5-Frame Honey Bee Nuc (VSH Queen) – 2026 Pre-Order with Delivery

Description

At Crooked Creek Honey Farm, our passion extends beyond the honey jar; it begins with the bees themselves. We believe a successful and rewarding beekeeping journey starts with a strong, healthy, and productive colony. That’s why we take immense pride in raising high-quality nucleus hives for fellow beekeepers, using the same superior genetics that we trust in our own apiaries.

For beekeepers who prefer the convenience of local delivery, we now offer our premium 5-frame nucs for coordinated group orders. Each nuc is a fully established, resource-rich colony ready for rapid expansion. We build them to be brood-heavy and bursting with life, headed by a VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) queen renowned for her hygienic behavior. By starting with our locally adapted bees, you’re not just buying a hive—you’re investing in a thriving, resilient apiary for years to come.

WITH A CROOKED CREEK NUC, YOU’LL:

• BUILD A THRIVING APIARY: Get a powerful head start with a complete, established colony. Our nucs are designed for rapid growth, helping you build up quickly for the spring honey flow.
• BENEFIT FROM SUPERIOR GENETICS: Your hive will be led by a VSH queen, specifically bred for pest/disease resistance, strong honey production, and a gentle temperament, making hive management a more enjoyable experience.
• START WITH LOCALLY ADAPTED BEES: Feel confident knowing your bees are not shipped from across the country. They are raised in North Texas and are well-suited to our unique climate and forage.

Details & Origin

• What’s Included: A complete 5-frame nucleus colony in a disposable ‘Pro Nuc’ box. Contains:
  • 1 x Laying 2026 VSH Italian/Carniolan Hybrid Queen
  • 3 x Frames of brood in all stages (eggs, larvae, & pupae)
  • 2 x Frames of honey and pollen (hive resources)
  • Thousands of worker bees, nurse bees, and drones
• Queen Genetics: Our 2026 queens are VSH Italian/Carniolan Mixed Hybrids, originating from proven, inseminated VSH breeder stock from the USDA Baton Rouge Lab and Ohio Queen Breeders.
• Key Traits: Bred for VSH survivor stock, hygienic behavior, large colony populations, strong honey production, lower swarm tendencies, and a typically gentle nature.
• Delivery Information: This is a pre-order for bulk delivery only. Nucs will be delivered in early to mid-April 2026.
  • Minimum Order: 10 nucs per delivery location. This minimum can be met by a single buyer or multiple buyers coordinating a single pickup point.
  • South Texas Delivery: Nucs for our Austin-area customers will be delivered to a central staging location in Georgetown, TX.
  • How to Coordinate: Please contact us to coordinate your group delivery. We may already have a delivery scheduled for your area!
• Our 7-Day Hive Guarantee: We stand behind the health and quality of our bees. Before delivery, we personally inspect every nuc to confirm it is queenright with multiple frames of healthy brood. We provide a 7-day warranty from your delivery date for a replacement or full refund for a non-performing nuc. Claims must be received within the 7-day warranty period.
• Please Note: This is a pre-order for live bees, which are a living agricultural product. Success in beekeeping is dependent on many factors, including hive management, pest control, and environmental conditions. We are proud to provide you with a strong, healthy start.