{"product_id":"mated-queen-bee-first-available","title":"Mated Queen Bee — First Available | Heritage Bee Farm | Ships Overnight","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur Best Seller — and the Smartest Way to Order a Mated Queen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen you choose our First Available mated queen, you are getting the best queen we have ready to ship on your selected date — period. No waiting for a specific breed to come available. No scheduling around a single-breed production run. Just a top-quality, Heritage Bee Farm-raised mated queen, shipped to you the moment she is ready.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis option is our most popular for a reason: it puts a proven, productive queen in your hive faster, and it gives us the flexibility to match you with the strongest queen available on your ship date — whether that is Italian, Carniolan, or Hybrid.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat 'First Available' Means\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOur apiary raises Italian, Carniolan, and Hybrid mated queens on overlapping production schedules. On any given ship date, the first queens ready to go are the healthiest, most developed queens across all of our active production locations — regardless of breed.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen you select First Available, you are telling us: send me your best. We match you with the queen that is fully mated, actively laying, and ready to establish herself in your hive right now. If you have a strong breed preference, we offer individual breed listings as well — but for most beekeepers, the First Available queen performs just as well or better, because she was chosen on merit, not by breed alone.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat All Our Queens Have in Common\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eRaised from proven breeder colonies selected for strong brood production, gentle temperament, and overall colony health\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNaturally open-mated in our Central Florida apiaries — diverse, resilient genetics from local drone populations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIndividually inspected before shipping — we do not send a queen we would not put in our own hives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eShipped via UPS Next Day Air in temperature-appropriate queen cages with attendant bees and candy plug\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eRaised in Myakka City, Florida — our warm Central Florida climate allows us to begin grafting earlier in the season than most producers, giving our customers earlier access to quality queens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy Beekeepers Love the First Available Option\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eFastest fulfillment — your queen ships on your selected date without waiting for a specific breed's production window\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eOperational efficiency — ideal for commercial beekeepers and large apiaries managing multiple hives who need queens quickly and reliably\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eQuality-driven selection — the first queens available are always the most developed and ready, so you get our best stock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eFlexible for your apiary — all our breeds are gentle, productive, and well-suited to Florida and Southeast climates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSimplifies requeening — no spreadsheets tracking which breed goes where; just order your date and install\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhich Breed Might You Receive?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eYour First Available queen will be one of the following, depending on which breed is leading production on your selected ship date:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eItalian — the most widely kept queen in the United States. Exceptional year-round brood production, fast spring buildup, gentle temperament. Ideal for honey production and commercial pollination.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCarniolan — outstanding winter hardiness, explosive spring buildup, and strong natural hygienic tendencies. A top choice for Northern climates and beekeepers who prefer a more resource-efficient colony.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eHybrid (Italian \/ Carniolan) — combines the Italian's consistent brood production with the Carniolan's winter resilience and resource efficiency. An adaptable, versatile queen that performs well across a wide range of climates and management styles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAll three breeds have been selected for their productivity, gentleness, and suitability for our customers' operations. Any of them will be an excellent addition to your apiary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eShipping and Installation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eShips via UPS Next Day Air on your selected date — choose your date from the variant selector above\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eQueens arrive in individual cages with attendant bees and a candy plug for safe, gradual release\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTo introduce: make your colony queenless for 24 hours, then place the caged queen between two frames in the upper brood area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe colony will naturally release the queen through the candy plug over 3–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMost queens begin laying within 3–5 days of release from the cage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eWe contact you if any adjustments to your ship date are necessary due to weather or production conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCan I request a specific breed with this listing? This listing is specifically for First Available — our breed-specific listings are available separately if you have a strong preference. Most beekeepers are genuinely happy with whichever breed arrives.\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eIs First Available lower quality than breed-specific? Not at all. The first queens ready to ship are the most developed and inspected queens across our entire production. In many cases, First Available queens are the cream of the crop from a given production cycle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li4\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eWhat if my queen is lost in transit? Contact us immediately. We stand behind our queens and will work with you to make it right.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li2\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDo you ship to my state? We ship mated queens via UPS Next Day Air to all states that permit live queen bee imports. Contact us if you have questions about your state's regulations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom Our Hives to Yours — With Care at Every Step\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeritage Bee Farm is a family beekeeping operation in Myakka City, Florida. We raise our queens from breeder selection through grafting, incubation, mating, and final inspection — managing every step ourselves so we can stand behind every queen we ship. When you order from us, you are not buying from a warehouse. You are buying from the beekeeper.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSelect your ship date above and get your colony the queen it deserves. We look forward to being part of your apiary.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"heritagebees","offers":[{"title":"Wed Jun 18 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053841952980,"sku":"Queen2","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jun 18 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704186068,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jun 18 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704218836,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jun 25 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053841985748,"sku":"Queen3","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jun 25 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704251604,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jun 25 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704284372,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 02 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842018516,"sku":"Queen4","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jul 02 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704317140,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 02 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704349908,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 09 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842051284,"sku":"Queen5","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jul 09 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704382676,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 09 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704415444,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 16 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842084052,"sku":"Queen6","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jul 16 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704448212,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 16 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704480980,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 23 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842116820,"sku":"Queen7","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jul 23 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704513748,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 23 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704546516,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 30 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842149588,"sku":"Queen8","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Jul 30 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704579284,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Jul 30 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704612052,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 06 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842182356,"sku":"Queen9","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Aug 06 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704644820,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 06 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704677588,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 13 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842215124,"sku":"Queen10","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Aug 13 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704710356,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 13 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704743124,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 20 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842247892,"sku":"Queen11","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Aug 20 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704775892,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 20 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704808660,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 27 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842280660,"sku":"Queen12","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Aug 27 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704841428,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Aug 27 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704874196,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 03 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842313428,"sku":"Queen13","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Sep 03 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704906964,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 03 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704939732,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 10 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842346196,"sku":"Queen14","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Sep 10 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057704972500,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 10 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057705005268,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 17 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842378964,"sku":"Queen15","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Sep 17 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057705038036,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 17 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057705070804,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 24 \/ First Available","offer_id":48053842411732,"sku":"Queen16","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Wed Sep 24 \/ Italian (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057705103572,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Wed Sep 24 \/ Carniolan (we will contact you with a ship date)","offer_id":48057705136340,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0646\/0384\/8916\/products\/ItalianMatedQueenforSaleLogo.jpg?v=1656446696","url":"https:\/\/www.heritagebees.com\/products\/mated-queen-bee-first-available","provider":"Heritage Bee Farm ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}