This Spring, the University of Delaware will produce a limited number of nucs and queens available for sale. These are raised from selected queens from our overwintered stock who have displayed traits of gentleness, honey production, hardiness, and mite resistance. We do not select for a particular subspecies of honey bee. Rather, our queens are open-mated and we proudly raise “Delaware mutts” as our Blue Hen Queens, which are selected for our own local climate and management practices.
All nucs will include: a marked laying queen from a previous research colony or reared from the University of Delaware’s overwintered stock, 5 deep frames (at least 4 with a combination of brood and stores), a healthy supply of bees, and a waxed cardboard nuc for transportation that is yours to keep. As supply will be limited, we are currently only accepting names to be placed on our wait list; this does not guarantee receipt. Beekeepers will be contacted as nuc availability approaches. We will aim to make the first nucs available as early as possible, likely in May, but dates are weather dependent and subject to availability. Orders will be filled on a first-come first-served basis, while supplies last.
After you are added to the list, we will contact you with updates of availability, approximate pickup dates, and other details as the season progresses.
$200 due upon pickup of nucs ($30 for queens) at the University of Delaware in Newark, payable with cash or check. Requests will be filled in the order they were received, as nucs are available.
A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided. Please use the attached link in your email to edit any responses as your needs may change.
If you would like to get on our nuc wait list, fill out the request form by clicking on the link below.
