Bees in France

[MaryGargent]

Hi,
is anyone else out there living in France?
Just about to build my first hive and wondered if anyone knows of a good supplier in the Dordogne? Mary

 

[MJBee]

Hi,
I'm up in the north of the Dordogne, Nontron 24300 is the nearest town.

All the Dordogne Agricultural Co-ops seem to have a bee keeping section but all the kit they sell is French Dadant.

I have a mix of British and French kit but get all my British kit from Thornes via the internet. Their service is quick and efficient but p&p increases the cost compared to the UK.

What type of hive are you building? Welcome to the forum.

 

[MaryGargent]

Hi, I'm near Hautefort so not too far away. I am building a Langstrath as I was told that is the most popular in France and hence easier to buy bees. I am a true beginner so any help would be really useful! I have seen a website which will post bees to different parts of France, but the transfer seems pretty tricky...

Mary

 

[MJBee]

It may be a regional thing but I have not come across any Langstroth hives (yet).

I am not familiar with the frame size for your Langstroth but if Dadant frames are the same or close you should be OK.

When ordering bees make absolutely sure that they will deliver/Send by post. I ordered some and they rang me to say they were ready come and get them from Montpellier!! - I declined and lost my deposit.

 

[MaryGargent]

Thank you for that,the one I saw did have the same hives so hopefully I should be OK.

 

[Colin Horn]

Hi,
is anyone else out there living in France?
Just about to build my first hive and wondered if anyone knows of a good supplier in the Dordogne? Mary

HI, I'm just starting out myself, in Nord PAs De Calais and also looking for a colony, good luck with your search

 

[Erichalfbee]

HI, I'm just starting out myself, in Nord PAs De Calais and also looking for a colony, good luck with your search

Well ten years ago I hope so

 

[Erichalfbee]

HI, I'm just starting out myself, in Nord PAs De Calais and also looking for a colony, good luck with your search

Have a look at Richard Noel on YouTube
https://youtube.com/@richardnoel3141?si=x46Q5Uk7Mg5TU_4Q

 

[castanea]

Have a look at Richard Noel on YouTube
https://youtube.com/@richardnoel3141?si=x46Q5Uk7Mg5TU_4Q

Have a look and join the nearest Ruche Ecole. They will keep you right & help out with bees etc. In France the only things to be delivered is Queens, colonies to be picked up from Suppliers.
Good luck welcome to France

 

[Lislarybees]

You could try these different organisations. They could put you in touch with nucleus/starter colony suppliers locally of Apis Mellifera Mellifera or the honey bee native to France


http://www.abeillenoire44.fr/

http://abeillenoireouessant.bzh/ (Bretagne)

https://www.maisonabeillenoire.be/for_abeille_noire

https://www.reinedepique.org/techniques-apicoles/l-abeille-noire/

https://canif.org/ (ile de France)

https://www.abeillenoirepyrenees.fr/qui-sommes-nous/ (Pyrenees)

https://abeille-noire-des-landes.fr/ (Landes)

https://www.abeillenoire.eu/cms/l-association/ (Sologne)

 

[Barbara]

Have a look and join the nearest Ruche Ecole. They will keep you right & help out with bees etc. In France the only things to be delivered is Queens, colonies to be picked up from Suppliers.
Good luck welcome to France

Take a look at ‘le Bon coin’ for your area. There are bee keepers there that rear nucs will be advertising soon for this season.

 

[RichardK]

HI, I'm just starting out myself, in Nord PAs De Calais and also looking for a colony, good luck with your search

Here you go:
leboncoin - Nord-Pas-de-Calais

 

[castanea]

Take a look at ‘le Bon coin’ for your area. There are bee keepers there that rear nucs will be advertising soon for this season.

I’m sorry to say you don’t buy bees cats or dogs on the Bon Coin!!! It’s the biggest scam ever. Buyer Beware

 

[RichardK]

I’m sorry to say you don’t buy bees cats or dogs on the Bon Coin!!! It’s the biggest scam ever. Buyer Beware

Could you explain why you think it's a scam please? And indeed why @jenkinsbrynmair you agree?

 

[castanea]

Could you explain why you think it's a scam please? And indeed why @jenkinsbrynmair you agree?

Most of the time the people are not registered breeders, just someone out to make a fast buck. Maybe they caught a swarm will sell it on to you disease infected bees. Try and find someone local or go to the big bee suppliers there are some in the north. Your only starting out would you recognise if you seen it?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

And indeed why @jenkinsbrynmair you agree?

Most of the time the people are not registered breeders, just someone out to make a fast buck. Maybe they caught a swarm will sell it on to you disease infected bees. Try and find someone local or go to the big bee suppliers there are some in the north. Your only starting out would you recognise if you seen it?

That

 

[RichardK]

That

Ahh I see...so basically no opinion of your own as you know nothing about it!

 

[RichardK]

Most of the time the people are not registered breeders, just someone out to make a fast buck. Maybe they caught a swarm will sell it on to you disease infected bees. Try and find someone local or go to the big bee suppliers there are some in the north. Your only starting out would you recognise if you seen it?

This simply isn't true. leboncoin is possibly the most used site in France for selling things - used extensively by both professionals and private individuals alike. A quick search across the whole of France for a colony of bees reveals that 84.8% of vendors are professionals. And those private individuals I've met over the years through buying / selling things bee related & who live nearby have all become good friends - in fact they've become my local 'bee network'. Sure, as with everything in life there are I am sure a few less savoury users, but it's an extremely useful resource for many, many things. In 20 years we've never been scammed thru the site & don't know of anyone who has.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ahh I see...so basically no opinion of your own as you know nothing about it!

not at all, but in the end it's just a french hybrid version of ebay x gumtree- cutting and pasting what their website boasts it in in your last post makes it no better than any other site of its ilk. Certainly not a site I would buy livestock from - even if it was worms for fishing.

 

[RichardK]

not at all, but in the end it's just a french hybrid version of ebay x gumtree- cutting and pasting what their website boasts it in in your last post makes it no better than any other site of its ilk. Certainly not a site I would buy livestock from - even if it was worms for fishing.

Incorrect.

There are fundamental differences to both the market (i.e. France v's UK) and the product. Some notable differences for you:

• Ebay only allows the following live animals for sale: live bait, composting worms, shellfish (for consumption), aquarium or pond fish (up to 5cm long), snails, tadpoles or similar creatures, hatching eggs for some animals are permitted. It's not possible to buy or sell bees on Ebay even if you wanted to.
  • leboncoin in France, does allow it though although preference is definately given to Professional vendors who have to provide the relevant documentation and are accredited with 'Pro' against their advertising - something people can filter on. The businesses are bona fide paid up professional beekeepers and unlike ebay, leboncoin is an accepted route to market in France - I've never come across a French person who says otherwise.
• you can pretty much pick any category on Ebay UK and the results are all to be delivered from abroad it seems to me. And it's businesses selling.
  • on leboncoin the results are local (France) and will either be professional biased (animals, property) or private seller focused (e.g. clothing, )
• As further indication of how it's used by professionals (local rather than Asia based as much of Ebay is I believe) is to simply look at property sales.
  • Ebay UK has 31 property for sale, 9 by online auction.
  • leboncoin meanwhile has 855,514 ads by registered estate agent and an additional 224,120 by private sellers. I believe it's the second largest source of properties in France.

It seems to me that Ebay UK is so full of possible crap it would be hard to find the decent stuff.

The point is it's a different 'product' to Ebay and is a respected (professional) advertising site here in France - you won't be able to appreciate that as you have no local knowledge.