It is hard to believe that we are just getting our colonies winterized and we are writing about spring readiness.  That is because now is the time to place orders for spring nucs and packages.  We would like to direct you to the club website which is LongIslandBeekeepers.org and if you click on resources, then classifieds, and finally bees, you will be able to see a list of members who are selling both nucs and packages…..
This information sheet allows you to do your homework and make wise choices for your apiary.

NUCS:

• Remember if ordering a nuc, they are usually on deep frames. You must have deep brood boxes available to place these deep nuc frames into.
• You might have to leave a deposit on the nuc box and will be given the deposit back when the nuc box is returned…
• Some nuc dealers will ask for a deposit up front as a sign of commitment…
• Some nucs might be overwintered which means that you are getting a queen from last year…
• Some nucs are made with a newly mated queen and therefore you are purchasing with you nuc a first-year queen…
• Some nucs are from out-of-state and brought to LI by the nuc dealer and are inspected before they leave the state that they were created…
• If a beekeeper is making and selling nucs here on LI there is a good chance that they will be inspected prior to you picking up your nuc….
• Nucs, like packages can be created with different types of bees…
• Need to know before you buy how many frames are included in your nuc..
• Need to know what will those frames be made up of? ….( queen, egg, larvae, etc.)
• Will the queen in your nuc be marked? 
• Need to know an average price that is being asked for nucs here on LI… 

PACKAGES:

• We have some members who bringing in packages from different locations..
• Need to know what type of queen and package you are buying..
• Need to know about when your package will be delivered…
• Need to know what is the policy if your queen is dead in the queen cage..
• Need to know if getting a marked queen is an option….
• Need to know what the going price of a package is and what the local person charges so you do not have to go and pick them up from a package distributor..

OTHER OPTIONS – Bees can be shipped via mail or you go to pick the package of bees yourself.  This means that you need to make a decision very soon in order to be part of the first wave of packages delivered to the bee supply companies.
We suggest you call and ask questions and then place and order either on the phone or online.

• Betterbee                      Greenwich NY     1 800 632 3379   pickup only       $150 
• Mann Lake                    Wilkes-Barre PA  1 800 880 7694   pickup/mailed   $175/$209
• Dadant                          Williamsport PA   1 877 532 3268  pickup/mailed   TBA
• Hudson Valley               Kingston NY        1 845 336 6233    pickup only       $150
• New England Bee Company Tyngsborough MA 1 978 957 2233 pickup only  $156

You can also have bees sent to you from :
Gardner Bees  Baxley GA 1 912 367 9352
Mountain Sweet Bees   Stephens County GA 1 706 886 1322

The club does not endorse any package or nuc dealer.  This information is provided to help you make your own decision on how to get bees so that you are ahead of beekeepers across the state that will be ordering bees ASAP…..