$160 each • Available for pickup in Damascus, Oregon during April and May 2027. Gentle, disease-resistant Italian bee stock with a proven laying queen.
Each starter nucleus colony is hand-assembled and carefully inspected by master beekeeper Leonid Zaytsev before release. Your colony arrives established on 5 deep Langstroth wooden frames, ready for direct transfer into your permanent 8-frame or 10-frame hive equipment.
Proven fertile queen actively laying a solid, healthy worker brood pattern.
2 to 3 frames of solid capped and open brood at all stages of development.
1 to 2 frames packed with nectar, capped honey, and natural bee pollen.
Gentle Italian bee stock selected over 30 years for Pacific Northwest resilience.
Submit your reservation below. We will hold your colony in our spring schedule and reach out ahead of April to schedule your exact apiary pickup date.
Thank you! We have added your colony reservation to our spring schedule. Leonid will contact you ahead of April 2027 with your scheduled pickup window.
Nuc colonies are available in April and May depending on spring weather, bloom timing, and queen mating flights. We will reach out 1 to 2 weeks before your colony is ready to coordinate a specific pickup morning.
Your colony is sealed in a secure, well-ventilated travel box. We recommend picking up early in the morning or late afternoon when temperatures are cooler. Place the box securely on the floorboard of your vehicle with the air conditioning on. Never transport bees in a hot closed trunk.
Because our nucs are packed with 5 dense frames of bees, brood, and honey, they will quickly outgrow their travel box. You should transfer the frames into your permanent 8-frame or 10-frame deep brood box within 24 to 48 hours of pickup.
Yes! Leonid Zaytsev has over 30 years of beekeeping experience in Oregon and is always happy to support local beekeepers. Feel free to call him directly at (503) 804-5044.
Contact Our Damascus Apiary Team
Need advice on hive equipment, pickup timing, or bulk colony orders? Send us a message directly.