Honey Rustlin' Farms
Quality Bee Hives, Beekeeping Equipment, and Raw Local Honey
Located in south, central Virginia
"Next time make it with honey"
Frequently asked questions about beekeeping:
If I live in a cold region in the U.S., will my bees make it through the winter?
Yes, your bees definitely can make it through the winter. Beekeepers successfully keep honey bees in Canada. However, I'd recommend waiting to purchase your first bees until spring, so that you do not need to feed them throughout the winter.
Should I purchase a bee package or a complete hive?
There are several ways you can start beekeeping. You can buy a package of bees and put them into your equipment; buy a nucleus (nuc) hive with frames, bees and a laying queen; or buy an established hive from a beekeeper.
If you purchase a package, you will need to feed them for a couple months to get them established. It is not likely that you will get any surplus honey the first year. Packages usually cost $75-$95.
A nuc is the best way to go, in my opinion. With a nuc, you start with a small established colony, so you may even get some surplus honey the first year.
An established hive is also a good way to go, but is the most expensive option. The price of established hives depends on the size of the hive. If you want to start with an established hive, you will need to find a local beekeeper to buy the hive from, since shipping a complete hive is not practical. Established hives can not be shipped like nucs or packages.
What's the best way to learn more about beekeeping?
Find a beekeeping association located near you. Also, find a beekeeper that you can help and learn from. There are many different ways of managing honey bees. Do not get overwhelmed by all the different ideas, just pick a way that you think will work for you in your area and then experiment and don't be afraid to change it if it doesn't work. Don't worry about making mistakes, we all do it...even experienced beekeepers and it's the only way to learn.
Can I purchase bees from you and have them shipped to me?
Depending on where you live, we may be able to ship bees to you. However, we don't recommend it. If you are close enough to pick up your bees at our location, your bees will not be as stressed. Bee packages are commonly sent all over the United States. However, we believe purchasing Nucs or complete bee hives will result in a much stronger, healthier hive and therefore do not sell bee packages at this time.
Purchasing bees from a local beekeeper is a wise practice. Obviously, we lose sales telling prospective customers this! However, purchasing bees locally is a wise decision because the bees will be acclimated to your area's weather conditions and there's less chance of bringing in outside diseases and pests.
If you can't find a local beekeeper in your area, we may be able to ship nucs to you under certain circumstances. Please feel free to give us a call for more information on this option.