Treatment-Free Top-Bar NUCs of resilient Russian bees, raised in Central Texas by Bee Mindful, LLC and headed by certified Russian queens - great for Treatment-Free OR conventional beekeeping
Our Russian NUCs are gentle, productive, and frugal, quick to adjust to changing forage, which is essential in Texas.
They exhibit strong varroa tolerance and hygienic behavior (VSH, grooming, natural brood breaks), making them an excellent fit for treatment-free bee yards.
 
FEATURES: 
4-5 drawn comb nucleus colony of Treatment-Free, resilient bees on 20-inch top bars, with brood, food, bees and a Russian queen.
Bars and combs are compatible only with standard Horizontal Top-Bar Hives (Bee Mindful style).
These NUCs are young, semi-established colonies that should build up and overwinter well with proper nutrition in their first season.
Because they arrive on their own drawn comb with food and brood, they begin 4-6 weeks ahead of packages picked up at the same time.
Pickup in Driftwood in May/June (exact date TBD)
Early May Preorders are sold out, you are preordering for a May to earlyJune pickup as available and on a first ordered first served basis.
We will start sending pickup ready emails around April 2025, following order number priority - which is why it is important to pre-order early
 
Free easy DIY plans for these at www.Bee-Mindful.com/plans (about 1hr and $30 per colony to make double hives with a handful of 2x10s), or purchase kits and assembled hives at www.Bee-Mindful.com/hives-and-bees
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To become a truly proficient beekeeper, increase your beekeeping knowledge and your bees' chances of survival, consider registering for one of our comprehensive programs:
Beekeeping Apprenticeship at Bee-Mindful.com/apprenticeships
Beekeeping Intensive 3-day Workshops  at Bee-Mindful.com/workshops (in February and March)
 
To build your own full size hive to host these bees as they grow into a larger, fully established colony, consider using our free Les Crowder Top-Bar hive plans at www.Bee-Mindful.com/plans
 
If you prefer to buy one of our Amish handcrafted kits or hives, go to www.Bee-Mindful.com/hives-and-bees