2022/2023 Update: We are no longer selling queens or nucs for the foreseeable future
About Our Queens
We've been raising queens every summer since 2014 to supply our communities and beyond.
Contact us for details and availability. We make every effort to have queens available early and late in the season for emergencies.
Our queens are open-mated, propagated from several different lines including Buckfast and VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene). We select for hygiene, gentleness, honey production, and winter survival. We have been practicing instrumental insemination, and plan to incorporate it to accelerate our breeding goals.
For the last few years we have participated in the UBC hygienic bee breeding project on Bowen Island. The goal of the project is to breed hygienic bees that are more resistant to disease. When the project began, bees were tested all over BC using liquid nitrogen field assays and proteomics testing, and the best hives were selected to be queen and drone producers to bring over to Bowen Island. In the years we were involved with the project all of the contributing breeders kept their bees in the lower mainland. We do 2-3 rounds of isolated matings per season there with a group of dedicated beekeepers, and share the queens produced. These genetics are incorporated into our breeding stock.
Contact us for details and availability. We make every effort to have queens available early and late in the season for emergencies.
Our queens are open-mated, propagated from several different lines including Buckfast and VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene). We select for hygiene, gentleness, honey production, and winter survival. We have been practicing instrumental insemination, and plan to incorporate it to accelerate our breeding goals.
For the last few years we have participated in the UBC hygienic bee breeding project on Bowen Island. The goal of the project is to breed hygienic bees that are more resistant to disease. When the project began, bees were tested all over BC using liquid nitrogen field assays and proteomics testing, and the best hives were selected to be queen and drone producers to bring over to Bowen Island. In the years we were involved with the project all of the contributing breeders kept their bees in the lower mainland. We do 2-3 rounds of isolated matings per season there with a group of dedicated beekeepers, and share the queens produced. These genetics are incorporated into our breeding stock.
About Our Nucs
UPDATE: 2022 NUCS SOLD OUT
Our nucs include 4 deep frames, (3 brood frames and 1 mixed food frame) and include a 2021 mated queen (see info on our breeding lines above). They come in corrugated plastic nuc boxes that you can keep or return to us for reuse.
Pricing: TBA.
Timing: We aim to have our nucs ready to go in May, but this might be pushed into June depending on the weather. We will keep you updated on the timeline as best we can via email.
Pickup: Our apiary is located in Errington, BC. We will provide our address and pickup times closer to the pickup date. The nucs will be well-sealed, but make sure you can keep them from tipping over during transport.
Cancellations: If you need to cancel your nuc order, please let us know via email, and give us as much notice as you can so we can plan our season.
Our nucs include 4 deep frames, (3 brood frames and 1 mixed food frame) and include a 2021 mated queen (see info on our breeding lines above). They come in corrugated plastic nuc boxes that you can keep or return to us for reuse.
Pricing: TBA.
Timing: We aim to have our nucs ready to go in May, but this might be pushed into June depending on the weather. We will keep you updated on the timeline as best we can via email.
Pickup: Our apiary is located in Errington, BC. We will provide our address and pickup times closer to the pickup date. The nucs will be well-sealed, but make sure you can keep them from tipping over during transport.
Cancellations: If you need to cancel your nuc order, please let us know via email, and give us as much notice as you can so we can plan our season.
