Purchasing and Acquiring Bees
In a world where almost everything is just a click away, we tend to forget the origins and processes of the items we use. This is also true for beekeepers: when they need bees, they usually go to an online provider first. Investing in bees is a big deal, so choosing bees that are well-suited to your area and beekeeping technique is crucial. Where can you find bees? We'll go over that and any potential problems you might have:
Someone may be seeking to acquire new bees for a variety of reasons, such as:
So that they can begin beekeeping with the purchase of their first colony.To grow their hobby or company and amass more stock.
To replenish supplies after depleted due to overwintering or a disease epidemic.
To include novel genetic ingredients.
In the spring, when beekeepers are evaluating their winter losses or considering expansion in preparation for the new season, there is a significant demand for additional bees. This creates an immediate issue in the UK because there are frequently insufficient local producers to fulfil that demand. fresh season queens and nucs might not be ready until mid-June because the UK climate doesn't support the early development of fresh queens. To get around this, suppliers will frequently store nucs throughout the winter so they can sell them in the spring, but this rarely results in enough supply to fulfil demand. The allure of colonies led by prolific queens is hard to resist when you peruse the internet; after all, these queens are typically imported from countries that can start queen-rearing sooner than us. There are several issues with this on both an individual and societal level. The beekeeper will have to shell out a pretty penny for those queens, and their offspring won't fare so well in the British climate. They could seem like a decent investment while the weather is nice, but if summer isn't great, the bees won't be able to handle our wet winters and will likely struggle to produce any honey. More generally, it is important to minimise the introduction of pests and diseases into any area that accepts imported animals.
Where can I find bees for sale?
Like with any new hobby, it can be difficult for first-time beekeepers to figure out what supplies they'll need. Helpful resources like as local beekeeping associations are accessible at times like these. In addition to assisting novice beekeepers in establishing a colony, they frequently arrange for beekeeping training. You should go with this one. With the help of local bees and the new beekeeper's guidance and instruction, a colony can be quickly and easily established.
Once a beekeeper has established himself with a robust colony of bees, there's no need to purchase additional bees. In a productive and economical manner, they can boost their stock numbers with the materials at their disposal. Splitting strong colonies is one possibility, and there are a number of easy ways for people with a few colonies to raise queens. Check out the Healthy Bees Academy for more details on how to accomplish this. Many people also catch swarms to increase the number of their colonies. When a swarm of bees lands in a playground, it can be terrifying for kids and adults alike. Swarm collectors help alleviate this fear. Nevertheless, we must carefully consider the pros and downsides of dealing with swarms and guarantee that we are adequately equipped to handle them. Swarms are advantageous since they are both free and sourced locally. But their origin is a mystery to you, and you run the danger of introducing undesirable issues.
Locally adapted bees: what are their advantages?
What exactly are locally adapted bees, and why are they getting so much attention? No matter how many queens we raise or how many queens we get via splits, the majority of them will be open-mated. Our control over the drones they mate with is very limited, and as a result, the offspring of those queens are a hybrid of local and non-local genes. While no one is introducing bees from outside the area, the bees will eventually get fully adapted to the buying conditions they meet. Any features that aren't suitable for the area will naturally die off. When a severe winter occurs, for instance, bees whose characteristics aren't well-suited to it will go extinct. Those genes will be eliminated from the area, and the ones who manage to survive will be the ones to procreate the drones that will mate with your queens. Although there are many other variables that determine whether a colony thrives or fails, this simplified scenario should help show how evolution is constant and how a population can change to fit its niche.
| Acquisition Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Full Colonies | Offers a fully operational colony, typically including the hive and a couple of supers, ready for immediate integration. | Can be costly and might not always be available. Important to verify the queen's age and assess the colony's health to prevent introducing pests or diseases. |
| Nucleus Colonies | A smaller, functioning colony that's excellent for beginners, offering a manageable start and the potential for a honey crop in the first season. | These can be pricey and are often in high demand. Health checks are crucial to avoid pests or diseases. |
| Package Bees | An effective method for quickly expanding bee colonies. | Challenging to obtain, as they are primarily imported from New Zealand, and require experienced handling. There's also a health risk due to the importation process. |
| Queens | Purchasing a queen is more affordable than buying a nucleus or full colony, with a wider selection available. | High demand during peak seasons can make acquisition difficult. Introducing a new queen to an existing colony may be challenging, and there are health risks to consider. |
Bees that have adapted to their native environment are better able to handle the weather, the plants, and even certain types of pests and diseases that are exclusive to that area. Better able to adapt to changing seasons.
| Possible Issue | How Are You Going to Address This? |
|---|---|
| Conditions affecting the blood vessels (Alpha, beta, sacbrood, chalkbrood) | Hold the swarm for at least two days before feeding it in a quarantine apiary set up on foundation. Monitor them for a total of six weeks, or two cycles of brooding. Regularly check for diseases in the brood. Notify your bee inspector immediately if you suspect foulbrood. |
| The nose (Nosema) | Set up a quarantine apiary and place the swarm on foundation. Keeping your comb clean might help ward off nosema. |
| Varroa mites | During the initial week of hiving, before any sealed brood forms, use a bait frame of brood or administer a substance containing oxalic acid. Do this before you add any supers. |
| Character flaws (Poor temperament) | Either requeen the colony or merge with a more amiable one. |
| Bad pattern of placement (Poor laying pattern) | Verify that the colony has enough food and that there are no brood illnesses. Feed if necessary. Requeening or merging two healthy colonies are both viable options. |
| Swarms encountered late in the casting process (Late cast swarms) | Mating success is low for queens from swarms that mate late in the season. Consider joining forces with another colony. |
| Scheduling and preparation | Since it is impossible to predict when a swarm will become available, it is wise to have an additional hive prepared and ready to go. |
Choices available while purchasing bees
Bees are available for purchase in a number of different configurations, including nucleus colonies, package bees, single queens, and entire colonies. Your budget, the amount of colonies you are purchasing, and the purpose for which you intend to use the colony will all play a role in determining the format that you select. For instance, if you need to requeen a colony, you might purchase a single queen.
The message is straightforward.
You should join your local organisation if you are new to beekeeping. This will allow you to learn the new skills necessary to take care of your bees and will also allow you to build local contacts who will be able to assist you in locating local bees.
It is important to acquire the knowledge and abilities necessary to be able to raise your bee population if you already have bees but wish to increase your stock.
If you find yourself in a position where you have no choice but to purchase bees, you should give serious consideration to the origin of the bees and make every effort to avoid purchasing them from outside of your immediate vicinity.
Collecting swarms, another method of acquiring bees, involves its own considerations such as the unpredictability of swarm health and behavior, which are not explicitly detailed in the table but are important to acknowledge.
