Treatment-Free Top-Bar NUCs of resilient Russian bees, grown in Central Texas by Bee Mindful, LLC and headed by Certified Russian queens.
An excellent choice for Treatment-Free, Natural Selection, or conventional beekeeping.
Our Russian bees have been selected for traits that make them particularly well suited to challenging Texas conditions:
- Gentle and productive
- Very responsive to rapidly changing forage conditions
- Natural grooming and seasonal brood-break tendencies
- Frugal with winter and summer dearth stores
- Strong Varroa resistance/tolerance and hygienic behavior
Because availability and timing depend on weather, forage, colony development and queen performance, and orders are filled on a first-ordered, first-served basis, preordering early gives you the best opportunity for an earlier pickup date.
These are young, semi-established colonies, not packages. Because they already have drawn comb, brood, food stores and an established queen, they typically begin the season approximately 4–6 weeks ahead of a package purchased at the same time.
With proper nutrition and management during their first season, they should have ample opportunity to develop into strong colonies ready for overwintering. We recommend feeding approximately 1 quart of ProSweet every 5–7 days during establishment, adjusting as needed based on colony strength and available forage.
These traits make Russian genetics an excellent choice for Treatment-Free apiaries while also performing well under conventional management.
Compatibility: These NUCs are built on 20-inch top bars specifically sized for Bee Mindful-style Horizontal Top-Bar Hives. Please build from our plans or purchase a compatible Bee Mindful hive before pickup.
NEED A MATCHING HIVE?
- You can build an inexpensive Horizontal Top-Bar Hive yourself using our FREE DIY plans at Bee-Mindful.com/plans.
- Our double-hive design can be built in about an hour using a handful of 2×10s and basic tools, making it possible to house two colonies in one hive body at very low cost.
- Prefer a ready-to-go option? Bee Mindful also offers Amish-handcrafted hive kits and assembled Horizontal Top-Bar Hives at Bee-Mindful.com/hives-and-bees.
WANT TO BECOME A MORE PROFICIENT BEEKEEPER?
- Starting with good bees is only part of the equation. Building your knowledge and management skills can substantially improve your ability to understand your colonies and help them thrive.
- Consider one of Bee Mindful's comprehensive hands-on educational programs:
- Beekeeping Apprenticeship @ Bee-Mindful.com/apprenticeships
- 3-Day Beekeeping Intensive Workshops @ Bee-Mindful.com/workshops
Our programs emphasize practical, hands-on colony management, bee biology, natural comb, Horizontal Top-Bar Hives, and Treatment-Free/Natural Selection beekeeping.
PICKUP & PREORDER INFORMATION
- Pickup will be in Driftwood, Texas Pickup dates are typically scheduled during May and June NUCs are released as individual colonies become ready
- First ordered = first served Earlier orders receive priority for earlier available pickup dates
- We begin sending “Ready for Pickup” emails as colonies reach pickup strength
WHAT YOUR NUC INCLUDES
- A 4–5 drawn-comb nucleus colony on 20-inch top bars
- Brood in multiple stages Stored honey/nectar and pollen
- An established population of Treatment-Free bees
- A Certified Russian queen
- Naturally drawn comb Combs sized to fit Bee Mindful Horizontal Top-Bar Hive plans (not other hive styles)
