Nucleus colonies are evaluated in late winter to early spring to ensure they are healthy and productive. Queens used for nucs come from the same breeding stock used for queens sold individually. They are raised in late summer and given one round of evaluations before winter sets in. Starting in the spring queens are evaluated once again and are removed from the program if they fail to meet the set standards.
Starter/finishers, mating nucs, breeder and drone mother colonies (bees, wax, and wooden ware) have never been treated with coumaphos, fluvalinate, amitraz, fipronil, antibiotics or Fumagilin-B. Commercial wax foundation is also never used, only un-waxed plastic foundation or plastic strips. Plastic foundation is either coated with wax collected from our colonies or sprayed with a thick sugar syrup prior to insertion into the hive. Colonies are never fed high fructose corn syrup, only cane sugar (sucrose) if needed. Management practices follow strict CNG (Certified Naturally Grown) codes of operation.
Nucleus colonies are $135. Each nuc contains 5 frames of bees/brood/honey/pollen and an overwintered proven queen. Depending on the season, nucs should be ready for pick-up the first or second week of April. This price does not include the box. Frames can either be transferred into your equipment when you pick up the nuc, you can purchase one of the two style boxes or you put a deposit down and return the box(es) to me within 2 months. The latter (purchasing or borrowing) is much better since bees won’t be lost in the transfer. Also, it may be too cold, rainy or windy to transfer the bees into your equipment without harming the colony.
Red Box
The red box is $15.00 and made out of plywood. It makes a great box for temporary splits or collecting swarms. I would not recommend leaving this nuc in the field for years.
White Box
The painted white box is $30.00 and made out of pine. It makes a great box for permanent use in the apiary.
If you decide to take the box(es) and return them to me, I am requiring a deposit at the full price of the box. Plus they must be returned to me within 2 months or you forfeit you deposit but you get to keep the box(es).
Payment is due when you arrive to pick up your nuc(s) and we are only accepting cash at this point.
Contact me directly to order nucs at jennifer@thequeenery.com
Jennifer Berry with Nucleus Bee Hives (Nucs)