Looking to start a beehive, expand your apiary or replace a queen? We can help you choose from nucleus colonies, Buckfast and Carniolan queen bees, and established beehives. Discover calm, carefully raised bees from Jurassic Bees in Dorset, with practical advice to help you make the right choice.
Jurassic Bees helps beekeepers find the right bees, from Dorset-raised nucleus colonies and Buckfast and Carniolan queen bees to complete established beehives. Our colonies are carefully managed, with routine health inspections and biosecurity practices informed by NBU guidance. UK-wide delivery is available for eligible bee products; established hives are supplied within Dorset only.
If you're looking to buy honey bees, choosing the right type of bees is the first step. At Jurassic Bees, we help beginners and experienced beekeepers find the right option, whether you're starting your first beehive, expanding your apiary or replacing a queen. We offer nucleus colonies, Buckfast and Carniolan queen bees, and a limited selection of established hives, with practical advice to help you buy confidently.
Starting your first beehive? Most beginners start with a nucleus colony (nuc). A nuc is a small, established colony containing a laying queen, worker bees, developing brood and food stores. Our six-frame nucs are supplied in a Paynes poly nuc box. Once the colony is ready, you transfer the frames into a compatible full-sized National or Langstroth beehive, where the bees can expand into a stronger colony as the season progresses.
Already keeping bees? If an existing colony needs a new queen, you may be looking for queen bees for sale UK. We offer Buckfast and Carniolan queens, including mated and virgin options, depending on the season and availability. A queen is supplied separately, without a colony of worker bees, so buying a queen alone is not a suitable way to start your first beehive. Choosing the right queen also depends on whether your existing colony is genuinely queenless and ready to accept one.
Prefer a complete beehive with bees? Our established hives for sale UK offer an existing colony already housed in a full-sized hive. These are a different option from a nucleus colony and are available for Dorset delivery only. Our Dorset-raised colonies are managed with regular inspections, Varroa monitoring and careful biosecurity practices. UK delivery is available for eligible nucleus colonies and queen bees, with arrangements depending on the product.
Support doesn't stop when your bees arrive. We provide practical guidance to help you care for your colony, from installing your first nuc to feeding and preparing for winter. Explore our step-by-step beekeeping guides, useful tools such as the sugar syrup calculator, and seasonal advice on preparing bees for winter and when to treat for varroa. Whether you're new to beekeeping or adding to an existing apiary, we're here to help you make the right decisions for your bees.
A nucleus colony (nuc) is a small, established colony with a laying queen, worker bees, brood and food stores. It's an ideal way to start beekeeping or expand your apiary. Choose National or Langstroth frames, with overwintered colonies available from April and new-season colonies from May and June.
Pre-Order for April 2027 2027 Overwintered National Nucleus Colony — £330 Looking to buy overwintered nucs for sale in …
£50.00
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Pre-Order for May 2027 2027 Spring National Nucleus Colony — £330 Looking to buy spring nucs for sale in the UK? Our 20…
£50.00
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Pre-Order for April 2027 2027 Overwintered Langstroth Nucleus Colony — £330 Looking to buy Overwintered Langstroth nucs…
£50.00
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Pre-Order for May 2027 2027 Spring Langstroth Nucleus Colony — £330 Looking to buy Spring Langstroth nucs for sale in t…
£50.00
ViewAlready have a colony of honey bees? A replacement queen can help you requeen a suitable colony or introduce different breeding characteristics. Jurassic Bees offers Buckfast and Carniolan queen bees, with options including mated and virgin queens. A queen is supplied separately from a colony of worker bees, so buying a queen alone is not the way to start your first beehive. Explore our queen bees hub to compare your options.
Popular options include Buckfast and Carniolan mated queens, alongside locally raised virgin queens. Mated queens are generally ready to begin laying once successfully introduced and accepted, while virgin queens must mate before they can lay fertilised eggs. Some early-season mated queens may be imported, while our UK-mated queens are produced in Dorset. Secure postal delivery is available, with collection by arrangement.
Looking to replace a queen or improve an existing colony? Explore our Buckfast and Carniolan queens, including mated and virgin options. Mated queens can begin laying after successful introduction, while virgin queens must first mate. Choose the right queen for your colony and the time of year.
F0 Breeder
Tested 2025 F0 Buckfast breeder queen — open-mated at Friedrichskoog, overwintered in Dorset, verified pure Buckfast pedigree.
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F1 Mated
F1 mated Buckfast queens selected for calm temperament and strong spring build-up.
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F1 Virgin
Virgin Buckfast queens ready for mating in your local conditions.
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Carniolan Virgin
Virgin Carniolan queens noted for fast spring growth and gentle handling.
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UK-Mated Carniolan
UK-mated Carniolan queens with steady temperament and strong foraging performance.
View queenPrefer to start with a complete beehive rather than a nucleus colony? Jurassic Bees offers established honey bee colonies already housed in full-sized National or Langstroth hives. Each colony contains a laying queen, worker bees, developing brood and food stores, giving you an established colony in its own hive. Our colonies are regularly inspected and managed with careful hygiene and biosecurity practices.
Unlike a nucleus colony, which you transfer into your own full-sized hive, an established hive comes with the bees already installed. This can appeal to beginners who want a complete setup or experienced beekeepers looking to expand their apiary. Established hives are available for Dorset delivery only and are offered in limited numbers, subject to seasonal availability. Explore the current options on our Established Hives hub.
Start with an established colony already housed in a full-sized National or Langstroth hive. Unlike a nuc, the bees are supplied with their complete hive. Available for Dorset delivery only, subject to seasonal availability.
From May
Full-size colony on National equipment headed by a calm, marked queen. Ready for season management and supering.
See DetailsFrom May
Established colony in Langstroth format with steady build-up and reliable temperament. Compatible with Flow or standard setups.
See DetailsWhether you're starting your first beehive, expanding an apiary or replacing a queen, Jurassic Bees offers carefully selected honey bees, practical buying advice and ongoing support to help you make the right choice.
Our Buckfast and Carniolan breeding lines are selected for desirable traits, including gentle behaviour, colony health and productivity.
We arrange secure transport for eligible nucs and queens, with live-arrival protection according to the product. Complete established hives are delivered within Dorset only.
Our nucleus colonies are supplied with brood, bees and food stores. We provide clear product details so you know what to expect from your purchase.
We prioritise gentle temperament in our breeding choices, helping make regular hive inspections more manageable and enjoyable.
We raise colonies and mate selected queen lines in Dorset, drawing on hands-on experience of managing bees through the British seasons.
From installing a nucleus colony to understanding queen introduction, we're here with practical advice to help you care for your bees.
We work directly with our bees and understand the questions customers face. Our guidance comes from practical apiary experience, not just selling products.
Choose a nuc to establish a new colony, a queen for suitable requeening work, or a complete hive where available. We'll help you understand which option fits your needs.
Explore our beekeeping videos, step-by-step guides and seasonal advice to help you make confident decisions throughout the year.
New to beekeeping or deciding which bees to buy? Watch our practical video guides to understand the different ways to start a colony, what equipment you'll need and what to consider before welcoming bees into your apiary.
A clear comparison of swarms, packages and nucleus colonies — with pros, cons and when each might suit. Perfect for new keepers deciding how to begin.
Essential checklist before buying bees: siting, time, costs, equipment, and biosecurity. A must-watch for beginners planning their first season.
Whether you're starting your first beehive with a nucleus colony, introducing a replacement queen or managing an established hive, we're here to help you care for your bees. Explore our practical beekeeping guides and free tools for clear, step-by-step advice throughout the year.
Practical help with hive inspections, feeding, swarming, moving colonies and other everyday beekeeping tasks.
Learn what to inspect, when to feed and how to prepare your colonies for the colder months.
Learn the signs of queenlessness and what to check before deciding whether your colony needs a replacement queen.
Discover what fellow beekeepers say about their experience with Jurassic Bees. From purchasing their first nucleus colony to choosing Buckfast and Carniolan queen bees, our customers share their experiences of our bees, service and ongoing support. We also offer complete established hives for customers in Dorset.
This beekeeping supplier offers exceptional honey and live bees with outstanding customer service. Charlie provides expert guidance, prompt delivery, and personalized support for beginners and experienced beekeepers. Customers praise the calm, healthy bees, hi...
Choosing which honey bees to buy depends on whether you're starting a new beehive, expanding an existing apiary or replacing a queen. At Jurassic Bees, we offer three main options: nucleus colonies, individual queen bees and established hives. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right starting point for your experience, equipment and beekeeping goals.
A nucleus colony provides a small, functioning colony that can grow into a full-sized hive. A replacement queen is intended for a suitable existing colony, rather than starting one from scratch. An established hive comes with a colony already housed in a complete beehive and is available for Dorset delivery only.
If you're purchasing a nucleus colony, it's important to choose frames that fit your equipment. Our National nucs suit British National hives, while our Langstroth nucs suit compatible Langstroth equipment, including appropriate Flow Hive setups. Choosing the correct frame format before ordering helps avoid problems when transferring your bees into their full-sized hive.
To buy bees online, start by selecting the product that suits your needs, then review its availability, collection or delivery options and payment terms. You can order bees online through our secure Shopify checkout. Nucleus colonies can be reserved with a deposit, while queen-bee and established-hive arrangements depend on the product. We also provide practical aftercare through our beekeeping guides and direct support to help you prepare for your bees' arrival.
Answers to common questions about buying honey bees, choosing between colonies and queens, and arranging delivery. If you need advice about which option is right for you, get in touch.
You can buy honey bees from reputable bee farmers and breeders. At Jurassic Bees, we offer nucleus colonies for starting a hive, queen bees for suitable existing colonies, and established hives for customers in Dorset. We help you choose the right option for your experience and equipment.
Yes. You can order bees online through the Jurassic Bees website. Select your product, review its availability and payment terms, then complete the secure checkout. Our nucleus colonies can be reserved with a £50 deposit, with the remaining £280 payable by BACS at least 28 days before the agreed delivery or collection date. Queen-bee and established-hive payment arrangements depend on the individual product.
A nucleus colony (nuc) is a small, functioning honey bee colony containing a laying queen, worker bees, developing brood and food stores. Our nucs are supplied on six frames, which can be transferred into a compatible full-sized hive when the colony is ready.
An established hive is a colony already housed in a full-sized beehive. This can suit customers who want a complete hive-and-bees setup rather than starting with a nuc.
If you're searching for a bee colony for sale UK, compare our nucleus colonies with our established hives. Established hives are available for Dorset delivery only.
We offer UK-wide postal delivery for eligible nucleus colonies and queen bees, using suitable secure packaging and the delivery arrangements described on each product page. Dorset hand delivery and collection by arrangement are also available where applicable. Complete established hives are delivered within Dorset only and are not sent through the post.
Yes. We offer Buckfast and Carniolan queens, including mated and virgin options depending on seasonal availability. A queen is supplied separately from a full colony and is generally purchased for requeening or breeding work. If you're starting your first beehive, a nucleus colony is normally the more suitable choice. See our Queen Bees hub for options and introduction guidance.
Our nucleus colonies are available in British National and Langstroth frame formats. Choose the format that fits your intended full-sized hive before placing an order.
We select and manage our Buckfast and Carniolan lines with an emphasis on gentle temperament, healthy brood development and good productivity. Colony behaviour also depends on weather, forage, management and other conditions, so individual results naturally vary.
When your nucleus colony is ready and you have a compatible full-sized hive, transfer the existing frames carefully into the brood box, keeping their order and orientation. Provide additional frames, monitor the colony's progress and follow appropriate feeding advice if needed.
Watch our video covering the process:
How to Transfer Bees to a Full Hive (video)
See all Hive How-To Guides.
We carry out routine colony inspections, monitor and manage Varroa, and follow hygiene and biosecurity practices informed by National Bee Unit (NBU) guidance. Colonies are assessed for general health, brood development and food stores as part of our preparation process.
Yes. We provide practical aftercare for customers, including help with installing a nuc, settling a new queen and managing colonies through the season. Support is available by phone and arranged Microsoft Teams calls, and you can contact us using the website contact form.
