Locally Adapted Mated Queens

At Broads Bee we believe that the future of honeybees in the UK is best safeguarded by avoiding the import of stock from overseas.  This helps to safeguard against the introduction of new pests and disease whilst also ensuring that the bees which we keep are best suited to the climate of the British Isles.  For that reason we select our Queen Mothers by carefully choosing from our own colonies in the heart of the Norfolk Broads.

We score our queens through the season based on their temperament, their productivity, both brood and honey, their swarming tendencies and then as we come out of the winter each year, how well they have come through and started to lay again.  From this information we use the best that we have to produce Queens for our own operation and to offer for sale.

Our Mated Queens are Open Mated at various sites in Norfolk and then allowed to lay for at least a further 14 days.  We like to see that they are proving themselves in the mating nucs and research shows that a Queen which has been allowed to establish herself is more likely to be accepted when later introduced to a new colony.  We don't rush our Queens to market.

If we are showing Queens in stock, then we will despatch the day after ordering.  If we are showing out of stock please do email for an eta on our next expected Queens.

Please note we will only post within the UK.  We will deliver locally for free to NR12, NR28 and NR29 postcodes.  All shipping for queens otherwise is priced at £9.50 for Royal Mail Signed for 24hr before 1pm.  Queens can not be posted through a letter box, you MUST be available to sign for them.  We will not be liable for any damaged or dead queens due to you not being available to sign for their delivery.  We only package the queens up on the day of dispatch so that they are caged for the minimum amount of time.  On arrival they should be introduced to a colony as quickly as possible.  They may arrive thirsty although there is food and attendant bees with them for transit so consider smearing some water on the cage with your finger immediately.

Dead on Arrival.  Should a queen arrive dead on arrival then we will refund or replace her.  We will require her to be returned to us in the sealed cage and you must take a video of her in the cage next to a picture of your order number.  Please email us for further instructions.

For advice on queen introduction click here.