Mason Jar Beekeeping: Beginners Guide To Beehives in Jars

Over the years I’ve been hesitant on learning to keep bees. It just seems complex and requires the right tools and knowledge.  Sometimes it takes something unconventional to really pique my interest and get me to take the plunge.  Mason jar beekeeping falls into this category. So, what’s the buzz?

What is Mason Jar Beekeeping?

Mason jar beekeeping is a form of beekeeping that uses mason jars that are placed over a productive hive of honeybees. The honeybees will eventually move into the mason jars, building comb right in the mason jars. This seems like an easy way to keep bees, especially for a common suburban backyard or small spaces. 

Why Mason Jar Beekeeping?

Mason Jar beekeeping can be a great way to keep honey bees compared to conventional beekeeping. It involves less intervention and manipulation of the hive, making it more suitable for folks, like me, who are new to beekeeping.

As interesting as this seems, mason jar beekeeping isn’t standard beekeeping. Furthermore, some traditional beekeepers would not recommend it. 

Get Started With Mason Jar Beekeeping

​Getting started with mason jar beekeeping is really no different than conventional beekeeping.  You must have the right tools and a solid understanding of keeping bees.  Beginning Beekeeping: Everything You Need to Make Your Hive Thrive! is a great book for beginner beekeeping. A good beekeeping mentor goes a long way too.

How To Keep Bees in Mason Jars

Starting with a productive hive and healthy bees is the first step to successfully keep honey bees in mason jars.  Many beekeepers who have had luck with this method use a top bar hive, with wooden bars or slats covering the top of the brood box.

A piece of wood with classic canning jar size cut outs is placed over the bars. Mason jars, with a little melted beeswax in the bottom, are then added over the holes.  

You can then place a hive body on top of the frame so it surrounds your mason jars. Overtime the honeybees will build comb in the empty jar.  To keep the queen from laying eggs in the mason jars, a queen excluder can be used.

Once the mason jars are filled with honey comb the jars can be removed and left to sit overnight. Ideally, the bees will return back to their top bar hive.  You can then top off the mason jars with honey.  

When Is Mason Jar Beekeeping the Most Successful?

Mason jar beekeeping can be successful any time of year. However, many beekeepers have had the most success with mason jar beekeeping in the summer months when honey production is at its peak. 

Encouraging Bees to Build Honeycomb in Jars 

Bees can be encouraged to build comb on the glass jars by melting some bees wax into the bottom of the empty jar and adding wax starter strips. The scent of the beeswax will lead them into the glass jars.

Harvesting Honey From a Mason Jar Beehive

Harvest honey by unscrewing the glass jars from the frames. You can gently shake the bees out, or use a bee escape to remove bees from mason jars. Bees will naturally return to the hive, leaving the honeycomb and honey in the glass jars.

Tips for Mason Jar Beekeeping

Having a strong foundation in beekeeping basics is crucial. Understanding bee behavior, hive management, and common issues will help.

Furthermore, be sure your hive has good ventilation and insulation from extreme weather.  Also be sure to monitor the size of the colony, making sure it isn’t getting too big for the glass jars.

A good food source is also key a key to keeping healthy honeybees. Also be sure to keep a close eye out for signs of disease and pests, since mason jar beehives can be less functional.

Remember that traditional beehives are widely used for a reason. They are tried and true when it comes to keeping healthy honeybee colonies.

Mason jar beekeeping can bee seen more as a novelty idea. Although, some beekeepers who sell honey love the idea of mason jar beekeeping so they can sell the jar of honey with the beautiful honeycomb built right in. 

The Good News of Mason Jar Beekeeping

Mason jar beekeeping is a great way to be able to observe bees in action.  You can remove the hive body to easily check on their progress.  Once your jars are full, you’ll have honey comb full of honey that has been untouched by human hands.  Pretty cool, right?  

The Bad News of Mason Jar Beekeeping

While mason jar beekeeping has its perks, there are several potential problems and challenges with mason jar beekeeping.

Glass Jars Have Limited Space. 

In mason jars, the bees will quickly outgrow their space, which could cause stress in the colony. Stressed honeybees are not happy honeybees.

Mason Jars Lack Ventilation

​Proper ventilation is crucial for a healthy bee colony. Poor ventilation can lead to issues such as moisture buildup, mold, and diseases.

Mason Jar Beekeeping May Limit Honey Production

Mason jar beekeeping may not yield as much honey as conventional beekeeping. The small spaces in the glass jars limits the amount of honey that can be produced.

Hive Management is More Difficult

Traditional beehives are designed with removable frames, which makes hive inspections easy for beekeepers. Being able to monitor the health of the colony, inspect the comb, and address issues such as pests and diseases is a must for healthy bees.

Small Spaces May Increase Aggression in Bees

Overcrowded and stressed honey bees may become aggressive. Mason jar beekeeping could potentially lead to a higher risk of bee stings and difficulty in managing the bees, especially for new beekeepers.

Ethical Considerations in Keeping Honey Bees

Beekeeping practices should prioritize the well-being of the bees. Some beekeepers see mason jar beekeeping as an attempt to oversimplify the process, which could effect the health of honey bees.

Mason Jar Beehive Vs Regular Hive

When comparing mason jar beekeeping to conventional bee keeping methods, there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Lets take a closer look at the two. 

Simplicity, Cost, & Functionality

Mason jar beekeeping is a more simple setup with the top bar hive and glass jars, which may cost less, compared to conventional beekeeping. The simple set up and low cost may attract new beekeepers.

Traditional hives are set up with a series of frames, which are more expensive and complex but will allow for full functionality of the beehive.  

Space, Size, & Production

Traditional beekeeping methods are going to give honeybees much more space when building comb compared to mason jar beekeeping. In the long run, you’re more likely to have happier, healthy bees that produce more honey. 

Finding A Mentor

Having a good mentor is so important when it comes to keeping honeybees.  Within the beekeeping community, you are more likely to find a mentor that keeps honeybees using traditional methods. While finding a local mentor in mason jar beekeeping may be difficult.

Mason Jar Beekeeping on the Homestead

While mason jar beekeeping may be fun to try on your homestead, you must first have a successful, productive hive for it to work best. So, let’s get busy learning homesteading skills and all things beekeeping. Maybe one day we can both have a mason jar filled with a beautiful honeycomb that was built right in.

Happy Homesteading & Beekeeping,

Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides!