Nucs in the mail... how long ok?

[Omie]

I have two nucs that got shipped out to me today in the U.S. mail, coming from the South.
I was told today that the Post Office no longer ships Priority mail or airmail for bees, so my nucs will be coming via ground/truck (parcel post?) and they have an estimated delivery date of one week from today. Last year they came via airmail and got to me the day after they were shipped out, and were fine.

Are my chances of getting my bees in good shape and alive still ok even though it may take a WEEK for them to get delivered to me? Can someone give me any input or reassurances?

They are insured, but I'm still wondering if it's likely they'll arrive ok after such a long journey. They are deep 5 frame nucs.
I don't think I'll need to worry about excessive heat or cold- at least the weather seems ok.

I'm worried.

[AmericasBeekeeper]

Shipped nucs? Not package bees?
A good supplier will include plenty of syrup or candy and sponge or towels with water.

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

If it makes you feel any better, we had a load of nucs that we made up a few weeks ago....last thursday I found one that still had the dial closed on it
Its been through 90 degree days....and still OK....
mike

[hpm08161947]

Gee King.... what is a dial on a Nuc?

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

one of those plastic disks on the front for opening and closing the entrance...it was stuck on a vent travelling mode...but not open....

mike

[hpm08161947]

King... IC... are you shipping or recieving nucs? Is there a shortage of nucs in the Texas area? We have had number of request to ship nucs into the San Antonio area.... quite frankly hesitant to do so... as far as I know it may not even be legal to do so. If you sell them... heck... I'll just give them your name. If you like.

[BeeCurious]

My queens always arrive via Express Mail... usually the next day.

I can't imagine the nucs taking a week for delivery. Luckily the weather is going to be on your side, but if the nucs don't arrive on Friday I would lower my expectations. The weekend in a truck could be brutal.

I was on the receiving end of two nuc shipping disasters... Pray for rain.

The insurance process was another nightmare.

[bluegrass]

Only a queen and attendants can be shipped Air Mail (priority) packages and Nucs have to go by ground. My old post office decided to read the regs on me a few years ago when I brought some Nucs in to ship. I will not ship a nuc ground, they will melt down in a box trailer, far too hot for them.

I solved the issue by taking the Nucs to a different PO that did not read the Regs and shipped the priority without asking any questions.

[Hawkster]

i had 2 nucs shipped from Lulu,Georgia by ground to Massachusetts, arrived after 7 days no worse for the wear

[NasalSponge]

Here is why, all USPS priority stuff is flown by us (FedEx) and after some unscrupulous nuc and package suppliers did a poor job of packaging we shut down the transporting of nucs and packages on our planes (although my son tells me a few sneak through from time to time) We still ship queens.

[Omie]

i had 2 nucs shipped from Lulu,Georgia by ground to Massachusetts, arrived after 7 days no worse for the wear

I am taking heart in your experience- I really really hope it will turn out well. thank you for responding with your recent experience.
Truthfully, if i had known they would be shipped via Ground for a week I probably would have made other arrangements.
Last year they came by air in 24 hours in perfect condition.

[Omie]

If it makes you feel any better, we had a load of nucs that we made up a few weeks ago....last thursday I found one that still had the dial closed on it
Its been through 90 degree days....and still OK....
mike

Thanks Mike, that does give me hope.

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

Also remember OK is a relative term.....
mike

[Omie]

Also remember OK is a relative term.....
mike

Not sure what you mean to say by that ?

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

Well, ya there were some bees still alive...but the queen cell i put in there hatched and probably did not do anything, many were probably dead, etc.....

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

Honestly I would have worked with the seller to find a faster shipping service.
Also, you could not find anything LOCAL?
mike

[Omie]

There was nothing to be had locally when i needed to order my Spring bees in mid winter. Last year was a bad one for local bk's, so the non-treatment ones i was interested in didn't feel they could commit to selling any bees in the Spring. I was looking for non-treated bees.

The seller called after they sent the bees out and told me about the new shipping method.

[bluegrass]

Keep us posted when you receive them.

I completely understand the issue with bees on an airplane, a few escape and head towards the light. (big window in cockpit) The pilots don't realize that the bees are trying to get out and not going to bother them so they start jumping around frantically. The plane crashes and the Government spends 10 years hunting for Osama-Bee Laden.

Don't waste you time hunting for a faster shipping time for a Nuc, none exist. If you walk into UPS and tell them you want to ship some bees they will laugh at you. The best you can do is take a Nuc to a country post office, mark "live queens" on it and ship it Priority. It will either slip through or get returned to sender. You can do the same thing with UPS, Don't tell them it is bees and they will ship it... Mark "Wax Producer" on the box.

[Omie]

I will update this thread when they arrive. Today is wednesday and they got shipped out on Monday.
The sender assured me they were insured, but i have a funny feeling the PO won't guarantee live delivery of any animals. Which would then leave me in the lurch, depending on the supplier's good will. But no sense anticipating disaster yet.

[Kingfisher Apiaries]

Omie, btw that nuc that i cooked lost about half its bees. It did mate the queen that I put in (cell) 2 weeks ago. Lots of eggs!!!
You should be fine.
mike