2026 Over-wintered queens and 5-frame Nuc colonies will be ready for local pickup in April (we do not ship as we feel this is detrimental to queen acceptance and health/colony health) 

First reserve, first serve. We’ll give you a phone call to arrange a time and day for local pickup a week+ prior. If you are in a club or someone placing a larger order = 30+ queens/10+ nucs, we can arrange to deliver within 60-mile radius of our location near the fish hatchery at Cave Run Lake, Morehead Ky, with full payment up-front.

Reserve yours now, as they will go quick. We’ll also be taking 10 back-up reservations of each for no shows or if we have more than expected. Reservations are refundable if we can’t fill the order or can be applied toward 2026 Spring queens/nucs which will begin to be available May 2026. Please specify if you want your queen marked (free); we do not clip.

These over-wintered queens/nucs are survivors, bred summer 2021 and have the proven reliability of getting their colonies through winter with flying colors. Their genetics are a mix from mostly Russian, but some Saskatraz, Caniolan, and Caucasian stock. Their colonies were treated with only natural treatments (Oxalic Acid and Apigaurd) for Verroa mites. They have never been exposed to harsh chemicals or wax containing harsh chemicals. Open mated in Daniel Boone National Forest around Cave Run Lake; never shipped or banked. Just fantastic, local, stress-free honey bees.

If you wish to inspect the hive before leaving the property you may do so however there are no refunds once you drive away. We close the entrances early the morning of pickup to ensure the foragers stay in the box so if you open the nuc to inspect on while still on site you can expect that you will lose most of your foragers.

We graft from queens that produce gentle, productive bees, that can survive Verroa mites with adequate bee husbandry.

If you are a new beekeeper that would like to get inside a hive and learn some basics, let us know in the comment section at check out and we’ll schedule your pick-up date/time to allow for some instructional time. Bring a suit! 😊