The honey bees for sale are properly mated queens from known and purchased Queen Mother stock that are grafted and mated locally. We verify the new queens laying patterns before selling them to provide a quality product.
If the honey bees for sale that you are purchasing are a 5-frame NUC, we offer different ways you can do this to allow for any budget.
- You can do a “BYOB” (bring your own box) for the most economical purchase, where you come to the farm and pick up your bees placing our 5-frames right into your own 5-frame or 10-frame box.
- The next level up includes an EZ NUC that you can pick up your bees in, simply close the entrance, tape the lid and you are on your way.
- Lastly, we also build custom wooden 5-frame NUC boxes (unpainted) that you can pick up your bees in. We will put a screen across the entrance, bring a ratchet strap and you are on your way. Don’t forget to move the bees into a 10-frame box and paint that box after you do.
Not interested in Bees? We do a lot more at the farm than just bees. Click here to visit our Farm’s website and online farmstand
The first 3-in-1 Varroa monitoring tool!
Varroa EasyCheck is a practical tool for easy Varroa infestation monitoring on adult bees.
Alcohol wash, sugar roll, CO2 injection. These 3 methods are now available in the same tool. It's up to you to choose the method that suits you best!
Alcohol Wash
- Alcohol wash consists of immersing a sample of bees into alcohol and then gently shaking the EasyCheck to detach the phoretic mites so they can be counted
- Advantages: Fast and easy, it is recognized as the most accurate, reliable, and economical option for beekeepers
- Alcohol Method video
Icing Sugar Roll
- With this method, the bees are rolled with powdered sugar, causing the mites to separate from the bees
- The EasyCheck is then gently shaken, causing the sugar and the mites to pass through the white basket's holes
- Advantages: Inexpensive and keep the sample of bees alive
- Sugar Roll Method video
CO2 Injection
- The CO2 method, bees, and mites are rendered unconscious by exposure to carbon dioxide gas
- The sample of anesthetized bees is then gently shaken in the EasyCheck, causing the mites to fall from the bees
- Advantages: Fast and keep the sample of bees alive. Research conducted in Europe indicated results similar in accuracy to alcohol wash
- CO2 Injection Method video
Sample Size
- There are two lines on the white basket of the Varroa EasyCheck
- Lower line corresponds to about 200 bees and the upper line corresponds to 300 bees
- We advise you to take 300 bees to obtain the most accurate results possible
- In the case of weaker colonies, you can reduce this number to 200 bees
- You will obtain your infestation percentage by dividing the number of varroa found by 2 (if 200 bees) or 3 (if 300 bees)
Example: If you find 5 varroa mites with 300 bees, you have an infestation percentage of 5/3 = 1.66%
Number of mites = % Varroa infestation
3 for 300 bees
2 for 200 bees
(adjust according to sample size)
Features
- Designed for effectiveness: The filter basket is the key to EasyCheck’s reliability
- Quick and easy to use 3 easy steps
- Easily transportable and built to last
- Tight-fitting lid is leak-free and comfortable to use
- Two molded guidelines allow for samples of 200 or 300 bees
- Designed for effectiveness: Fallen mites pass through holes in the base and sides of the basket
- Transparent bowl allows accurate counting and reliable sampling
Depending on location and the time of year, alert thresholds range from > 1% to 5%. Check with your local association to determine thresholds in your area.
Education
We do not have honey bees for sale from our bee removals!
The honey bees that come to the farm from bee removals are quarantined for a period of time to allow us to monitor them for any pests or diseases as well as temperament. In most cases, we have to re-queen these colonies to help dilute the africanized traits that are common in our region; therefore. they are not for sale.
