Since 2013, New England Apiaries has been supplying bees for sale in Western Massachusetts. Over the years, quite a following has developed looking for strong early nucs which Bill has made available in Southern New England. Bill says the most meaningful compliment he ever received about them was from a well known "Old Time" area beekeeper, the late Frank Lagrant, who picked his up in 2013 and said, "Now these are the way how nucs should look!”.

Bill’s nucs are extremely popular and sell out every year in March/April and May.

Bill and Jon also make available 3lb packaged bees brought up over night from Georgia. Packaged Bees were the way Bill first started out back in 2005. They are a less expensive way to start your colony however have a longer build up time until the colony is at full strength. Packages are generally available at the end of March or early April, however are more commonly subject to being delayed.

  

What are the benefits and drawbacks of Packages and Nucs?

 

Nucleus Colonies (NUCS)	Packaged Bees
Pros Early strong start Most likely to make honey on first year Already has an accepted queen	Pros Less expensive than a nuc
Cons Will have an earlier mite build up since the colony is further along than a package More expensive than a Package	Cons Slower build up than a Nuc More subjected to delayed delivery Queen is not "accepted" when colony is installed