Coming soon
Buckfast bees are popular with beekeepers looking for manageable colonies and good honey-producing potential. Our planned open mated F1 Buckfast queens offer an option for requeening or growing your apiary.
For requeening or making increase
A mated queen can be used to replace an existing queen or head a suitable queenless split. Unlike a virgin queen, she has already completed mating flights. Successful introduction still depends on the condition of the receiving colony and careful preparation.
What does F1, open mated mean?
In this listing, F1 describes a first-generation daughter of a Buckfast breeder queen. Open mating means she mates naturally with drones in the surrounding area, rather than through instrumental insemination or a controlled mating pedigree. Her workers inherit genetics from both the queen and those drones, so individual colonies can vary.
These are production queens for working colonies, not a promise of pure mating, identical temperament or a guaranteed honey yield.
Before you introduce her
Plan the introduction before collecting or ordering a queen. If you’re replacing a queen, check the colony’s queen status carefully; if you’re making a split, it needs sufficient bees, brood and stores. Contact us if you’re unsure which option fits your plans.
Breeder origin, laying checks, marking, packaging and supply arrangements will be published before orders open.
Introducing your queen
Prepare the colony, use a slow-release cage and give the bees time to settle. Read our simple guide to successful queen introduction before your queen arrives.
Availability
Coming soon. Prices, seasonal availability and collection or delivery arrangements will be confirmed before orders open. Registering your interest is an enquiry, not a reservation.