Nuc Pickup & Instructions
NUC PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS–PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM!
Randy Oliver
Golden West Apiaries
14744 Meadow Dr
Grass Valley, CA 95945
530 277 4450 (mornings best)
I produce “chemical-free*” nucs on high quality combs, with the queen mated and laying in the same “large” nuc—the queens are never caged nor banked.
*We haven’t used any synthetic miticides since the year 2000, and avoid commercial agriculture other than almond pollination.
My breeding program is simple; I select for the following traits:
1. Gentleness. Since I work barehanded and without veil or protective clothing during warm weather, I do not tolerate defensive colonies.
2. Early buildup for almond pollination and our early foothill honey flows.
3. High honey production.
4. Natural resistance to local pathogens–”disease free.”
5. Natural varroa mite resistance–after potential breeders are selected for the above criteria; then we only breed from those that test at fewer than 1 mite per 300 bees at our mid March final selection. This ruthless culling selects every year for the optimal natural compromise between productivity and mite resistance.
2012 add: I will be offering a limited number of Russian nucs and queens. The Russian bees are mite resistant and well-adapted to minimal input beekeeping in the Sierra Foothills.
I offer nucs with either new queens, or with proven 2nd-year queens.
Fresh queens depend upon good weather for proper mating, so nucs with new queens are usually not available until mid April to early May.
Rather than waiting for fresh queens,you can get a major jump on the season by asking for a nucs with a 2nd year queen. As we split our hives in March and April, we make nucs from the “cores” of excellent colonies with proven, fat queens from the previous season.
These nucs can give you a several week head start over those with freshly-mated queens. Colonies with 2nd-year queens are great honey producers, but swarm control should be exercised, as they are more prone to swarm than new queens. Nucs with 2nd-year queens are exceptionally strong due the the amount of sealed brood, and cannot be held for long in the nuc box, so they are sold on a first come, first served basis.
Our nucs are on deep frames (9-5/8″ boxes); if you wish to keep bees in medium boxes or other style hives, please purchase a package instead of a nuc.
Prices:
5-frame nucs
We are proud of the quality of our queens and nucs–if for any reason you are not completely satisfied, simply return for replacement or refund within 30 days.
Very early (Jan-mid March), w/2nd yr queens (limited supply) $125
Early (mid March-mid April), w/2nd yr queens $100
After April 15, w/new queens $100
I offer a $5 cash discount per nuc if you bring with you a printed copy of the pickup checklist below, with every single item accurately checked off (no exceptions)!
I also offer discounts for orders of 10 or more nucs.
Package bees:
For those wishing packages, we can shake a limited number by special order.
3-lb $70
4-lb $85
Add a $6 refundable cage deposit to the above prices.
Packages can also be made with either new or 2nd-year queens–the same time constraints apply.
To place an order, please email me ( randy@randyoliver.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ), with the words “Nuc Order” on the subject line. Please tell me the number that you want. The default is deep nucs with new queens. If you wish nucs with 2nd-year queens, please say “2nd yr.”
Pickup:
1. Please bring green folding money for payment, unless prior arrangement has been made to accept a check.
2. Note: all nucs are 5 deep frames unless other arrangements have been specified. Nucs contain a freshly laying queen from selected stock, 3-4 frames of brood, and food combs of honey and pollen.
4. For each nuc, bring a deep brood box, containing only 5 frames , a hive cover and bottom board, and a ratcheting nylon web strap (has lever that click ratchets to tension) to hold it together. Or bring your own nuc box (no frames). With prior arrangement, you may be able to take bees home in my nuc box, if you leave a $20 cash deposit per box, to be returned if box is returned promptly.
5. Always carry full gear and a smoker when moving bees, in case a mishap occurs.
6. We’ll install bees into your boxes at my home yard, let them settle down for several minutes, then you can drive them home. Alternatively, feel free to drop your hives (clearly marked with your name and phone number) off in advance with payment, and we will install the bees and call you when you can pick up at your leisure.
7. You may pick up nucs any time, but you’ll get the full field force if you pick them up in late afternoon, or during cold or rainy weather (sunny daytime pickup is fine; we will shake extra bees into your nuc to make up for any lost field force). BE SURE TO ARRIVE AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNSET. Please do not arrive any later–it is rough on me and the bees to transfer as darkness approaches (and interrupts my family time). If you live far away, please check any computer map program for the estimated travel time, and check your paper for sunset time.
8. For the trip home, secure the hives firmly in the vehicle to avoid shifting. The smoothest ride in a truck bed is just behind the cab.
In general, do not close or screen the entrance. However, if you have screened bottoms, you may close the entrance completely. If you are carrying them in a car, or are concerned about bees getting out, wrap the whole hive in netting, shade cloth, or a bedsheet. Closed nucs can easily overheat!
Pick up checklist–please print and check off all items! I can only sell nucs at this low price if the pick up goes quickly and smoothly–it’s worth my time to give you a $5 discount if you’ve got all your ducks in a row before you get here!
__ Green cash full payment for each nuc–paper money with green presidential portraits. Not checks!
__ For each nuc: 1 hive body, 5 frames (3 frames for 8-frame boxes), 1 hive cover, 1 bottom board
__ Ratcheting straps. These have a handle that moves back and forth and goes “click, click, click” as the strap cinches up. Bungees or camlock straps do not provide adequate bindage.
__Please assemble all equipment and any entrance blocking before you arrive, so that we can quickly transfer your nucs without waiting for you to fiddle around.
__ Ropes to keep the hives from sliding in the back of the vehicle.
__ Net or old sheet if you are carrying within a vehicle, or plan to make stops.
__ Full bee gear and a smoker in case the hive breaks open on the way home
___I repeat: BE SURE TO ARRIVE AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNSET. Please do not arrive any later–it is rough on me and the bees to transfer as darkness approaches (and interrupts my family time). If you live far away, please check any computer map program for the estimated travel time, and check your paper for sunset time.
DIRECTIONS
Directions from I-80 east:
Take the Colfax/Grass Valley offramp.
Keep turning right until you are on Hwy 174.
Don’t miss when 174 turns left a mile out of town at Giovanni’s restaurant!
Go about 6 miles on Hwy 174 toward Grass Valley. When you see the green Meadow View Drive sign don’t turn yet, rather go another ¼ mile and look for the Meadow Drive sign on the left.
Turn left on Meadow Drive.
Go 1.1 miles up. Address 14744 on right.
Directions from Marysville (Hwy 20 east):
When you hit Freeway 49/20, go right over the overpass, straight; this will put you onto Empire St. Follow Empire St until it tees into Hwy 174, turn right
