There are three popular ways to start a hive:
Catch a swarm
Santa Clara Bee Guild has a swarm list and experienced bee keepers who will show you how.
- Purchase a "Package" of bees (around $65) - Two or three pounds of bees with a queen in it's own cage.
- Purchase a "Nuke" - Three to five frames of workers, brood, with a laying queen
- Get a “split” from another bee keeper - frames with brood and worker bees. You will need to purchase your own queen ($15)
It's True! If you get a split you will need to know how to unite a queen with foreign bees.
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