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How to Choose the Right Bee Brush

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A bee brush is an important tool for a beekeeper. It comes handy while removing the bees, especially when one doesn’t resort to using fume boards or escapes to remove them from the honey. The bee brush also comes in handy while removing honey from the honey-supers and when they are massing.

Buying the Right Bee Brush

Bee brushes are inexpensive, but one should know to pick the right one. They are made from different materials and their touch varies. A brush with hard bristles can damage the tender parts of the bees such as wings and legs. A harsh bristle brush can make the bees aggressive, which can cause them to sting more than they would normally do.

There are 3 Main Points to Consider While Purchasing A Bee Brush:

·       Material of the Bristles

·       Material of the Handle

·       Size of the Brush

1. Material of the Bristles –

The most important thing to keep in mind while buying a bee brush is the material of the bristles. They are usually made of horse hair, pig hair, or synthetic material.

Horse and pig hair as it states come from the respective animals. Horse hair brushes are very gentle and the bristles could be either black or white. Pig hair bristles are a bit stiff and there are many beekeepers that use them in beekeeping most prefer to use horse hair bristles because they are softer than pig hair brushes.

Bristles that are made of synthetic material are both soft and easy to clean. They last longer than the natural bristled bee brushes and are very easy to maintain. Beekeepers have been using them for years and none of them have faced any issues with artificial bristles causing any damage to the bees. They are safe for the bees and the hive.

2. Material of the Handle –

Bee brushes come in both wooden and plastic. Wooden handles look chic and are biodegradable. Plastic, on the other hand, is not harmful to the bees and last longer than the wooden ones. However, brushes with bright plastic handles could be disturbing to the bees. Bees cannot see red, so if you want to pick a bright colored brush, then you can always take red.

 3. Size of the Brush –

A standard bee brush is anywhere between 14 and 16 inches long. A small brush may not be helpful in brushing the bees effectively. A very long brush could is just a burden to your hands while you are working with it. 

Many beekeepers also try to keep things natural by using turkey or goose feathers. But when the honey begins to stick on them, brushing off the bees can get difficult. So, you should have a good gentle bristled bee brush to do your task and you could always keep a couple of feathers for backup in case you cannot find your bee brush in your tool bag.

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Posted in: Beekeeper practices

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