Where To Get Bees
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Before acquiring bees to populate your hives and starting your beekeeping journey, it is imperative that you understand the basics of bee society. These interesting winged creatures are actually social insects. They live in an organized and well-structured society. Each with a role and function to contribute to the production and growth of their colony. Bees are highly evolved insects that work together in tandem with nature for a more stable and productive ecosystem. One that could sustain life and the environment for a very long time. As social insects, they do various complex tasks not seen in a lot of solitary insects. They communicate, build and maintain hives, regulate hive temperature, colony defense coordination, environmental control, and do division of labor. Bees are considered superorganisms. The survival and development of the whole colony depend on the coordinated efforts of each individual bee. Each bee has its own role and responsibility in helping the hive thrive. They need to work together, none of them could do it alone.
The Bee Colony
A bee colony has three kinds of adult bees with distinct roles: the workers, drones, and a queen.
Worker Bees
These female bees are responsible for all the work done in the colony. They are small in build and unable to produce fertilized eggs. Their bodies are equipped with special scent glands, pollen baskets, wax glands, and brood food glands. These allow them to perform various labors in the colony.
The worker bees have different functions within the hive that changes as they age. As young bee workers, they tend to the queen and the larvae. They also produce wax combs, guard the hive entrance, clean and ventilate the hive, and produce honey (how long does honey last?). As they age, they go out to leave the nest to forage for nectar, pollen, water, and propolis. They have the largest population in the colony outnumbering the male bees by a ratio of 100 to 1. The average lifespan of worker bees is approximately six weeks.
Drones
These are the male bees whose main task is to spread the genes of their colony by mating with a queen. Male bees have larger bodies than worker bees but smaller than the queen. Drones are born from unfertilized eggs. They have bigger eyes in order to spot queens while flying. Their bodies don’t have stingers, pollen baskets, or wax glands. They are unable to feed themselves or forage for food.
Every day, they leave the colony to search for new queens to mate with. Drones mate outdoors in midair and they die immediately after mating. During lean times or winter months, some colonies force drones to leave the hive.
Queen
At any one moment, each colony contains just one queen. She is the mother of all and the hive's reproductive center. Queens are identifiable by the fact that they are laid in cells dedicated to raising queens. They're given more royal jelly, which contains more honey and pollen than the larval jelly that drones and workers eat. This allows them to outgrow the rest of the bees. Queens are the only females who have reached sexual maturity. Her abdomen is big, and her body is significantly longer than that of the drones or workers. Her thorax is somewhat bigger, and her stinger is slightly longer and curved than a worker's, but with fewer and shorter barbs.
Early in their lives, queens mate and store up to a million sperm in a unique sac within their bodies. She has the ability to mate with a dozen drones at once. Queens can lay about 1,500 eggs per day. Queens are capable of living up to five years but oftentimes only two to three years producing eggs. When a queen slows down egg production or the queen substance secreted is no longer adequate, workers prepare to replace or supersede her. They will once again designate queen cells and raise new virgin queens. The colony's quality, size, and temperament will depend on the genetic makeup of the queen along with the drones she has mated with.
Obtaining a Bee Colony
Knowing the bee structure society will enable you to understand how the bees work and operate. This will help you in managing them properly and in providing the ideal environment for them to be productive. Now, begs the question. Where do we get bees? Here are several methods to obtain a bee colony.
Catching a Swarm
There are times we come across a group of bees in the woods. We can usually see them settling on tree branches, hollow logs, mailboxes, and even fences. The cluster of bees is called swarm. Honey bees have the natural tendency to swarm. When a bee colony becomes too large needing more room, some bees leave in search of a new home. These swarms can be ushered by a beekeeper into a box and into a new hive. However, collecting a swarm can be dangerous especially if they are grouped on a high branch. More details on how to catch a swarm can be found in this article: “How to Catch a Swarm”. Buying bees is the simplest and safest option for a new beekeeper to start an apiary.
Buying a Package
This is often the method chosen by new beekeepers. A package of bees refers to a container or box of honey bees. This box serves as their transportation to their new hive. Bee packages come in different sizes and are sold by pound or weight. Number 3 or 3# (3 pounds) is the most common package. Three thousand five hundred bees are estimated to be around 1 pound, so a 3-pound bee package contains more or less 10,000 bees. What does a package constitute?
A screened wooden box is a well-ventilated lightweight container filled with 10,000 worker bees.
Feeding can be filled with sugar syrup to feed the bees while in transit.
A small cage containing a queen and a few worker bees to attend to her.
Bee packages can be ordered from breeders and can be shipped through USPS. They can be installed into any kind of hive. In a bee package, bees are not necessarily related to each other and are not related to the boxed queen. The queen is generally not from the same colony as the rest of the bees. This is to ensure that you have a young new mated queen for your new hive. For this reason, an adjustment period may be needed between the queen and the workers. Your bee provider should supply you with instructions and details. Such information as how to install the package in their new hive and how to introduce the queen to the workers. The indirect method is the most typical form of introduction. The bees eat their way through the food plug in the new queen's cage, at the same time becoming familiar with her in the process.
Advantages of a Packaged Bee
Less Expensive. A package of bees is less expensive than a nuc hive or full-sized hives. It offers a smaller investment. Expenses can easily pile up, especially for new beekeepers having to buy all the needed equipment and tools. Cost can be a determining factor in one’s decision.
Availability. This is likely the most significant benefit of purchasing a bee package. Because of its extensive availability, it is easy to find. In most cases, bee packages are ordered in the winter and delivered in the early spring. This will give the beekeeper a head start on his colony in order to take advantage of the spring bloom. And because it can be shipped anywhere, it is available to people who do not have nearby sources of bees.
Learning Experience. Buying a package of bees will give you a lot of room for learning opportunities. You will be able to witness the growth of a colony from scratch. Drawing out of fresh comb, laying of first brood, the growth in numbers and production of honey. Observing the process of the first of many things in a growing hive is a good educational experience for a new beekeeper.
Hive Design Flexibility. A package does not include frames unlike when you purchase a nuc. The bees can be transferred into any style of hive you prefer.
Less risk of diseases and pests. When buying bee packages you are only buying the bees and not any honeycomb. This reduces the chances of acquiring small hive beetles or wax moths that could be hiding in the wax.
Easier for new beekeepers. A small colony is easier for new beekeepers to handle and manage. As the colony grows, so will the beekeeper’s learning experience and knowledge.
Disadvantages of a Packaged Bee
Choose a bee provider with experience and a good reputation. Purchasing bees comes with its own set of risks. It is possible that you’ll be able to acquire a bundle with fewer numbers than you anticipated. Having a few hundred dead bees inside a package you received is also normal, as bees die every day in any hive. But if you have an excessive amount of dead bees, you might want to contact your supplier. The usual rule of thumb for acceptable dead bees inside a package after how many days in transit is around 1 inch deep or less. Sourcing your bees from a provider recommended by those in the beekeeping community may not guarantee you a problem-free transaction. But at least a good reputable business would imply quality and satisfactory service and dealings.
Risky Shipping. We have to understand that bees are living creatures. Being transported and going through unknown factors can be stressful for them. It is always risky to ship living creatures as there are a lot of factors that can be beyond anyone’s control. Know and understand the refund and replacement policy of your provider. There might be cases of dead queens, late deliveries, and a lot more unforeseen circumstances. Knowing and anticipating worse-case scenarios will help you weigh the pros and cons of having your packages shipped. If possible, it is better to pick up your packages.
Takes time for the colony to develop and requires feeding and support. One thing with starting a hive from a package of bees is that they will work from scratch. They have no built comb or brood to help the hive grow. They have a lot of work to do and it takes time for the colony to develop. Remember the lifespan of worker bees is only 4 to 6 weeks. So the colony needs to get to work quickly. It is also important to assess the resources they have on hand. As the colony is starting from scratch, they basically have nothing. They need to forage for food and water. If the current situation is unfavorable, like bad weather or nectar shortage, you may have to feed them until they are able to sustain on their own.
Possibility of rejected queen or absconding. Packages are created by shaking bees coming from different hives together. The queens are taken from a separate queen rearing hive. While they are all grouped and shipped together, the bees need time to accept their new queen. There is a chance that they might reject her and kill her. If not replaced in time, without a queen the whole hive will die. There is also a chance that the bees may decide to abscond. This happens when the bees decide to leave their new hive for some reason. There are certain scents, odors and pheromones found in the older hives and frames that make bees get accustomed to it. These are not found in new hives and frames. They have nothing invested yet in their new hive, so it is easy for them to leave if they find it unsatisfactory. Other reasons why bees abscond could be: uncomfortable hives, poor ventilation, strong winds, frequent disturbance, lack of forage, problems with their queen and more.
Buying A Nucleus Hive
A nucleus hive or “nuc” for short refers to a half-size colony. It is a small functioning colony containing all the things bees need to establish a productive colony. A nuc box is essentially a mini-hive that consists of the following:
3 to 5 built frames of comb that contain honey and brood
An established egg-laying queen
Around 10,000 worker bees
Purchasing a nuc gives you a head start in colony growth as the bees are not starting from scratch. All the bees inside the nuc are related to each other including the queen. This gives the hive higher chances of success in thriving and expanding. Most nuc hives are compatible with Langstroth hives which is the most common type of hive. Nuc hives are available from breeders and apiaries. However, since they are already established colonies, they cannot be shipped out. They must be purchased locally. Nucs are also more expensive as compared to a package of bees. One of the risks involved in purchasing nucs is the transfer of pests and diseases. Honeycomb from the donor hive can be infested with parasites and this can spread to your new hive.
Advantages of a Nuc Hive
All bees are related. A nuc contains a family of bees. All the bees are related together, and they are used to working with each other. The queen is their mother. She is already accepted and already laying brood. The hive will have a good chance of successfully expanding and growing as a result of this. The chances of superseding and absconding are also lesser.
Head Start. A nuc contains established frames of honey and brood. This alone gives your colony around 2 weeks head start on honey production. Your bees do not have to start from scratch.
Less feeding, monitoring, and support are needed. As nucs also come with frames of honey, there is no need to supplement their supply. Unlike with a package, you must feed the bees until they are able to build their own comb and make honey. As nucs are available only locally as they cannot be shipped, the bees are more resilient. They are established from a local region, therefore they are already accustomed to the climate and weather conditions. Adjustment is minimal.
Easy to install. Transition tends to be less stressful for the bees from a nuc hive into a new hive. As they come with the frames of built comb, they are essentially bringing a part of their home with them. Installation is easier as nuc frames can be carefully placed inside the new hive without much disruption.
Disadvantages of a Nuc Hive
Not readily available. As nucs are already established as fully functioning colonies, they are not flexible for shipping. They come with frames of comb which are too fragile to ship. They can only be bought locally. This makes them difficult to acquire. Some good quality nuc sellers also have a waiting list. Pre-order around 6 to 12 months in advance is not uncommon.
More expensive. They are usually more expensive as compared to packaged bees. The higher costs are due to the expenses and time incurred in raising the colony. Each colony has to be carefully cultivated before transporting to its new home.
Frames are usually compatible with Langstroth hive frames only. Most nucs available come in deep boxes with deep frames. They are mostly compatible with Langstroth hives. It is quite difficult to find nucs for top bar and Warre hives.
Higher chances of pests and diseases or may contain pesticides. Nuc hives contain frames of honeycomb with honey and brood that come from the donor hive. This increases the chances of parasites being passed on to the new hive. For the same reason, the chances that the honeycomb contained pesticides and fungicides for treatment could also be possible.
Buying an Established Hive
Another option to get bees is to purchase an established hive. Though this may be uncommon, it does happen. Established hives can be purchased any time of the year from another local beekeeper. What is great about this is that the hive is already well-established. The prices may vary as you are also purchasing the hive and its corresponding components. However, there are a few drawbacks if you choose to go this route:
Established hives defend their hives more aggressively as compared to those just starting out. So this might be a challenge for the new beekeeper to handle.
An established hive would definitely have more bees, hive inspections would be harder.
It would also be difficult to know the health of the bees. Like if they were infested with mites before or if chemicals have been used on them.
All in all, an established hive is good to have as you wouldn’t have to start from scratch and everything has been set in place. Managing an established hive would be a challenge for the new beekeeper. If you decide to take on this work rather than starting from scratch, don't depend solely on the seller's verbal responses. You must examine the hive's current state. Prior to purchasing, it may be a good idea to schedule a visit and do a thorough examination. A few things to keep in mind when inspecting:
Lift out a few frames and look for healthy food stores and brood.
Check the health and age of the queen. The queen should be healthy and still in its egg-laying prime age.
Check the condition of the hive and its components. It is normal for the hive to have some sort of smell but it should not be foul-smelling. Boxes and frames should be free of damage and wood rot.
There should also be a lot of healthy worker bees and capped honey stores.
Look at the condition of the seller’s equipment and tools and observe how they handle the bees.
Bees are usually bought from beekeeping businesses but you can also buy them from another hobbyist beekeeper. Ask around your local bee group for any reputable company where you can source your bees. Start research early as you need to reserve your bees several months before the spring season begins. One important factor to consider when buying bees is where they came from. The climate and weather conditions are essential to the survival rate of your colony. Locally purchasing your bees means they are already acclimated to the conditions in your region. This will give them a higher chance of survival and success.
Another thing worth looking into are the operational practices of the beekeeper selling them. In particular, mite management and feeding practices whether they heavily feed the bees. It is important to find a beekeeper who does things similar to your ways. Knowing the beekeeping ways the bees are accustomed to will make management easier for you and your bees.
Beekeeping is a Partnership With Your Bees
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding how to get bees. Look into your situation and assess what is best for you. Do you have a supplier locally? What is your budget? Do you have the time to start from scratch or a queen introduction? How early or late in the season do you want to start your colony? No matter which you choose, remember that beekeeping is a partnership. The bees will never be under our control. We should listen, observe and learn from them. They have the capability to develop into a strong and healthy colony. We just need to know the environment and practices that could help and support them to achieve it. Things will not always go as planned, mishaps will surely happen along the way. But it always helps to plan ahead, prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
Don’t forget to check out our all in one guide for homesteading, farming and ranching in Texas.
