County Dublin Beekeepers Association
Beginners Beekeeping Course 2025 New Syllabus – Draft 1
Talk 1 February 6th Introduction to beekeeping
- Introduction to the hive and the different parts
- Beekeeping personal equipment
- What bees do- collect pollen, nectar, water, proprolis
- Relationship of bees with flowering plants
- Bees and Wasps
- The native Irish Black Bee
- Record keeping – the importance of
Talk 2 February 13th The Colony
- Introduction to the colony Queen, workers, drones and their role in the colony
- How the colony lives in the hive, brood box, frames etc
- Reproduction sexual, timing egg to bee of each caste
- Reproduction by swarming, the reason for swarming brief explanation of why it happens
- Communication – pheromones, waggle dance, grooming, feeding.
- Threats to the colony introduction to disease and mites
Talk 3 February 27th The Beekeeping year February/March
- What is happening in the hive at this time of year queen, workers drones
- Feeding, the need for it and how to determine if the colony needs feeding
- How to observe a winter hive for the outside, hefting
- Sources of early nutrition, the importance of pollen at this time.
- Early sign of disease, observation of bottom boards, what might be happening
- Record keeping
- Reminder of what swarming is and what to look for
Talk 4 March 6th The Beekeeping year April/May
- What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers, drones.
- First inspection, how to go about it and when.
- Managing frames, brood and food
- Supers, what they are and how to use them
- Looking for signs of swarming
- Floral sources at this time of year
- Record keeping/ observing for disease on frames
Talk 5 March 20th The Beekeeping year June/July
- What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers drones
- The flow, how it effects the hive and how to be ready
- Floral resources at this time of year
- Adding suppers, how and when be ahead of the bees
- Managing swarming ( hand out on swarm control for beginners will be included)
- Increasing stock and making nucs
- Record keeping / observing for disease
Talk 6 March 27th The Beekeeping Year August/September
- What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers drones
- Removing honey, how and when to remove it
- Extracting the basic principles of
- Bottling of honey for personal use or Show!
- Feeding hives if they need it
- Treating for disease what to consider, keeping records
- Wasps
- Late flow, what to expect and when
Talk 7 April 10th The Beekeeping Year Preparing for winter
- What’s happening in the hive at this time of year, queen, workers drones
- Accessing colonies for winter
- Accessing hives for winter
- Feeding how to access it is needed
- Planning for next year
- Reviewing records
- Getting equipment ready, how frames are assembled
Honey Shows
Talk 8 April 17th Q and A and discussion with course speakers
- How to move forward with beekeeping
- How to get your own bees
- Some of the common pitfalls for all beginner beekeepers
Certificates of attendance
