Can I keep bees in my backyard in Illinois?

Can I keep bees in my backyard in Illinois?

If a property is under one-quarter acre then two hives can be kept. This raises to four hives over one-quarter and eight over one acre. Within 10 feet from the hives, water must be placed. A six-foot flyway barrier has to be installed if hives are within 20 feet of a property line.

How much is it to buy a honey bee?

Your cost per bee—dead or alive—is about $75/10500 or 0.71 cents per bee. However, this calculation does not consider the mated queen that came with the package. So let’s deduct $20 for her and recalculate. Your price per semi-well fed worker is now $55/10500 bees or 0.52 cents.

How much does a honey queen bee cost?

Buying a mated queen bee from a reputable breeder should only set you back $30-$50 on average. These queens are open mated.

How much does it cost to buy a colony of bees?

As of this writing, a single new hive may cost about $150, clothing and gear may cost about $160, and a package of new bees may run $125 to $150. Often you can find starter kits with bees, boxes, and gear for a better combined price. Read more about beekeeping supplies.

Do you need a license to keep bees in Illinois?

TO ALL BEEKEEPERS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS: In compliance with the Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act, every person keeping bees must register with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. There is no charge for registration.

Can you be a beekeeper in Illinois?

Additionally, the State of Illinois requires all Beekeepers follow its rules and regulations as defined in the Bees and Apiaries Act and register their colonies with the Illinois Department of Agriculture within 10 days of starting a colony. Information on these programs can be found here.

How expensive is it to start keeping bees?

The minimum cost to start beekeeping with one beehive is about $760 for the first year. One set of hive components costs around $270. A bee package is approximately $175. Protective gear and basic tools cost $165 while miscellaneous costs for supplies and sales taxes are about $150.

How much honey will one hive produce?

A typical beehive in the United States can produce anywhere from 10 to 200 pounds of honey in a year. That is an unbelievably large range, which indicates just how critical these variables are in order for a beehive to reach peak honey production.

Can I start a beehive in my backyard?

If you live in an urban area, you might believe that starting a beehive is impossible. But it’s not. Urban rooftops and suburban backyards can be suitable sites for beehives.

How many bees do I need to start a hive?

The average backyard hobbyist should always start with 2 or more. Why? With two hives, you can compare the hives to each other. Usually if both hives are acting the same way, it is a normal bee “thing”.

How do I become a beekeeper in Illinois?

Registration can be done by completing the fillable form accessible on the Apiary webpage, signing the form and mailing it to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. A registration certificate (including a registration number) is provided to beekeepers who register with the IDOA.

How do I register my bees in Illinois?

How much time does beekeeping take?

time-efficient, or really just curious about how much time a beekeeping hobby or business takes, I’ve got you covered. For the backyard beekeepers, it’s reasonable to expect around 26 hours per year for a hive and about 39 hours for two hives.

Can I take honey from a first year hive?

It depends entirely on the health of your bees, their hive style, your location, the weather and available forage. You should never plan to harvest in your first year, but you can expect to pull anywhere from 25 – 100 lbs of honey from an established colony in a successful year.

How much land do I need for bees?

Each hive takes up about 2.5 square feet and should have a radius of space around it of at least five feet. Most beekeepers have between one and four hives. Remember, beehives are not set-and-forget. They require work to maintain.

How far should a beehive be from your house?

Even though each case is different, we can use some general estimates of a safe distance to be from the hive. For a honey bee colony with a calm temperature, give yourself at least 4 feet of clearance behind the hive and on each side if possible.

Which is the best time to start keeping bees?

spring
In most areas, spring is the best time to start your beekeeping journey. As the cold season ends, an increase in forage makes it the perfect environment for a new hive to thrive. Plus expanding colonies make it the easiest time to source a colony of bees to call your own.

Can you sell honey in Illinois?

Honey in the comb or that is removed from the comb and in an unadulterated condition is exempt if the producer packs or sells less than 500 gallons. Per the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act [410 ILCS 620/27], honey is exempt from inspection; however, federal labeling laws must be followed (Page 6).