon learns not to disturb the hive. If your cat or dog has a known allergy to bee stings then it would be wise to have an antihistamine on hand.

When do I get some of the yummy honey from my own beehive?

Our team harvest the hive once a year but only during the summer months. Our first harvest normally takes place in January, it is at this time that you as the host are supplied with some amazing honey from your own beehive. The full year’s supply of honey detailed in your Host a Hive package (6kg-12kg-20kg), will be provided to you in 1kg tubs. This honey is raw unprocessed natural honey harvested at our base in Coalgate. Additional honey from your hive may be available for purchase later in summer if requested prior to harvest. Talk to us about pricing details on honey.

What does it mean when the bees are all over the front of the hive?

Bees are complex little insects and there are many behaviors they display. It’s not unusual to see a small clump of bees around the entrance of the bee hive. On hot days, bees will cluster at the entrance to fan in cool air to keep the hive cool. During the summer months the bees will often congregate on the front of the beehive. Do not be alarmed when they do this as they are just cooling down and will eventually make their way back into the hive as they wish.

What does it mean when there are not many bees coming and going from the hive?

Again, bees are very complex little insects and there are many behaviors they display. On days that are a bit cooler, you will see less of the bees coming and going. On these days, bees will stay inside the hive and cluster within the frames to keep the queen warm and to keep the hive at a constant temperature of around 35 degrees Celsius.

How do I know if my hive has swarmed?

There is no way for you to know if a beehive is about to swarm unless you visually see the additional queen cells inside the hive. During spring bees often go through the natural process of swarming. Basically, the beehive creates a new queen cell and when it hatches, the old queen leaves the packed hive and swarms, taking a crowd of worker bees with her. The new queen will stay and take over the hive. Sometimes, if more than one queen hatches, there may be a number of smaller swarms. When bees swarm, they are not really dangerous even though they look and sound scary. A cloud of swarming bees needs somewhere to rest, normally they settle onto a branch within 30-50 meters of the hive. They can hang there anywhere from a few hours to a few days or even choose to permanently take up residence. They are not aggressive in this state as they are vulnerable and don’t have any hive or honey stores to protect. If you see that your hive has swarmed please contact us and we will come collect the swarm.

Can I enter the beehive?

As detailed in our Host a Hive Terms and Conditions, Hosts are not permitted to open the hive or to check the hive at any time unless asked too. The reason for this is that bees are extremely vulnerable to changes in temperature, and entering the hive, can cause undue stress on the colony. Disturbing the frames can be detrimental to the hive especially if the queen is lost or crushed. If this happens it can interrupt her laying patterns and can cause the hive to fail. Evidently, we wear a protective bee suit when entering a beehive, as the bees natural instinct is to protect the queen by stinging anything that could be a predator.

Can I join in on the fun?

If you are captivated by the little creatures like we are and you are interested in looking into the inside operations of the beehive, we can by appointment, arrange a close and personal experience with your Host a Hive bees. We are happy to spend some time with you during one of our visits and give a short tutorial on how the hive works and what the bees are doing. The bees are doing different things at different times of the year, but the best time to do this is from spring through to autumn. We can make it as hands on as you are comfortable with, with a real demonstration of what we do when servicing your Host a Hive. Bookings for these educational experiences are essential.