Our Bees
Support healthy bees and small scale, sustainable beekeeping. Get our naturally raised bees and locally adapted queens.
We are now taking Queen Bee Pre-Orders for 2021.
Click here for more details.
We are now taking Package Orders for 2021.
Click here for more details.
FAQ
How do you select your breeding stock?
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Newly mated queens are produced by us in our own apiaries -
The breeder or “mother” queens we use for propagation are a mix of survivor stock VSH and Carniolan queens and survivor stock Russians who have overwintered successfully in the Northeast (Montague, MA) for at least one winter. -
The breeder queen mothers have overwintered for one full New England winters before being brought to an isolated breeding outpost in the South for early Spring queen rearing. -
These lines demonstrate resistance to varroa infestation and receive no chemical treatments. When mating, I select breeder queens based on a queen health protocol list I developed. I conduct bi-annual viral testing. -
I test and select for more resilient bees by monitoring mites regularly, and eliminating less mite resilient bees from my operation. I integrate manual manipulations to prevent treating breeder queens. -
When you buy a queen or package the queen you receive is NEWLY bred from a mix of my NE survivor stock queen mothers in locations with high drone saturation from both VSH queens and survivor stock Russian bees. -
These bees NEVER go to almond pollination.
What is a package of bees?
Packages, or package bees, are small wooden boxes with fine breathable screens on either side to provide ventilation. Inside of the box are 3lbs of honeybees, as well as a They Keep Bees survivor stock caged queen and a can of sugar feed for nutrition in transit.
Are these queens or packages treated?
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Our packages do not receive any chemical treatments. -
I run a strict manipulation protocol to avoid treating queen production colonies. See the breeding stock question above for more details.
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I work collaboratively with other survivor stock queen rearers to create saturated breeding zones. These ensure drone saturation of our selected genetics.
Why did you shift from selling nucleus colonies to package bees?
The production of nucleus colonies is a highly intensive process, which includes a massive input of labor, equipment, feed, and a specialized understanding of how to transport colonies safely in large numbers.
Why do I have to pay now?
When and where will I receive my package? Can you ship it?
How do I install the queen I purchased from you?
Queens will arrive via USPS, or be picked up on the farm. We recommend installing the queen in a small 3-5 frame nucleus hive, allowing the hive to accept the queen by first leaving her in the hive in a capped cage. 24 hours later remove the cap and allow bees to chew through the candy. After the hive has accepted her you can combine them with a larger hive or add additional resource/brood.
How can I get my queen?
You can order queens for shipping OR pick your queen up by appointment.