Nucs are now listed for 2026.

5 deep frames or 8 medium frames of healthy bees, brood, honey, and a queen. Summer nucs are either pulled from what we make for ourselves, or made on request if we do not have any nucs available. Queens are given a minimum 3 week establishment period before the nuc is sold, unless a shorter establishment is requested by the nuc purchaser. No box returns necessary on Deep nucs. Medium nucs will come in a plywood nuc box, which we would like back (Medium nuc price includes a $25 refundable box and strap deposit). Nucleus hives must be picked up in Shoreline. We do not ship bees.

These nucs are raised by Rainy Day Bees in the Seattle area.

• Summer nucleus hives are usually available from late June through September. Summer nucs are made up from our honey bee stock. Local queens are either raised by us or another local beekeeper. Queens with specific races (e.g. Italian, Carniolan, Saskatraz, Golden West) are purchased from Olivarez Honey Bees. We do not recommend new beekeepers start with a Summer Nucleus Hive due to the reduced time available for establishment. Consider a Golden West Nucleus Hive or Rainy Day Bees Spring Nucleus Hive instead. Please contact us to confirm availability and timing of Summer Nucleus Hives.

• All nucleus hive purchasers are automatically subscribed to our annual nuc purchaser list, which includes periodic emails regarding what you should be seeing/doing in your hives at a given time of year, as well as anything that we are noticing in our hives that is unique to this year. You may request to opt out via email.