Our nucs are 5-frame mediums led by one of our own Virginia-bred, marked queens in a wooden nuc box for you to keep & use in your own operation. Overwintered nucs will be available in limited quantities beginning mid-April, and Spring nucs will be available around the 1st of June, as will queens that we raise in our own apiary. As required by Virginia Bee Law, our bees are inspected and certified to be disease-free each year by the State Apiarist. Spring nucs are led by daughters of our best overwintered queens from the previous season. All nucs include 3-4 frames of brood and 1-2 frames of honey/pollen and open comb. Once placed into your 8- or 10-frame Langstroth hive they will expand rapidly.
We started with locally-raised hygienic Italian queens, but over the past several years of open-mating in our Northern Virginia apiary many have emerged as darker bees, some even all black. That could be from some feral or Carniolan influence, but “local mutts” is about as accurate as we can be now. They are gentle, easy to work, good honey producers, and overwinter well in our climate with minimal intervention. Organic varroa mite treatments are applied when needed.
All nuc and queen sales are for local pick up by appointment only at our apiary approximately two miles south of the Loudoun/Prince William county line off of Route 15. We're always happy to show customers around our small operation and talk about bees, but if you're in a hurry we understand that, too, and can get you back on the road promptly.
Email CGBees@gmail.com for further information and an order form.