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The Beekeeper’s Roadmap – Volume 1: Before Your Bees Arrive

Getting ready for your first honey bee colony? A little preparation can make a big difference.

The Beekeeper’s Roadmap is a practical guide designed to help beginning beekeepers prepare for the arrival of their first nuc.

Written by Gwen Williams, Cornell University Certified Master Beekeeper, this guide covers hive location, equipment, feeders, feeding, nuc transportation, installation day, and your first 14 days with your new colony.

Inside you'll find:

  • Practical guidance for preparing your apiary

  • Equipment and feeding recommendations

  • Step-by-step nuc installation instructions

  • First 7-day and 14-day inspection checklists

  • Tips for recognizing colony progress and potential problems

Digital PDF | 26 pages | Instant download

Part of The Beekeeper’s Learning Series.

Practical knowledge. One step at a time.

$14.95

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Buying Nucs from San Juan Bee Supply

What You Need to Know

  • 5 frame nucleus (nuc) include.

    • A 2027 mated and laying queen (marked)

    • 5 deep frames consisting of:

      • 2 deep frames of current queen brood

      • 2 deep frames of honey/pollen/brood

      • 1 frame mixed of bees, honey/pollen/brood/foundation for expansion

    * Bees can change occupancy of frames as they see fit.

  • Nucs are supplied with either Italian or Carniolan queens. Both are popular honey bee varieties with desirable qualities for beekeeping. Your nuc will come with whichever variety is available at the time of fulfillment.

  • Nuc release dates are not set by a specific calendar date. Pickup timing depends on when you placed your order and, most importantly, weather conditions.

    Honey bees are living insects, and their health and well-being come first. We cannot safely open our hives during cold, rainy, windy, or otherwise unfavorable weather.

    We take our responsibility as beekeepers seriously and want to give every colony the best possible start in its new home. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work around Mother Nature rather than the calendar.

    When your nuc is ready for pickup, we will contact you with your pickup information.

  • Our nucs are built using standard Langstroth frames, so you will need traditional Langstroth-style hive equipment to house your bees.

    Before purchasing a nuc, make sure your hive bodies, frames, and other equipment are designed to fit standard Langstroth frames.

    Please Note: Our nucs are not compatible with Top Bar hives or Top Bar-style equipment.

  • NO REFUNDS, RETURNS OR EXCHANGES on LIVE BEES