Buying bees
Bees can be purchased in different ways, as a complete colony with ten to twelve combs, a queen that is fertile, workers, brood, food stores, and possibly drones, depending on the time of year. Smaller options are also available in the form of a 'nucleus' which includes five to seven combs, a fertile queen, workers, stores, brood, and again, possibly drones. With anucleus, the number of bees is smaller and is more ideal for a first-time beekeeper. Natural swarms may be found in the wild, but it is often difficult to keep them as there is no way of knowing if they are disease-free and whether the queen with the swarm is new and has not been mated yet.
It is also possible to purchase bees from a beekeeper who is selling them. Bees are sold by the pound and are usually sold in two or three pound boxes; there are between 3,000-4,000 bees per pound, so be prepared. It is possible to send bees via mail, but it is safer for the bees and fewer will die if you are able to pick them up from the beekeeper yourself. Bee magazines contain information on beekeepers selling bees, or searches via the internet can also bring results.
New bees will need to be fed while they are getting used to their new surroundings. A Boardman feeder is included with most new hives and is placed in the entrance to the hive, but you must be careful that other bees do not steal the syrup your bees are being fed.
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