What Is Included in a Heritage Bee Farm Nuc?

Our 5-frame nucleus colonies are built from the same proven genetics that drive one of Florida's most established commercial queen programs. Each nuc contains everything a colony needs to establish quickly and build toward a productive first season.

• 1 actively laying mated queen — raised from our breeder stock, open-mated at our Florida apiary locations, and confirmed laying before pickup
• 5 full-depth Langstroth frames — including brood in all stages: eggs, open larvae, and capped worker brood
• A full covering of bees across all five frames — nurse bees, house bees, and foragers present and functioning
• Frames of capped honey and pollen stores — ready to sustain the colony through the transition to their new hive
• Drawn comb — one of the most valuable assets you can give a new colony, already built and ready for the queen to expand her brood nest immediately

Why a Nuc Outperforms a Package Every Time

A nucleus colony starts where a package of bees spends its first four to six weeks trying to get. The queen is already laying and accepted by her workers. The comb is already drawn. The brood nest is already established. There is no risky queen acceptance period, no waiting for comb to be built from scratch, and no slow start on bare foundation.

• Establishes 4 to 6 weeks faster than a package on average
• Virtually no queen acceptance risk — your queen is proven and already in production
• Drawn comb gives the colony immediate capacity to store nectar and expand brood
• Strong colonies from a Heritage Bee Farm nuc frequently produce harvestable honey in their first season
• Lower first-year failure rate compared to packages — a more reliable start for any beekeeper

Order Early — We Sell Out Every Season

Heritage Bee Farm nucleus colonies are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Demand for our Florida nucs consistently exceeds supply during the spring season from both new beekeepers and established operations expanding their apiaries. Ordering early secures your quantity and gets you the earliest available pickup date — giving your colony more time to build before the heat of summer.

Do not wait. The beekeepers who order in January and February are already on the schedule before most buyers start thinking about spring.

Pickup Schedule and How It Works

Nucleus colonies are available for Saturday pickup at our Myakka City, Florida farm throughout our production season. Select your preferred pickup date from the variant selector above — each date reflects an actual production slot with a fixed, limited quantity.

• Nucs are prepared the evening before pickup with entrances closed after dark to ensure all foragers are home
• Early morning pickup is preferred — sunrise to approximately 9 to 10 AM — before Florida heat builds
• Evening pickup can be arranged by contacting us in advance
• We cannot ship live nucs — all orders are pickup only at our Myakka City farm
• We will contact you if weather or seasonal conditions require any adjustment to your date

How to Prepare for a Successful Pickup

• Have your complete Langstroth hive body fully assembled and positioned at your apiary before pickup day — not after
• 5 additional frames with foundation or drawn comb ready inside the hive body surrounding the space for your nuc frames
• Bottom board, inner cover, and outer cover in place
• Entrance reducer set to the smallest opening
• Sugar syrup and feeder ready for your first feeding
• Protective gear, smoker, and hive tool ready to go
• Transport your nuc directly to your apiary — do not leave a closed nuc in a hot vehicle

Installation Tips

Transfer your five nuc frames into the center of your hive body in the same order they came out of the nuc box — do not rearrange the brood nest. Fill in the remaining space on each side with your prepared frames. Gently brush any remaining bees from the nuc box into the hive. Close up and leave the colony undisturbed for 5 to 7 days before your first inspection.

At day 7, look for eggs — small white grains standing upright in the base of cells. Eggs confirm your queen is laying and your colony is establishing well.

Who Buys Heritage Bee Farm Nucleus Colonies?

• First-time beekeepers starting their first hive — nucs are the most reliable and beginner-friendly way to start
• Experienced beekeepers expanding their apiary or replacing winter losses
• Small honey producers building productive colonies heading into spring nectar flows
• Beekeeping clubs, schools, and 4-H programs establishing educational hives
• Any beekeeper who wants a colony that is ready to build from day one

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you ship nucs?

No — live nucleus colonies cannot be safely shipped. All nuc orders are pickup only at our Myakka City, Florida farm. Our mated queens ship nationwide via UPS Next Day Air if you are not local.

What breed will my nuc queen be?

Our nuc queens are primarily Italian and Carniolan genetics, open-mated at our Florida apiary locations. If you have a specific breed preference, contact us when ordering to discuss availability.

Can I order multiple nucs?

Yes. Select your quantity on the product page. For orders of five or more nucs, contact us in advance to confirm availability on your preferred date and plan transport logistics.

What if I am not ready on my pickup date?

Contact us as early as possible and we will do our best to move you to a later available date. Nucs are living colonies and cannot be held indefinitely, but we will work with you when we can.

Is this a good option for a complete beginner?

Absolutely. A nucleus colony is the most beginner-friendly way to start beekeeping. The colony is already established, the queen is already laying, and the bees are calm and ready to settle into their new home with minimal drama. We recommend having your equipment fully set up before pickup day and being prepared to install the same day.

Built on the Same Genetics as Our Queen Program

Heritage Bee Farm manages over 3,000 colonies across four counties in Central Florida. Queen production is the core of our commercial operation and our nucleus colonies are an extension of that program — built on the same proven breeder stock, the same open-mated genetics, and the same quality standards we apply to every queen we ship nationwide. When you pick up a Heritage Bee Farm nuc, you are getting a colony backed by one of Florida's most established commercial beekeeping operations.

Select your pickup date above and reserve your colony today. We look forward to seeing you at the farm.