Where do I get bees from?

RHBC recommends you begin your beekeeping hobby with a nucleus hive (nucs.) Nucs consist of a small colony of bees including a queen bee which is generally housed on four frames. Starting with a small colony of bees allows you to gain confidence in handling bees as the colony expands. Nucs are often available in October or November and again in autumn. RHBC has a limited number of nucs available from club members in spring and commercial beekeepers in autumn. We also recommend you start with new beekeeping hardware.

Other options are to purchase an established hive. By buying an established hive you are more likely to have surplus honey in your first year. However, with the huge interest in beekeeping buying an established hive is not a common option. It is also essential to have a hive checked by an experienced beekeeper prior to purchase to ensure it is not diseased.

Honey bee colonies reproduce by swarming and frequently RHBC has swarms available, especially in spring. However there are disadvantages with swarms as they may carry varroa or spores of American foulbrood.