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Spring 2027 Pre-Order: Carniolan Package Bees, 2 lb

Spring 2027 Pre-Order: Carniolan Package Bees, 2 lb

$135.00 USD
$135.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
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Pre-order now for April 2027 pickup

"Limited availability per pickup location"

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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 — Rapid Spring Expansion, Conservative Fall Shutdown
Temperament Very Gentle — Ideal for Backyard & Residential Apiaries
Honey Production Moderate to High — Efficient Foragers in Short-Season Climates
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, Zones 3–5, First-Time & Experienced

💡 Darin's Expert Advice

"For Zone 3–4 beekeepers, I always recommend Carniolans first. Their winter clusters are tight and efficient — they don't burn through stores the way Italians can in a long northern winter. They shut down brood rearing early in fall and ramp back up fast in spring, which is exactly what you want when your season is May through September. Every colony we sell has been freeze kill tested for hygienic behavior — that means the bees can detect and remove damaged brood through intact cell caps, which is the gold standard for mite resistance screening. If you're in the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, or northern Minnesota, Carniolans are my top 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

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.

A 2 lbs package of Carniolan bees with a proven unmarked queen ready for installation.  These bees are packaged in Northern California after almonds and are selectively bred for mite resistance.  Selectively raised for gentleness and productivity.

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'.