This is a very exciting time for beekeepers! Some of you are just now getting started in the beekeeping journey, while others are simply growing the number of hives. Either way, knowledge is power!

Let’s start with what you need to have ready at home prior to picking up your bees:

• Protective gear
• Smoker and fuel
• Hive tool (at least one)
• One additional hive box with frames, painted and cured (one week) for every nuc or single hive you have coming
• For package bees you will need a bottom board, hive body with frames, and a cover
• Hive stand(s) in place where your bees will live

Tip: Putting your newly painted hive boxes in place ahead of bringing home your bees will help cure the paint plus make them ready and waiting for the day to install the bees.

Picking up and transporting your bees

We realize it can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never transported bees before. That’s why we are determined to make this process as easy as possible.

Although our stores are open during bee pickups, ordering ahead on our website and choosing “in-store pickup” will ensure we have your order ready for you when you arrive.

Common questions

• Transporting in a truck or trailer? Bring small straps to secure the lid to your hive and a larger strap to secure the hive to your truck or trailer.
• Transporting in a car or SUV? Bring a sheet to loosely wrap around your nuc/hive, or even better, purchase a nuc net sold at TBS.
• Do I have to load my own bees? No, but you are responsible for securing your bees in your vehicle. Bring and wear your protective gear as there will be a lot of bees flying at the pickup location.

• Is the entrance of the hive closed off so bees can’t get out? Yes, the entrance will be closed on nucs and single hives, but it’s not uncommon to have a few bees hanging on the outside of the box.
• Can I look into the box before you load it into my vehicle? No, unfortunately, pickup time isn’t conducive for everyone to look into their new hives. Your bees do, however, come with a 30-day guarantee, so if you believe there is a problem once you’ve gotten them home and inspected them, please let us know.
• What should I do when I get my bees home? For complete hives, place them where they will go long term, and immediately open the entrance screen to allow them to ventilate the hive. (Wear your protective gear for this process.) For nucs, transfer them into their permanent equipment immediately, or place the nuc box on top of their future home, open the entrance of the nuc, and transfer them the next day. For packages, install immediately.