Buy Bees

WE DO NOT SHIP BEES - LOCAL PICKUP ONLY

Back Forty Bees supplies 3-pound packages of Italian honey bees to Hampton Roads, Virginia and Northeast, North Carolina. Our packages have been issued a certificate of health by the state apiarist of Georgia and comply with all laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, confirming that they are free of disease. Back Forty Bees is an experienced apiary and we have a successful track record of over many years supplying honey bees locally that will succeed for you.  

Club and Quantity Discount Pricing
Discounts are offered for club and quantity orders. Please note, these prices will be phased out as spring approaches, order early to take advantage of this special pricing. Clubs - don't worry about collecting money! We will provide you with a dedicated discount code that is customized for you club, including special pricing.  This makes it easy to get club order pricing, without the hassle of chasing down people and checks. Email us and we'll set everything up for you.

 It can be daunting installing a package of bees for the first time.  We offer a free demonstration at our Williamsburg location on the day you pickup your package.  We will walk through all the steps of installing the bees, answer your questions, and help you be comfortable installing your own bees before you leave! This demonstration is always a huge success!  

• I'm new to beekeeping, how many hives should I start with?
  • I always suggest people start with two hives.  This article in Mother Earth News does a good job of explaining why.
• Are you sold out?
  • No - not if you can add a package to your cart!  We utilize online inventory control and as long as you can add a product to your cart it is in stock.  I do recommend if you want a package you order early - we do sell out each year.  
• What is the difference between a package and a nuc?
  • A  Package of honey bees is 3 pounds of bees (about 10,000), including a mated queen, contained in a screened shipping cage with a food source (sugar water typically).  A nuc (or nucleus hive) is a hive of bees with drawn out comb, a laying queen, capped and open brood, and all the worker and drone bees.  Essentially, a nuc is a very small functioning hive while a package is an artificial swarm of bees that must establish a new hive (draw out comb, etc.). 
• How do I install a package?
  • There are many resources on the web for installing a package of Honey Bees.  An excellent guidance document (including photos) on how to install package bees has been developed by NC State University. 
• Should I be concerned about Africanized Honey Bees?
  • Not with Back Forty Bees!  All our packages are Georgia state inspected, meaning they are disease free and not cross bred with Africanized honey bees (AHB). We always utilize the same breeders and have been very happy with the quality and temperament of the packages we received.  AHB are not considered widespread or established in Georgia. In fact, the latest map of AHBs by the Agricultural Research Center, USDA does not include the state of Georgia. 
• What is a package of honey bees?
  • A Package of honey bees is essentially an artificial swarm.  Bees from multiple hives are placed in a cage with a new queen and a can of sugar water.  This package of honey bees will include a queen and 3 pounds of bees (enough to get a hive started).
• What kind of honey bees are these?
  • These are Italian honey bees, the most common type found in the country among beekeepers.