Frequently asked questions
Queens?
Our Carniolan bees are sourced from trusted breeders in Slovenia, of whom I have personally worked with for a number of years, the native home of the Apis mellifera carnica, ensuring pure genetics and the gentle, hardy traits that make this strain so highly regarded. By importing directly from this region, we provide colonies that are true to type, with the rapid spring build-up and cold-weather resilience Carniolans are famous for.
Our Buckfast bees are bred in Germany by experienced and reputable suppliers who continue Brother Adam’s legacy of selective breeding. These queens are known for their adaptability, disease resistance, and steady brood production, making them an excellent all-round choice for diverse environments.
In addition, we also raise both locally bred and virgin queens here in the UK, giving beekeepers access to stock adapted to British conditions and offering flexibility for requeening, sustainable hive management, and strengthening locally resilient bee populations.
Carniolan vs Buckfast Queens
Carniolan queens produce gentle, easy-to-manage colonies that build up rapidly in spring, forage well in cooler weather, and conserve stores by overwintering in small clusters, though they can have a higher tendency to swarm if not managed.
Buckfast queens, by contrast, are also gentle but more variable in temperament, build up more steadily, maintain strong populations later into the season, and are prized for their low swarming tendency, disease resistance, and adaptability, though they require more winter stores to sustain their larger colonies.
Carniolans are excellent if you want a gentle, fast-growing colony that thrives in cooler climates and early nectar flows, but they require careful swarm control. Buckfasts are valued for steadier growth, lower swarming, and adaptability, making them a good all-round choice, especially for beekeepers in varied or longer nectar seasons.
Nuc or Queen, what do I need?
As a new beekeeper, whether you start with a nuc (nucleus colony) or just a queen depends on what you already have and how quickly you want your colony to grow.
A nuc is a small, established colony (ours come on 5 or 6 frames) with a laying queen, brood in all stages, workers, and food stores. This is best for beginners because it gives you a head start: the queen is accepted and the colony is building.
Buying just a queen only makes sense if you already have a hive of worker bees that’s queenless. You can’t just buy a queen and put her in an empty hive — she needs workers to care for her.
Discounts
We can provide tailored support for bee farmers, commercial beekeepers, BBKA members and associations nationwide, including hobbyist beekeepers. To order more Queens and Nucs in larger quantities, email us at sales@bees-r-us.co.uk for a tailored quote/invoice.
Shipping?
Both Queens and Nucs are delivered through Royal Mail Tracked 24 service. Shipping charges are visible at checkout - £8.50 for Queens and £15 per Nuc. The £8.50 price covers all Queen orders, regardless of quantity.