Hello all. Sorry if this is out of place and is going to sound a bit noobish. So I’ve had a couple of rough years with fall/winter dead outs and low swarm catches. When I’ve bought packages I’ve done so with Mann Lake. Great company but their package bee prices seem to have gone up considerably over the years. It’s now over $200 to buy a single package. I’m in west central Minnesota. It’s a desert for nuc sellers. I either haul my butt a few hours+away to get a nuc or bite the billet with Mann Lake. Looking to see if anybody else has suggestions for alternatives. Thanks in advance!
Minnesota Packages/Nucs
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I would do the drive somewhere and get NUCs
one day investment of time can offset messing around with dinks later in the year.
Get them ordered places are selling out
GG
one day investment of time can offset messing around with dinks later in the year.
Get them ordered places are selling out
GG
Try Home | Tri-County Beekeepers MN This is the local club in St. Cloud. There are several members that have Nucs and also have a source for packages for members. Less than an hour down the road..
I don't understand how Mann Lake is charging such huge fees for packages when packages are considerably cheaper every single place I've looked. I don't understand why anybody would buy from Mann Lake when there are considerably cheaper options out there.
I’m in the Alexandria area, which is in west central Minnesota. Is there any way to get bees from a beekeeper association without being a member? Not really all that interested in meetings an hour and a half away.
edit-Rolland I have seen sellers closer to me than se Wisconsin. Thanks though!
edit-Rolland I have seen sellers closer to me than se Wisconsin. Thanks though!
Location:
Burlington, MA
I doubt it, the reason they offer these is For members as a perk.
Around here there are many that list on Craigslist.. which is not as popular in other areas but you never know till you look.
Maybe there is another meeting bee club closer. google search and see what comes up
Unfortunately there is not. There’s one a ways north but nothing in my direct vicinity.
I should also say that I’m a bit hesitant with nucs as my last experience wasn’t good. They were very strong but I’m convinced they had African genes. I can’t prove it but I’d have dozens of bees on My veil long before I got close to the hive. That wasn’t fun.
Not in Minnesota unless the nucs came from down south somewhere. Local nucs should not be a problem.
Ya the queens were raised in Louisiana I believe. To cold here for Africans. I suspect his queens came from his stock but mated with some African drones.
I suspect some of it is to cover the shipping cost, they say insurance and shipping is included in the cost.
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Is there no bee group/club with someone selling locally raised and bread Nucs? That would be the best. Do you not do splits? I’ve done a few walk always and they’ve worked out well. Give it a go
Check out this site. 2021 Nuc Orders – Beau's Bee Yards, LLC Good guy, great bees.
Nature's Nectar in Oakdale has good pricing on packages and a few different pickup days. I've seen people coming all the way from the Dakotas to pick up from them to save the shipping costs over Mann Lake. Their Bees are coming out of California.
Really depends on how many you are looking to get, one package might not be worth driving for the lower price, 10+ definitely would be.
Thanks for all the replies everybody. I had not seen beaus bees before and he looks like he is in sartell which is not really that far.
I’ve heard of the guy in Parker’s but if he sells them it must be by word of mouth. I’ve not heard that he does. I just saw an ad pop up of a guy near me that is selling nucs. He says that he lives north of Alexandria and is selling for $150 per 5 frame nuc! I’m jumping on that one.
What I need is a beepeeker group near me.
edit-that’s his website and he is in fact from Parker’s. There must be more than one larger beekeeper out of Parker’s because the guy I’ve heard of is an old retired doctor. Just thought I’d put this out there.
superbeemn.com
I’ve heard of the guy in Parker’s but if he sells them it must be by word of mouth. I’ve not heard that he does. I just saw an ad pop up of a guy near me that is selling nucs. He says that he lives north of Alexandria and is selling for $150 per 5 frame nuc! I’m jumping on that one.
What I need is a beepeeker group near me.
edit-that’s his website and he is in fact from Parker’s. There must be more than one larger beekeeper out of Parker’s because the guy I’ve heard of is an old retired doctor. Just thought I’d put this out there.
Super Bee Honey - Raw Minnesota Honey
We are a family on a mission to steward the planet by caring for honey bees. We are passionate about spreading our love and appreciation for the bees and their many gifts with the world.
superbeemn.com
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