(Frequently Asked Questions about Fantastic Queens and Packages)

Who can buy bees:
Queens and bee packages are sold only to current, paid-up members of the San Francisco Beekeepers Association (to join or renew, please click here). Additionally, if you are a new beekeeper, you must have completed our Intro to Beekeepers classes within the last five years. 

For more information on purchasing, including a run-down on the breeds that will be available, see our purchasing information page. Or, to actually place your order, go here or click the red button.

Picking up your bees:

When is B D-Day?
Bee Delivery Day for bee packages, individual queens and Yolo County nucs is currently scheduled for Saturday, April 25 from Noon to 2pm. For those looking for nucs from Grass Valley, please stay tuned for more information.

Is there any chance the date might change? 
We've had to delay delivery in the past because of really cold and crappy late Winter/early Spring weather. The breeders let us know they're now seeing signs of good bee health and growth. Thanks for being patient.

I’m busy that day, can you hold my bees until the next week? Can I get them the week before?
We *really* don’t have facilities to hold bees, but if you can’t find another beekeeper to pick them up, email us and we’ll see what we can do. We only make one run to the breeders for our bulk bees. 

So, what happens on Bee Delivery Day?
Our bee pickup location will be at St. John's Armenian Church, 275 Olympia Way. Note: This is the same church where we meet  regularly and, once again, we will be doing the delivery as a drive through.

What time and how will it work?
Delivery time is 12 Noon to 2pm. We'll be set up for contact-less, drive-thru delivery just like the last two years. If you try to walk up, you will be asked to get back in your car and get in line. The process goes fast, so any wait time should be minimal. We will have folks directing traffic who can help, so thanks for listening to our volunteers. They'll be in bee suits, hard to miss.

What if I want to hang with my bee buds?
For all you who used to come and hang out and shoot the s#!t with other beekeepers, sorry. There may be a place to socialize, and it will be marked, but NOT in the delivery area. That’s already chaotic enough.

How do I actually get my bees or queens?
You will have gotten a confirmation of your order plus a registration for the Bee Delivery Day event that includes a QR code. Please print and bring the registration or show it to us on your phone; we'll be scanning the QR code to identify you and find your order, and you'll be asked to sign for the bees to reduce mixups. Please note that orders are under the name of the person who made the purchase, so if someone else is picking up your bees, please make sure they have your name & registration. (You might also let us know the pickup person's name by emailing beepacks@sfbee.org beforehand.) 

What if I have questions on that day?
If you have beekeeping questions, stay in your car, let a volunteer know and you'll be directed toward one of the numbered parking spots. A knowledgeable, masked beekeeper will answer your questions.

What time was it all again?
Please plan on being there during the 12-2 window. PLEASE, don't be too early. We pick up the bees earlier that day and build in time for traffic, but it’s not perfect. Note: If you do not arrive or text by 2pm when we're wrapping up, your bees will be sold. 

And where do I show my confirmation?
A diagram of how we plan to set up the parking lot will be on this page soon. If your last name begins with the letters A thru M, drive up to the first table and show them your registration with QR code; N thru Z people go to table 2. If you're picking up bees for someone else, use their name and registration. Everything will be marked.

And now, about the bees themselves:

Where do the bees come from?
We buy our bees from a high-quality Northern California breeder who, for a number of reasons, prefers to remain anonymous. The SFBA has used them for years and the breeder has a special place in his/her heart for bee clubs, and so gives us a special price for great bees. If you really want to know, we’ll tell you but then we’ll have to kill you (just kidding, don't email us, it's humor). 

I really wanted a nuc. Can I, can I?
Yes. We have had great luck and success with nucs, so we're going to be offering a 5-deep frame nucleus colony to members who have kept bees for a year or more. Supplies may be limited, so reserve early. 

Nucleus colonies (nucs) are basically an estaablished, mini-colony with a laying queen, worker bees, three to four frames with brood in various stages - eggs, larvae, capped - and some stored honey. They all come in deep frames (supplied in Pro Nuc boxes) and are generally Northern California stock, descendants of strong colonies that have overwintered. They may have certain species characteristics, but are not classified as Italians, Carniolans, etc.  They are NorCal acclimatized honey bees. 

Stuff that's important:

When should the bees go into my hive box?
We strongly suggest that you install into your hives the same day to minimize any harm to the bees. Most experienced beekeepers install them later in the afternoon, so foragers don't go too far and get lost finding their way back.


If you are only ordering queens(s), you can hold them for a day before installing. Just let us know at beepacks@sfbee.org beforehand.



HERE’S A REALLY BIG, IMPORTANT THING. Seriously!

When you go to install, make sure to check the queen first. If the queen is dead in the cage, do not install your package. Keep it sealed in a cool place, and call Marc J at 415.225.2594.

There will be a replacement queen for you with further instructions. The ONLY circumstance in which you will be given a replacement queen is if she is dead in the queen cage BEFORE you install.


More IMPORTANT stuff:

• Do not transport bees home in a plastic garbage bag or airtight container - they breathe, too.

• When picking up bees, please follow instructions from the SFBA folks handling pickup. 

• Remember to bring your Bee Delivery Day registration with QR code. 

• If you have further questions about installing, please ask. We'll have veteran beekeepers around. Bring a mask.

• Yes, we will have rubber bands and marshmallows for you. If you don’t know what this means, ask someone, but it was part of both classes.

And yet even more IMPORTANT stuff:

With either bee packs or individual queens, remember to keep your queen safely caged for a few days when first putting her into the hive. The queens in the packages are raised regionally and the bees with her are from other sources, meaning they are not *that* queen's bees. As a result, she needs time to imprint them with her pheromones so they will love their new step-mom.

It's highly advised that you leave the queen in the queen cage for at least two days before putting the marshmallow in the end hole and giving the workers access and the queen her freedom. Hence the term “Marshmallow Monday.”  In past years (and especially last year) several beekeepers released the queens directly into the hive, with sad results. Voids the warranty, costs you another $40 for a queen and you'll have to do the walk of shame for your bees (agian, kidding, it's humor).

For people who ordered 2+ bee packs. If your hives are next to one another, orient the openings at 90 degrees to each other if possible, or keep the entrances closed for a day or so. As noted, the package workers are not daughters of the package queen or oriented to your hive's location. Significant drift to one box may deplete the population of a nearby box. 

Holy crap, that’s a lot.
Breathe and relax, grasshopper. All will be well in the bee universe soon. There is no try, only do.

Looking forward to a great bee delivery day and a super bee season!

Marc, Tai and the Bee Pack Wranglers, SFBA. Bee the solution!

P.S. We don't plan on having extras, but just in case someone does not show, click here to let us know if you want another package and we'll put you on a list.