NUCLEUS COLONIES
As of February 15th, 2023, it looks like we will have about 60 over-wintered nucleus colonies available for sale this spring (45 will be on deep frames and 15 or so will be on medium frames).
I will also have nucs available that will be made up from splits and new queens this spring. They will be available later in May, through June until around the fourth of July.
If all goes to plan, my goal is to have the over-wintered nucs ready for pick up the weekend of May 6th. This may vary depending on spring weather conditions and how much other work I have to do during April. At this point May 6 or 7 is the target date. Please understand that if you reserve a nuc that you will need to be a little flexible with your pick up dates.
The deep nucs will have five frames of bees. We shoot for three frames of brood and the other two frames having food stores of honey and pollen. The medium nucs will have seven frames - four frames of brood and three frames of food.
Each nuc will come with a marked queen that is a daughter of one of our best 2021 queens. These daughter queens were raised last summer and will have survived the 2022 - 23 winter.
The cost of the nuc is $230.00 for the over-wintered nucs and $210.00 for nucs from this season. The price is just for the bees and frames. You can use your own container to transfer the bees to your location or we can sell or lend you a container.
There are two options for containers for purchase for the deep frames. One is a plastic 'Pro Nuc' box which i get from Mann Lake. The cost for one of these is $25.00.
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/pro-nuc
The other option is a wooden nuc box. The cost for a wooden nuc box is $40.00.
Having a 'nuc' box is a good addition to your beekeeping equipment if you don't already have one. If you're new to beekeeping you will find they are very handy to have. If you have been beekeeping for awhile, you already know.
If you would like to borrow one of our boxes you may do so. We'll take a $40.00 deposit when you pick up the bees and return your deposit to you when you return the box.
The medium frame nucs will come in an 8-frame medium super with a wire inner cover and solid bottom board. You can buy the box for $40.00 or make a deposit as above.
If you would like the bees delivered to your location, we can deliver them to you as long as you are in our service area. We are also able to help you install the bees in your hive. The fee for this service will be dependent on when, where, and how many bees are to be delivered. Please make a note in the form below if you'd like to discuss help with installing them or having them delivered.
To reserve a nucleus colony pleae fill out the form below. As soon as we get it I will send you and invoice with the methods to pay. Your reservation will be locked in as soon as we receive payment. Around the first of April we will start sending e-mail notices with updates regarding how things are looking for when the bees will be ready.
