Post bees

[King Scavenger]

Hi all. Due to family problems I am going to re home my bees. Some will be in poly nucs which I am going to sell. I have been asked If I can send them in the post. What is the best way to make them safe to be sent.

 

[drex]

With the way mail is handled these days even by couriers I would definitely not. Package bees and queens by post is a different matter but bees on frames in nucs. NO.

 

[Millet]

I can't see a safe way of sending live colonies via post,

 

[colinc]

No way with major companies but small local specialist couriers may be able to transport them safely but depends on where you are sending them to.
Helps to have a beekeeper with them if boxes leak or separate on route.

I would deal face to face if possible


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[King Scavenger]

That's it!! I will not risk it. He can come and get them. Thanks all for your advice.

 

[alldigging]

That's it!! I will not risk it. He can come and get them. Thanks all for your advice.

How far has he got to come to get the bees?

 

[Swarm]

You could deliver.

 

[mintmoth]

There will be plenty of folk wanting nucs in the spring who will be happy to fetch them. I think someone wanting a nuc of bees on frames delivered by post probably doesn't know much about beekeeping anyway. Wait for a better offer.

 

[Swarm]

Perhaps they don't have transport?

I've delivered more than once.

 

[TooBee...]

This link for Royal Mail does list bees as a "Restricted Item" meaning that they need to be properly packaged and labeled.
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/uk-what-can-i-send

So I suppose it can be done, after all there's plenty of expensive Nucs and Package Bees on the internet being sold with the option of Postage, from what appears to be reputable companies (or at least one's which seem to know what they are talking about), and from looking at a Package of Bees surely a robust Nuc Box with narrow self-spacing frames would be safer for the Bees, I suppose you could always place the Queen in a plastic cage for safety? (Disclaimer: the contents of this entire paragraph is guess-work, the purpose of this Post is to provide you with the Link above).