{"title":"Beekeeping Services","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"private-class-mentor-service","title":"Private Class - Mentor Service","description":"\u003cp id=\"yui_3_17_2_1_1622943512589_1579\"\u003eSometimes beginner and experienced beekeepers need a little extra hand with some on-site advice. Beekeeping can be difficult at times as you try to make sense of what your bees are doing. We were beginner beekeepers once, and we remember wondering if everything was going terribly or if everything was going well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor local customers within 20 miles of our store, we will visit your hives and consult for $125 for the first hour and $18.75 every 15 minutes after that. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen you purchase the service, that puts you on our list. Then, we will contact you to \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eschedule a day and time to perform the consultation. Generally, this service is performed on weekdays.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWould you like to come to our bee yard and get a private lesson? We can do that too. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome of the ways we can help you with our mentoring service include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHIVE INSPECTION\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA routine hive inspection is essential to every good beekeeper. During a hive inspection, a beekeeper can find out how well the bees are doing and if any action is needed. We can help with your inspection and advise on the next steps, and show you how to do your own inspection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHIVE SPLITTING \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have a particularly strong hive that you would like help splitting, we can help you find the queen and the right frames for the job. If you need to mark the queen before splitting or have queen cells that you would like transferred, we can help make that job easier for you. Splitting hives is a great way to keep your bees healthy and prosperous, as well as increase your apiary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePRE-BEEKEEPING HELP\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeed help figuring out what you need to get started? Meet with us early to see the equipment options and get a personalized consultation so you can get the equipment that works best for you. There is a lot to consider before getting your bees and get you started off on the right foot. These are great for our virtual consult. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHONEY HARVESTING\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf all goes well with your bees, you may be able to harvest a little honey for your friends and family. Not all frames are ripe for harvesting, so we can help go through your hive and pull frames that will do the job. It also helps you uncap and spin out your honey. It's quite a process, but it's helpful to have an experienced beekeeper alongside to help. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePOST MORTEM\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a colony dies, it is helpful to look at the frames and make a diagnosis as to why they died. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell, but we can help diagnose the situation to hopefully keep it from happening again. What do you do with the equipment? We can help you find a plan for that too. Losing colonies is part of beekeeping, but we can help reduce the pain from that sting. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBEE INSTALLATION\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen your bees arrive, it can be an intimidating process of \"installing\" them. We can help demystify this process and coach you through the steps, or you can watch us. Different techniques are used for packages and nucleus hives, and we can help you and your bees get started on the right foot. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSPACE PLANNING\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt can be difficult planning the right spot for your bees, as there are so many variables to take into account. Choosing your apiary location takes careful planning and prep to ensure you and your bees do well. If you need your hives moved to a new apiary, we can help with that too. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVARROA COUNTING\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVarroa mites can wreak havoc on a beehive, often going unnoticed until it is too late. It is practically impossible to just look for varroa mites on the bees, so we can offer a definitive count of the varroa mite population in your hive and give advice based on what is found. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSWARM CATCHING\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHave your bees swarmed, and you want to get them back? We can help you get your own bees back and transfer them into a new hive. There are certain tricks we can share with you to ensure your new (old) bees stay in their new hive, turning lemons into lemonade. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHIVE SITTING\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes, our schedules don't mesh well with our hobbies. If you aren't able to take care of your hives for a period of time, we can step in and help your bees while you are away. Whether that is feeding your bees are adding equipment to reduce the chances of swarming. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSO WHAT DOES IT COST?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no extra charge for locations within 20 miles of our retail store. This covers much of the Birmingham area. For locations further than 20 miles, we charge for $2 each mile over 20 miles to the apiary.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, if your apiary is 30 miles from our store, we would charge $125 for the first hour and $2 for each additional mile beyond 20. If we spent another 30 minutes with you and your bees, it would be only an additional $37.50. We don't charge mileage for the return trip. We calculate our time from the point we start talking about bees to when we stop. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you would like to book a time with us, please purchase the consult, and we will contact you immediately after to schedule an appropriate time. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe enjoy teaching and want you to be successful as a beekeeper, and our mentoring service gives you the opportunity to work with an experienced beekeeper with your bees.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Foxhound Bee Company","offers":[{"title":"One-on-One Private Class In Person","offer_id":47288960155900,"sku":"sku-39951956377737","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/1648\/7234\/files\/Private-Class-In-Person-or-Online-Foxhound-Bee-Company.png?v=1751296081"},{"product_id":"wax-dipping-wood-preservation-service","title":"Wax Dipping Wood Preservation Service","description":"\u003cp\u003ePainting equipment only to watch it peel and chip a season later gets old fast. Wax dipping is a different approach — the wood goes into a hot vat of wax, which drives out natural moisture and replaces it with a waterproof wax blend that penetrates the wood itself, rather than just sitting on the surface like paint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublic wax dipping runs on the third Friday of every month at our Irondale, Alabama location. Drop off assembled equipment ahead of time, or order new equipment plus the wax dipping service for each piece — we'll have it ready for pickup that Friday, or ship it out the following week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGet 5 free wax-dipped items with every 25 you purchase. The discount applies automatically once you add 30 items to your cart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBenefits of Wax Dipping\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLongevity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Properly wax-dipped wood commonly lasts 25+ years without needing to be re-dipped.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMoisture Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e The wax blend protects against rain, moisture, and rot — ideal for equipment that lives outdoors year-round.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePreservation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Replacing natural moisture with wax helps preserve the wood's structural integrity long-term.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDurability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wax-dipped wood resists wear better than painted or untreated wood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOur cypress woodenware is naturally more rot-resistant than pine to begin with, so wax dipping cypress equipment adds an extra layer of protection on top of a durable base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Process\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWood is submerged in a hot vat of our wax blend — a combination of microcrystalline and paraffin wax chosen so the finish doesn't melt in hot weather or stay tacky on the surface. The dipping time is long enough to drive out natural moisture and let the wax penetrate throughout, but the finished surface stays dry to the touch, not waxy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe also dip other wooden items on request — bat houses, birdhouses, furniture, anything that fits in the tank up to 48\" x 32\". Contact us for pricing on larger items.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I bring used equipment?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — just clean off loose paint, wax moth debris, dirt, mold, cobwebs, and loose wood first. A wire brush works well for old boxes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan painted equipment be dipped?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Paint color may shift slightly during the process. If you want to repaint afterward, it has to happen immediately while the wood is still hot — paint won't adhere once it cools.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes equipment need to be assembled first?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Unassembled pieces dip fine, and the wood doesn't change shape during the process, so joints still fit together afterward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat can't be wax-dipped?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrames don't need dipping since they're already protected inside the box. Screened bottom boards and metal-capped telescoping covers can be dipped, though a thin layer of wax may stick to the metal — cosmetic only, doesn't affect function. Plywood, masonite, and similar engineered woods are not good candidates, since the glue holding them together can fail and cause delamination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan pre-treated wood be dipped?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. We don't accept wood that's been pressure-treated or chemically treated with copper-naphthenate or similar products — those chemicals aren't safe around honeybees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDo you offer bulk discounts?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, for groups or sideline\/commercial beekeepers with a minimum of 50 boxes or pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow is this different from wax coating?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWax coating applies a thin surface layer of melted wax — protection stays at the surface and eventually wears off, and once it does, the wood can't be repainted without stripping the wax first. It's the finish typically used on cheap imported equipment. Wax dipping submerges the whole piece, so the wax penetrates throughout for protection that doesn't wear off the same way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Need\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-de\/products\/beekeeper-blend-wax-dipping-blocks\"\u003eBeekeeper Blend Wax Dipping Blocks\u003c\/a\u003e — for doing your own wax dipping at home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBrowse More\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en-de\/collections\/equipment-accessories\"\u003eEquipment Accessories\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Foxhound Bee Company","offers":[{"title":"Deep Box - Assembled","offer_id":47288972640508,"sku":"WAX DIP SERVICE DEEP","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium Box - Assembled","offer_id":47288972673276,"sku":"WAX DIP SERVICE MEDIUM","price":8.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Top Covers \/ Bottom Boards \/ Inner Covers \/ Etc...","offer_id":47288972706044,"sku":"WAX DIP SERVICE OTHER","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/1648\/7234\/files\/WaxDippingWoodPreservationService1.png?v=1768853232"}],"url":"https:\/\/proudlibertarian.com\/en-de\/collections\/beekeeping-services\/tag.oembed","provider":"Proud Libertarian","version":"1.0","type":"link"}