Bees and Queens
All the bees at Two Brooks are reared in our apiary from our own stock of consistently successful Varroa resilient, localised, near-native dark bees. The breeding apiary is reasonably isolated so it has been possible to gradually improve the breeding lines.
The breeding program is relatively small-scale and has an emphasis on quality not quantity.
Our breeder queens are selected from colonies with a good history of calmness, Varroa resilience and overall vigour, as well as for the traits of queen longevity and productivity.
These breeder colonies are chosen early in the spring and are divided into ‘drone mother’ and ‘queen mother’ colonies.
Other colonies are chosen for their strength to be ‘starter/finisher’ colonies and are given the task of building queen cells from given selected larvae. These colonies are set up using the ‘queenright’ method.
This method minimises stress on the colony and produces good, well fed queen cells. It allows for a number of rearing cycles in each season.
The queens at Two Brooks are locally bred in our apiary, from consistently successful lines of Varroa resilient, near-native bees.
Our Queens are naturally open mated and as the main apiary is fairly isolated, it has been possible to gradually improve the breeding lines over the years.
Breeder Queens and Drone mothers are selected from colonies with a good history of Queen longevity, productivity and overall vigour as well as for the traits of Varroa resilience, and calmness.
The breeding program is relatively small scale with an emphasis on quality not quantity and only a small number of Queens will be made available to beekeepers that would like to follow the treatment free path.
Queens are now available to pre-order for May-June 2022. (weather dependent)
Sorry, no more orders for 2024. Only a limited number were available.
Order by a non-refundable deposit (£50) with remainder payable on collection. Deposit is refundable only if order is not fulfilled.
Nucleus colonies will only be supplied for orders with deposit payment made in advance.
Customers will be notified a week in advance when their order will be available and a collection date arranged within the following two weeks of notification. Late collections may be subject to an extra weekly swarm management fee of £5 per colony and uncollected colonies are not refundable.
Nucleus colonies are supplied on British Standard Hoffman frames (with a choice of 14x12 or Deep) and are suitable for National and WBC hives with an equivalent brood box.
Nucs will contain brood in all stages on at least 3 frames, the other frames will be drawn and with stores.
All queens are marked, numbered and clipped unless otherwise requested, for spring Nucs.
All our bees are checked by us for quality and health before collection and comply with National Bee Unit guidelines.
If you have any queries or would like to order a large number of Nuclei then please contact us directly via e-mail or phone.
Overwintered 6 Frame 4x12 Jumbo = £295, (Including BS Honeybees 2in1 poly nuc with feeder)
Overwintered 6 Frame British Standard = £285 (Including BS Honeybees 2in1 poly nuc with feeder)
Spring 6 Frame 4x12 Jumbo = £285 (Including BS Honeybees 2in1 poly nuc with feeder)
Spring 6 Frame British Standard = £275 (Including BS Honeybees 2in1 poly nuc with feeder)