5: Four Ways To Get Bees
10LESSONS
Overview- How to get bees
Method 1: Buying a nucleus (nuc)
Method 2: Getting a split
Method 3: Catching a swarm
Method 4: Buying a package (featuring Michael Bush)
Bonus method: Setting up a bait hive [TEXT ONLY]
How to move a swarm [TEXT ONLY]
Races of Bees [TEXT ONLY]
A quick note about feeding [TEXT ONLY]
ASSESMENT (Optional)
Overview - How to get bees
5: Four Ways To Get Bees
So you’ve got a hive, but you still need the most important ingredient - some bees! There are 4 main ways to get bees - a nuc, a split, a swarm or a package.
- Nuc – A nuc or nucleus is a mini, already-functioning hive. Comes complete with frames, brood, bees, a queen, pollen and honey stores. Just transfer the frames into your new hive box and add some more frames.
- Split – A split is when you take some frames with bees from the hive of another keeper, which must be done at the right time of year. Then add a queen which you can order in the mail from a queen breeder. It’s also possible they will raise their own queen, given the right conditions.
- Swarm – When bees reach high enough numbers they swarm to form new hives, usually in the springtime. The queen will leave the hive with half the bees and temporarily land nearby. Put your bee box underneath the swarm and shake the branch to get the bees into your new hive.
- Package – You can order a package containing a mated queen and about 10,000 bees in a ventilator box. Bee breeders will send the package by mail, and you transfer them into your hive.
BONUS METHOD: A bait hive is a less commonly used method, where an empty box with a scent is used to lure a swarm of bees in.