Question 1

How do you select your breeding stock?

Accepted Answer

Newly mated queens are produced by us in our own apiaries.
In our apiary the “mother” queens we use for propagation are VSH Pol-line and Carniolan who have overwintered successfully in the Northeast, and been evaluated for Varroa sensitive hygiene.  
These lines demonstrate resistance to varroa infestation and receive no chemical treatments. 
The breeder queen mothers are brought to an isolated breeding outpost for queen rearing.
When mating, we evaluate potential breeder queens based on our queen health protocol list.  We select for longevity, Varroa resistance and other important traits for our system. We conduct bi-annual viral testing.
We test and select for more resilient bees by monitoring mites regularly, and eliminating less mite resilient bees from the operation. We integrate manual manipulations for mite management as well.
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 VSH queens.
These bees NEVER go to almond pollination.  
Order your queens here!

Question 2

What does VSH mean?

Accepted Answer

VSH stands for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene, which is the behaviors of uncapping Varroa infested brood cells.  This behavior disrupts the Varroa mites reproductive cycle, and reduces the infestation of Varroa feeding on larva and emerging adult bees, thereby reducing the overall infestation.  
We evaluate our queens for Varroa resistance by conducting a Harbo assay on potential breeder queens.  A VSH selection protocol developed by Dr. John Harbo at the USDA Bee Lab in Baton Rouge, LA.  
Through this protocol we can assure our mother lines have the traits necessary to fight Varroa mites.  
In our apiary the “mother” queens we use for propagation are VSH Carniolan and Italian hybrid who have overwintered successfully in the Northeast and been evaluated for Varroa sensitive hygiene.  
When you buy a queen or package the queen you receive is NEWLY bred from a mix of our queen mothers in locations with high drone saturation by VSH drones.
Order your queens here!

Question 3

Do you offer bulk discounts on queens?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  Whether you are a bee club, or a passionate professional beekeeper... 
WE DO BULK DISCOUNTS:
20+ $33 each
50+ $30 each
Email us at info@theykeepbees.com to place large quantity or bulk discounts.
Order your queens here!

Question 4

How can I get my queen?

Accepted Answer

You can order queens for shipping OR pick your queen up by appointment.   
Currently we're taking orders for 2023. Click here to reserve your 2023 queens now.

Question 5

How do I install the queen I purchased from you?

Accepted Answer

Queens will arrive via FedEx, 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.  
Twenty four 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.  
If installing the queen in a large hive we recommend using a veil or queen muff to remove the "attendant" bees who made the trip with her, and placing the queen back in her cage alone, then installing her in the hive in a capped cage.  
Twenty four hours later remove the cap and allow bees to chew through the candy.

Question 6

Are these queens or packages treated?

Accepted Answer

Our breeding stock bees do not receive any chemical treatment.
We run a strict manipulation protocol for our breeding stock.  We run the same protocol for our production colonies, and do treat those with Oxalic & Formic Acid when necessary. 
See the breeding stock question above for more details.  
Our package bees are treated prior to being placed in their packages to reduce the risk of any possible disease transference.
Our management recommendations for beginners and non-queen producers is to monitor and have a treatment plan for mites when necessary.  We encourage you to make walk away splits of your best overwintered stock. Here's our favorite "walk away split recipe".
We recommend you thoroughly research and outline your management practices prior to purchasing bees.

Question 7

What is a package of bees?

Accepted Answer

Package bees replicate a swarm in the wild, the bees are primed to start drawing wax and raising brood.  Each package receives a newly mated queen from our survivor lines.
These queens are produced from Northern stock.

Packages come in a small wooden boxes with fine breathable screens on either side to provide ventilation.  Inside of the box are 3lbs of honeybees from our partner supplier, as well as a They Keep Bees VSH queen (in a cage) and a can of sugar feed for nutrition in transit.

The bees are ripe for installation and will be quick to begin drawing wax and raising brood in a new hive box setup.

Order your 2023 packages here.

You can install a package into a Langstroth, Warre, Comfort or Top Bar hive.

Question 8

How do I install a package?

Accepted Answer

Great question here's a video instructional guide for how to install a package. 
Order your 2022 packages here. 
You can install a package into a Langstroth, Warre, Comfort or Top Bar hive.

Question 9

Do you offer refunds on package bees, nucs or queens?

Accepted Answer

We DO NOT offer refunds on package bees or nucs.
We offer refunds on QUEENS ONLY prior to shipping.  Please submit a written refund request via email 1 week prior to the catch date.  A $15 admin fee is applied to any refunded queen order.  
There are NO refunds on queens who've been picked up or shipped.
Our policy is firm and not negotiable.

Why?  
Raising healthy bees and transporting them successfully across the East Coast is a specialized profession that is time consuming and high risk.  To absorb this risk we use a pre-order system, and use order numbers to plan our seasonal inputs.  
Bees are alive and can not be "reshelved".
We work hard to make sure your bees make it to you in the utmost health, and are ready to thrive in a new home.   
Prior to arrival, we send you instructional videos, and check lists.   However, you are responsible for your bees' health once they're in your hands.

NOTE:  To offset our strict refund policy, we offer sliding scales on beekeeper education consultations and classes.  Whether you purchase our bees or not, this is an effort to share skills so all the beekeepers can be successful.  Please see our Shop for details on classes and consultations, or email us with questions at info@theykeepbees.com.

Question 10

When and where will I receive my package? Can you ship it?

Accepted Answer

We do not ship package bees. 
Packages must be picked up at the farm in Montague each Spring.  A map can be found here.
All pick ups will occur at the apiary site at They Keep Bees.  The pick up date is set based on availability.  These dates are often impacted by inclement weather and how the bees are doing.  To ensure optimal bee health all pick up dates are firm and nonnegotiable. 
We appreciate your patience, and promise to be in clear communication throughout the process of preparing your package for sale.

Question 11

Why do I have to pay now?

Accepted Answer

Queen, package and nuc pre-orders require payment to reserve your bees.
When customers pay ahead, we can set realistic goals for production and absorb our Spring costs with less risk.  This, in turn, helps us plan securely so our business can sustain itself AND grow.

Thank you for your willingness to support this small scale apiary.

Question 12

What’s your refund/cancellation policy for your products?

Accepted Answer

At this time, we do not offer returns or refunds on our products.  All sales are final.

Question 13

What’s your fulfillment/shipping policy?

Accepted Answer

All product orders are processed within 7-14 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after receiving your order. You will receive another notification when your order has shipped.
For calculated shipping rates: Shipping charges for your order will be calculated and displayed at checkout.
Queen bees are shipped on designated "catch dates", based on seasonal availability, and will be fulfilled based on the date you selected at check out.  Any changes to queen bee orders must be made 1 week prior to your chosen catch date. 
Our product pickup hours are by appointment. We will be in touch with you via e-mail regarding a pickup time for your order. Please have your order confirmation email with you when you come.

THEY
KEEP
BEES

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions