Lincoln bee auction- price of bees

[Adie]

Anyone know how much the colonies were selling for this year at the Lincoln bee auction?
Cheers
Adrian

 

[Swinton apiaries]

Nuc 135 to 200 hives 200 to 250

 

[dpearce4]

blimey that's an early auction to be selling bees.

 

[Michael Palmer]

What is the Lincoln Bee Auction? An annual event? Similar to a cattle auction? How is it organized?

 

[TOBY-3652]

lots or rubbish sold, some bees.. and beekeeping equipment.. like all auctions some things go for more than you can buy them new for yearly it is

 

[Swinton apiaries]

What is the Lincoln Bee Auction? An annual event? Similar to a cattle auction? How is it organized?

Sort of it is run at the lincon show ground in a cattle shed there is all sorts of equipment and hives there second hand and some new mostly bs nationals but there was a few bits of commercial hive parts there today and then a few nucs and hives but It is run by the linconshire bee keeps Association so it Varies from year to year what it on sale it is usually the last weekend in March every year so year it is a lot like a cattle auction hope this helps you get a idea of what it's like

 

[Gilberdyke John]

What is the Lincoln Bee Auction? An annual event? Similar to a cattle auction? How is it organized?

It's an annual event, usually the first auction sale of the year run by the local beekeeping association. Anyone can take bee related (a very loose definition) items for sale and have it sold. The sale money is subject to a commission charge to pay for the event and raise funds for the association running the sale.
The solid items are spread out in rows inside a large shed or hall for viewing and the auctioneer moves along the items.
The hives of bees are sold outside in the open air. In many cases the seller can give a brief description before the lot is sold. Responsible auctions require that hives are inspected before being brought to the sale but not all do this and foulbrood was found at one last year not Lincoln I should add.
A lot of new lots are sold at significant savings but the majority is second hand or pre used. Sometimes buyers get into a battle and common sense goes out of the window resulting in paying far more than the item is priced at in shops. This happens at many types of auction.

 

[Michael Palmer]

This happens at many types of auction.

Truly. Last summer we had a well known cattle breeder retire and sell off his herd. These were mostly Holstein dairy cows with big pedigree. Many sold for $100,000+

So, do bee breeders sell expensive breeding stocks at the bee auctions?

 

[mbc]

So, do bee breeders sell expensive breeding stocks at the bee auctions?

I've never heard of it, usually responsible sellers apply the law of threes, the bottom third are marked as crap and requeened, the middle third offered for sale and the top third kept for further breeding.
Most bee auctions will have had the bees inspected prior to the sale and a few notes made in the program.

 

[einsteinagogo]

<snip>
So, do bee breeders sell expensive breeding stocks at the bee auctions?

Usually they just sell off, surplus colonies! Sometimes there is a label on the hive, which details age of queen, type of queen, e.g. new zealand, number of frames of bees etc

but it's a case of buyers beware. A few years go, nucs and hives, didn't meet auction reserves and were not sold, last year auction prices were very low, and it was almost purchase a national hive, and get a super of honey and free bees!

compared to inside the auction at the hives and equipment, people were purchasing empty hives for more!

 

[Swinton apiaries]

Truly. Last summer we had a well known cattle breeder retire and sell off his herd. These were mostly Holstein dairy cows with big pedigree. Many sold for $100,000+

So, do bee breeders sell expensive breeding stocks at the bee auctions?

This year there was a Young lad selling a nuc there and he had got a little medal prise from the National honey show so you could say in some ways they are

 

[Swinton apiaries]

But also a few years ago at the Nottinghamshire auction there was a hive of very aggressive bees and when the crown board was lifted they shot out and stung most people there so it's swings and round about like cattle markets you don't fully no what you are getting till you already own it

 

[einsteinagogo]

But also a few years ago at the Nottinghamshire auction there was a hive of very aggressive bees and when the crown board was lifted they shot out and stung most people there so it's swings and round about like cattle markets you don't fully no what you are getting till you already own it

I'm surprised that they even do that! Take crown boards off! not knowing what the bees are like!

and if they are aggressive - who wants a colony of aggressive bees!

Beverley have the hives out of the way and roped off, and an association member, suited up, visits each inspected colony by Regional Bee Inspector (night before), and reads out the ticket/info on the hive supplied by member as per procedure detailed on line, and auction starts.

York - inspected colony by Regional Bee Inspector (night before), and reads out the ticket/info on the hive supplied by member as per procedure detailed on line, and auction starts. They are placed in a field out of the way, but anyone could go up to the hive!

 

[Swinton apiaries]

They only lift the crown board to show the strength of the hive and yes I do no this isent the best way of showing this but it dose show if it is a aggressive colony but that is learnt the hard way