Alabama Nucleus Hive With Bees And Queen

Start your beekeeping journey or plan for expansion with our Alabama Nucleus Hives, available in 8-frame and 5-frame options, complete with Italian genetic bees for a gentle, easy-to-manage experience. Pickup in downtown Birmingham, Alabama on the day you choose during the morning. We will send specific details for pickup  at least 14 days prior to pickup

See our video on how to install a nucleus hive. 

Each nucleus hive includes deep frames and essential equipment, so you can transfer them directly to your permanent hive. Or if buying one of our over-wintered hives, you can keep your nuc directly in the 8-frame equipment it comes in. 

Pickup And Transfer Details

When picking up the bees, the entrances will be closed. But bees may be on the outside of the hive and hives can and will open in a car accident. We highly recommend ordering a Buzz Bag with your bees. We will place it around your nuc and have it zipped closed for pickup. 

If ordering an overwintered 8-frame hive, use the Single Buzz Bag
If ordering a 5 frame nuc, use a Nuc Buzz Bag

Pickup is available in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday mornings. These colonies are designed to develop into strong, productive colonies and come from excellent stock. We have been selling nucleus hives for years and have excellent customer reviews with these great Alabama genetics. 

We will email you details about picking up your bees, so be sure to use the correct email and phone number. If you are a beginner beekeeper, be sure to read our 5 part master guide on getting started with bees.  Or take a look at our entire beekeeping blog for more information on beekeeping.

Key Features and Benefits

• Italian Genetics: Known for their gentle nature, making hive management smoother for all beekeepers.
• Easy Pre-Order Option: Place a 10% deposit to secure your hive, with the balance due by February 1st, 2025, so you’re all set for pickup in spring.
• Overwintered Nuc: Includes an 8-frame painted wooden bottom board, eight deep frames with foundation, and an 8-frame migratory cover. There are 4-5 frames of brood and a laying queen, and the remaining 2-3 frames are a mixture of honey, pollen, and room to grow.
  
• 5 Frame Nuc: Includes a pro-nuc plastic hive that can be reused as a swarm trap or for making splits, 3-4 frames of brood, a laying queen and 1-2 frames of pollen, honey and room to grow.
  
• Flexible Equipment: Choose between 8-frame and 5-frame options, with overwintered queens in 8-frame hives for a stronger start in early spring.
• Birmingham Pickup: Convenient store pickup with early access hours for nuc customers. 
• Expert Support: Access our beekeeping blog and master guide for tips, guidance, and video tutorials on nucleus hive installation.

Usage Instructions

Reserve your nucleus hive with a pre-order deposit, and plan for pickup on your chosen pickup date. Once you pick up your hive, have your permanent hive equipment ready for an easy transfer. Follow our step-by-step video guide for proper installation and aim to transfer your bees promptly for the best results. Check our beginner guide for essential beekeeping tips, and make sure you have everything ready for a smooth start with your new colony.

It is essential to give our nucleus hives additional space the day you purchase them or the following day. This could be by transferring the frames into a large box or by additional an additional box of frames. If left in the equipment you pick them up in, they will get crowded and swarm within a few weeks. 

While picking up your nuc, you can shop in our store and pick up any last minute supplies you need. It's best to have your permanent bee hive ready before picking up your bees. So be sure to shop early for at least these 5 beekeeping supplies you need.

Detailed Description

Our Alabama Nucleus Hives are ideal for kickstarting a new honeybee colony. With a 

We do not have package bees for sale. Read about comparing package bees and nucleus hives on our blog. If you want to know about what a package of bees is, watch our video on it. 

The 8-frame hives come with overwintered queens, a painted pine bottom board, deep frames, and a durable migratory cover, providing a thriving hive from the start. The 5-frame nucs, which also feature Italian genetics, are housed in a pro-nuc plastic hive for easy transport. Each hive is available for Saturday morning pickup in Birmingham, Alabama, and comes with full support and resources to ensure a successful colony.

Designed for beekeepers of all experience levels, our nucleus hives offer a head start to developing productive colonies, giving your bees the best chance to thrive through their first winter. Early-season pickup is recommended for strong honey production in the first year, especially for overwintered hives available in February and March.

Additional Info

• Pickup Only: Available in Birmingham, Alabama, on select Saturdays. We do not ship nucleus hives with bees
• Pre-Order Deposit: A 10% deposit is required for orders made before January 1st; the remaining balance is due on February 1st, 2025. The deposit is non-refundable.
• Cancellation Policy: Due to the live nature of the product, refunds are unavailable within 30 days of the scheduled pickup date. 
• After Pickup Issues: Notify us within 7 days for any issues. 

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS: Nucleus hives are live animals and because of this, they cannot be returned to us for a refund. We do our best to supply excellent bees and queens in our nucs, but if there are any issues with them, we need to be notified within 7 days of the bees being picked up. 

The whole purchase price of the bees is non-refundable when requested within 30 days of the pickup window. We understand this is not ideal, but because these are live animals and there is a lot of work and equipment that goes into preparing the bees early, this is our policy to make sure bees are taken care of. Nucs will be considered abandoned if not picked up on the scheduled day without notifying staff in advance. 

Watch our video to learn about the major and minor differences between Nucleus Hives and Packages.

To start a return, visit our return portal here.

We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. The order will also need to have been placed through our retail store or through www.foxhoundbeecompany.com