We do not ship live bees. Please choose your pickup location and date.

Our premium package bees include:

-Approximately 3lbs of bees (roughly 10,000 bees)

-A new, mated Italian/Carnolian queen

-"Bee Bus" plastic package for safer transportation

-Limited supply

-Learn how to install packages here!

Package bees are an economical way to get started in beekeeping. Unlike nucs or complete hives, package bees do not come with frames containing brood or honey. Check out our Purchasing Guide Quiz to see what equipment you need to get started!

Packages are our recommended option if you are stocking a top bar hive, or already have used equipment that has drawn comb.

Check out how to care for your bees when you first get them here!

What Are Package Bees?

Package bees are great for starting a new beehive or replenishing an existing colony. A typical bee package, often called a 'Bee Bus,' is a self-contained community of approximately 3 pounds of bees, equating to about 10,000 adult worker bees. These bees are a culmination of healthy, active, and robust workers and a queen bee.

These packages are available for beekeeper pickup at any of our three locations. Our emphasis on safe and secure transportation is paramount, hence the 'Bee Bus' – a well-ventilated plastic container designed to maintain the bees' optimal condition during their journey to their new home. The 'Bee Bus' concept prioritizes the bees' wellness and integrates functionality with an aesthetic that supports our beekeepers' handling ease.

Package Bees with a Mated Queen

A mated queen, the central figure in establishing a healthy and productive colony, accompanies each package. The queen resides within a separate protective cage to safeguard her during transport. Inclusively provided is an inverted can of sugar water, which serves as a food source to sustain the bees until they are settled into their hive and can begin foraging.

Upon introducing the package into an empty hive, beekeepers will securely place the queen's cage amongst the newly homed bees. A candy plug seals the cage, which the worker bees will gradually chew away, enabling a controlled and natural release process for the queen. This carefully orchestrated introduction gives the worker bees time to familiarize themselves with the queen's pheromones and accept her as their sovereign leader, thus promoting a harmonious integration.

Once free, the queen will become vital to the hive's prosperity by laying eggs and perpetuating the colony's lineage. This ceremonious act marks the beginning of the bee's industrious undertaking – establishing a complex, thriving colony that becomes a powerhouse of pollination and honey production.

The transition from package bees to a fully established hive offers new beekeepers a unique hands-on experience and the reward of witnessing the initial establishment of a hive's complex society. For seasoned bee enthusiasts, it presents an opportunity to extend their apiary and continue nurturing the ecosystem one hive at a time. The success of our beekeepers is of utmost importance, and we are here to support you every step of the way as you embark on this remarkable journey with your 2024 Package Bees.

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2024 Package Bees