Getting Ready for Bees, Day 5

Some beekeepers order their bees and then they are delivered through the mail. But, I have decided to order local and pick up my bees from Buzz Beekeeping in Rogersville, MO.

For first-time beekeepers, there are four ways to get started: installing package bees, installing swarms, installing nucleus colonies, and buying established colonies. I have ordered a nucleus colony, nuc for short. From what I have learned, this is the best way to get started because the name nucleous implies a young colony that will quickly grow to full size.

My nuc will contain five deep and drawn frames, a mated queen, bees, brood, honey, and pollen. The greatest advantage of purchasing bees this way is it offers a head start because they come with food already stored and brood of all ages. Choosing a nuc means there should be little interruption to colony growth from the time I pick them up to the time I install them in the garden.

When installing the nuc, I will take each frame from the cardboard box they came in, and insert them one-by-one into my hive. Once installed, we will put the top on the hive and leave them for a week. After this first week will be the official start of my beekeeping career!