Description

5-Frame NUC Honey Bee Colony

Start or expand your apiary with a strong, healthy nucleus colony raised and cared for with the same patience, attention, and stewardship that goes into every hive at The Wonky Bee.

Each NUC colony contains five fully drawn frames taken directly from our own Wonky Bee apiary, where colonies are carefully observed and managed throughout the season. These NUCs are selected from established hives based on the queen’s laying quality, overall productivity, temperament, and consistent health under responsible mite and pest management practices. The result is a colony chosen not just for strength, but for its ability to thrive and continue building in its new home.

Every NUC includes five deep frames fully covered with bees and a healthy laying queen, creating an active and well-established colony ready to continue growing. Within those frames you will find 3–4 frames of brood in all stages of development — eggs, larvae, and capped brood — ensuring the colony continues to expand immediately after installation. The remaining 1–2 frames contain vital resources such as pollen, honey, or nectar, providing the food reserves needed to sustain the colony while it settles into its new hive.

The brood pattern provides a clear snapshot of the queen’s laying performance and the hive’s overall vitality. With young bees emerging daily and nurse bees actively tending developing brood, the colony arrives with the momentum needed to establish quickly and begin building strength in its new environment.

Your bees will be provided in a durable Pro Nuc plastic nuc box, designed specifically for transporting and housing small colonies safely. These ventilated boxes help protect the bees during pickup and transport while keeping the colony secure and stable until it is transferred into its permanent hive.

All NUCs are produced from colonies that are regularly inspected and responsibly managed using industry-standard mite and pest management methods, helping maintain healthy, productive hives while supporting long-term colony sustainability.

Because honey bees are living organisms and seasonal conditions vary, brood composition and resource frames may vary slightly. However, every NUC is prepared to ensure a strong, viable colony ready to grow and thrive in its next apiary.

---

How Our NUCs Are Prepared

Every nucleus colony offered by The Wonky Bee begins as part of our working apiary and is built naturally through the strength of established colonies. As the season progresses and colonies grow, select frames of brood, resources, and bees are carefully combined to form balanced nucleus colonies.

Each NUC is assembled with the goal of creating a stable, productive colony with the population and resources needed to continue developing immediately after installation. Queens are observed for consistent laying patterns, calm temperament, and colony productivity before their colonies are selected.

Before pickup, each NUC is inspected to confirm the presence of a healthy laying queen, brood in multiple stages of development, and adequate resources to support the colony during transport and installation. The frames are then secured in a Pro Nuc plastic nuc box, which provides ventilation and protection while the bees are moved to their new apiary.

---

What to Expect When Installing Your NUC

Installing a nucleus colony is one of the most natural ways to start a hive because the bees arrive with an established brood cycle and working population.

Once transferred into a full-size hive, the colony will continue raising brood that is already present in the frames. Within days, new worker bees will begin emerging and the queen will continue laying, allowing the colony to expand rapidly as conditions allow.

It is normal for bees to take a short period of time to orient themselves to their new surroundings. Providing the colony with proper hive equipment, adequate space, and attentive beekeeping practices will allow them to settle in and begin building comb and storing resources.

With good conditions and responsible hive management, a strong nucleus colony can quickly grow into a full production hive capable of thriving through the season.

---

Live Bee Purchase Information

Honey bees are living organisms, and their health and development depend on weather conditions, forage availability, and proper hive management after installation.

Every nucleus colony from The Wonky Bee is carefully prepared and inspected before pickup to confirm the presence of a healthy laying queen, brood in multiple stages of development, and a strong population of worker bees covering the frames.

Once a colony leaves our apiary, its continued health and development depend on installation practices, environmental conditions, and ongoing hive management.

For complete details regarding live bee sales, responsibilities after pickup, and applicable policies, please review our Terms of Service before placing an order.

---

What You Receive

• 5 deep frames fully covered with bees
• A healthy laying queen
• 3–4 frames of brood (eggs, larvae, and capped brood)
• 1–2 frames of resources (pollen, nectar, or honey)
• Bees housed in a Pro Nuc plastic nuc box

---

Ideal For

• Starting a new hive
• Expanding an existing apiary
• Replacing winter losses
• Beekeepers who want a strong, established colony

---

Pickup & Transport Instructions

NUC colonies are local pickup only to ensure the health and safety of the bees. Pickup dates and times will be scheduled and confirmed via email once your NUC is fully established and ready to thrive in its new hive. Please review your confirmation carefully for the exact time and location.

What to Bring

• Protective gear: veil or jacket, gloves, and closed-toe shoes are recommended.

• Any tools you prefer for handling frames or the Pro Nuc box.

• Payment or documentation if required at pickup.

Transporting Your NUC

• Place the Pro Nuc box in a well-ventilated, stable area of your vehicle (floorboard or secured crate recommended).

• Avoid enclosed trunks; if the bees must travel inside the cabin, use air conditioning for ventilation.

• Light covers or towels can help calm any bees that may be on the outside of the box.

Installing Your NUC

• Transfer the colony into your permanent hive as soon as possible — Pro Nuc boxes are for transport only.

• Ensure your hive is fully assembled and ready before pickup to minimize stress on the bees.

• Monitor the colony closely for the first 24–48 hours to ensure the queen and brood settle in properly.