• A person in beekeeping gear holding a frame from a 5-Frame Nucleus Colony (Nuc) containing Italian bees
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Pre-order now for April 2027 pickup

Spring 2027 Pre-Order: 5-Frame Nuc, Carniolan — Best Choice for Beginners

Spring 2027 Pre-Order: 5-Frame Nuc, Carniolan — Best Choice for Beginners

$195.00 USD
$195.00 USD
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Shipping calculated at checkout.
Delivery Site

"Limited availability per pickup location"

This is a pre-order for spring 2027 delivery.

These bees are not available this season. You are reserving a colony for pickup on our spring 2027 delivery route. Pickup only — we do not ship live bees.

Delivery is scheduled for April 2027, and those dates are tentative. We haul live animals across many states. Weather, supplier timing, and colony health all move dates, and we will not run a route that puts bees at risk. You’ll receive your exact stop, date, and time window by email. Read our delivery date policy.

Nucs and packages are delivered on separate days. We bring nucs through first, then return through the same towns with packages about two weeks later. If you order both, expect two pickup days.

If something’s wrong with your nuc, we come back. We carry replacement nucs on the package run. If your colony has a problem, call us and we’ll bring a replacement rather than making you wait a season. We carry a limited number of spares, so it isn’t a blank check — but it’s why we run the route in this order.

What Is a Nucleus Colony?

A nucleus colony (nuc) is a fully functioning mini-hive — the best way to start beekeeping. Unlike package bees, nucs come with everything already working: a laying queen the bees have accepted, drawn comb, brood in all stages, and food stores. Just transfer to your hive and watch them grow. These nucs are built in the spring in the Northern Central Valley of California. 

We Stive to Include in Your 5-Frame Nuc:

• 5 deep frames of drawn comb

• Brood in all stages (eggs, larvae, capped)

• Honey and pollen stores

• One mated, laying queen (unmarked)

• Strong worker population

• Cardboard nuc box for transport

Why Nucs Beat Packages for Beginners:

• HIGHER SUCCESS RATE — Established colony, not starting from scratch

• 4-6 WEEK HEAD START — Queen already laying, comb already built

• LESS STRESS — Bees already bonded to their queen

• EASIER INSTALLATION — Just transfer frames, no shaking bees

• POSSIBLE FIRST-YEAR HONEY — Packages rarely produce year one

Best For: First-time beekeepers and anyone who wants the best chance of success.

Price: $195

Questions? Call (701) 809-0153

Delivery Waves

We run four delivery waves. Nucs go out first, then we come back through the same towns with packages about two weeks later — so nucs and packages are never picked up on the same day.

  • Waves 1 & 2 — Southern: Nebraska, Iowa, Wyoming, South Dakota, southern Minnesota, southern Wisconsin. Nucs on Wave 1, packages on Wave 2.
  • Waves 3 & 4 — Northern: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Nucs on Wave 3, packages on Wave 4.

Delivery is scheduled for April 2027 and dates are tentative. We don’t publish a stop-by-stop schedule until we’re confident in it. You’ll receive your exact stop, date, and time window by email. Read our delivery date policy.

Payment Options

  • Pay in full by credit card at checkout
  • Cash-on-delivery available (50% deposit required by February 28, 2027 )

 To pay your 50% deposit now by card, use coupon code 'Half Cash'.

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🐝 Northern Climate Beekeeping Data

USDA Hardiness Zones Zone 3b – Zone 5b
Winter Survival Excellent — Proven in -40°F Northern Plains Winters
Spring Buildup Excellent — 4–6 Week Head Start Over Package Bees
Temperament Very Gentle — Ideal for Backyard & Residential Apiaries
Honey Production Moderate to High — First-Year Honey Crop Possible with Nucs
Mite Resistance Freeze Kill Tested & VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) Verified
Genetic Source Northern California Breeding Stock — Selected for Northern Climate Adaptation
Selection Program 8+ Years in Selective Breeding Program (Est. 2018)
Recommended For Northern Climate Beekeepers Who Want a Head Start, Zones 3–5

💡 Darin's Expert Advice

"A nuc gives you a 4–6 week advantage over a package because you're starting with drawn comb, brood in all stages, and a laying queen who's already been accepted by her colony. In our short northern seasons, that head start can be the difference between pulling a honey crop your first year and just building up for winter. Our Carniolan nucs come on 5 frames with the same freeze kill tested, VSH verified genetics as our packages. The queen is a verified layer — we don't cage queens until we've confirmed she's laying a solid pattern. If you're in Zone 3–4 and want the best odds of a strong first season, a Carniolan nuc is my #1 recommendation."

📋 Data verified by Darin, owner of Little Apiary on the Prairie — 8+ years breeding bees for USDA Zones 3b–7a.
📞 Questions? Call (701) 809-0153