Davis Backyard Bees 5-Frame Nucleus Bee Hive – VSH Grooming Behavior

Davis Backyard Bees 5-Frame Nucleus Bee Hive – VSH Grooming Behavior (3 Brood Frames, 2 Food Frames)
Available May 2026 – Preorder Now with no deposit
Comes in a Durable Jester Nuc Box

Start your 2026 beekeeping season with a Davis Backyard Bees premium 5-frame nucleus bee hive (nuc) featuring bees bred for exceptional performance and resilience. Each nuc is carefully assembled to provide a strong foundation for rapid colony development and long-term success.

Your nuc includes:

• 3 frames of healthy brood in all stages—eggs, larvae, and capped brood—for immediate colony growth.
• 2 frames of food, including honey/nectar and pollen stores, giving your bees the nutrition they need to thrive right from the start.

These bees exhibit VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) grooming behavior, offering improved natural resistance to mites and contributing to a healthier, more self-sufficient colony. Known for their strong spring buildup, consistent brood production, and excellent honey yields, these nucs are ideal for both new beekeepers, hobbyists, sideliners and commercial beekeepers looking to add dependable genetics to their apiary.

Your nuc will be provided in a Jester EZ Nuc box, a sturdy, reusable transport container trusted by beekeepers for reliability, proper ventilation and easy handling.

Important Handling Note:
Once you arrive home, place the nuc on top of the new hive and immediately open the entrance so the bees can fly, cool off, and begin acclimating to their new location. You will need to have protective gear on as bees may be a little defensive and want to sting you as a result of them being transported to a new location. Bees normally will "quiet down" after a day or two of being in their new location. That's why it's recommended to let the bees calm down for a day and then transfer them over into their new hive. 

Preorders Are Open Now!
Reserve your nuc now. Quantities are limited and sell out quickly each year.

Pickup Only – No Shipping Available
Customers will be contacted when their nuc is ready for pickup in May 2026.

Give your apiary a strong, reliable start this spring with a nuc designed for success from Davis Backyard Bees!

How to Transfer a 5-Frame Nuc Into a New Hive

Important Handling Note:
Once you arrive home, place the nuc on top of the new hive and immediately open the entrance so the bees can fly, cool off, and begin acclimating to their new location. You will need to have protective gear on as bees may be defensive and want to sting you as a result of them being transported (road vibration) in a vehicle to a new location. Bees normally will "quiet down" after a day or two of being in their new location. That's why it's recommended to let the bees calm down for a day and then transfer them over into their new hive. 

What you’ll need:

• Your new hive setup (bottom board, brood box, inner cover, lid (outer cover))
• Hive stand of some type to set new hive on
• Protective gear
• Smoker
• Hive tool
• Sugar syrup feeder (optional but helpful for buildup)
• 1:1 sugar syrup for feed

1. Prepare the New Hive (prior to receiving your bees)

• Set your new hive in its permanent location on a leveled stand.

• Ensure the brood box has 5–10 empty frames ready (depending on hive type).

• Open the entrance reducer and make sure everything is stable.

2. Calm the Bees (Optional but Helpful)

• Lightly smoke the entrance of the nuc and under the lid to calm the colony.

3. Open the Nuc Carefully

• Remove the nuc lid and carefully loosen the frames using your hive tool.

• Gently lift the first frame out closest to outside wall of the box using your hive tool.

• Look for the queen and always hold frames over the hive in case bees or the queen fall off.

4. Transfer the Frames in Order

Move the nuc frames into the new hive in the same order and orientation they were in the nuc box and place in the center of the new hive. This maintains the brood pattern and colony structure. 

Frame arrangement should typically be:

1. Food

2. Brood

3. Brood

4. Brood

5. Food

(But follow the layout exactly as it appears in your nuc.)

Gently shake any remaining bees in the nuc box into open space of the new hive box. Set the Jester nuc box in front of the new hive or on top so any remaining bees can transition into the new hive. 

5. Add Empty Frames

• Place the remaining empty frames on each side of the transferred nuc frames.

• Push all frames together snugly—then adjust so they’re centered in the box.

6. Close Up the Hive

• Replace the inner cover and outer cover.

• Reduce the entrance if the colony is small (helps protect against robbing).

7. Feed the Colony (Recommended)

• Install a feeder with 1:1 sugar syrup to help the new colony draw out comb and expand quickly.

8. Leave the Bees Alone

• Avoid disturbing the colony for at least 7 days after transfer.

• This allows them to settle, orient to the new hive, and let the queen continue laying without interruption.

9. First Inspection

• After 7–10 days, inspect to ensure:

  • The queen is laying well

  • Bees are drawing new comb

  • Brood looks healthy

  • Food stores are adequate

10. Continue Regular Inspections

• Check the hive every 10–14 days during spring and early summer.

• Add a second brood box or honey super when 7–8 frames are drawn and active.

• Start mite monitoring.