Selling beehives?

[beehappy1950]

Just an observation. I never see anybody selling a few hives on here. Was wondering what they would be worth and what time of year to try to sell them. Thought a guy might pick up a few bucks here and there. Harold

[beehappy1950]

i figured a newbie beekeeper might want to jump in with both feet and not have to wait for the hive to grow and not get any honey in the first year. I am talking a three deep hive with top and bottom boards. With all new filled out frames .  I dont medicate. I let live and let die. All my hives made it this year. Just curious. Harold

[buzzbee]

Generally we do not allow sales for profit on the forum being non commercial which is why you don't see frequent ads. However we do have a trading post area for people with excess equipment or such to offer it for sale or trade through Private messaging or email.

[beehappy1950]

I am sorry but I dont have any hives for sale. I just made an observation. I just wanted someones opinion. Thats why I didnt put it in the forsale section. Harold

[buzzbee]

Hey ,no problem :)
I was just explaining why you don't see them for sale very often here. However you do see them occasionally in the bee magazines.

[beehappy1950]

Thanks. I usually see them forsale in magazines as a large number. You know, someone going out of business. Not a hive at a time. I suppose a person could put one in the local paper and see. Harold

[buzzbee]

Check with a local bee club if you have one. Often there is a member that does splits and nucs for extra income. One strong colony in early spring could generate quite  a few dollars if managed properly.

[BlueBee]

No I'm not selling any hives, so hopefully I'm not breaking any rules.  I started out buying a hive and simply split from there.  1 strong hive can net you a lot of colonies if the planets and moon are in the proper alignment (ie. You have some beginners luck).  All I've ever bought in terms of bees was that first hive.  Never bought a package, never bought a nuc.  I did buy some new queens over time to add genetic diversity to the bee yard. 

Many times a bee keeper will be willing to sell you a full sized hive if they are out of nucs (which is often the case).  The full sized hives cost more money obviously but with the price of nucs, maybe a full sized hive isn't such a bad deal if it can be immediately split or used for honey that same summer.   You can also sometimes find hives and swarms for sale on Craigslist or your local newspaper.

As for pricing, around here a double deep is typically $200 to $300; rather from bee keeper or a local Ad.  I think I saw swarms going for about $100 last year around here.

[indypartridge]

I regularly see folks selling complete hives, but it's always local, either Craigslist or local bee boards & mail lists.

Just looked and there's an overwintered hive for sale at $185, which seems like a good price when nucs in cardboard boxes are selling for $120.

[Jim134]

MINNESOTA HOBBY BKPRS ASSOC
Jerome Rossi
9701 10th Street NE
St Michael, MN 55376-9210
Email: [email protected]
http://www.mnbeekeepers.com

MINNESOTA HONEY PROD ASSOC INC
Vickie Hull
Box 371
Battle Lake, MN 56515
Phone: 218-864-5256

NORTH CENTRAL BKPRS ASSOC
PO Box 294
Brainerd, MN 56401
Email: [email protected]
www.northcentralbeekeepers.com

NORTHERN PLAINS HOBBY BKPRS
Covering West Central MN & Eastern N Dakota
Mike Sharp - Call or email for meeting place and times
11502 240th St. N.
Hawley, MN 56549
218-962-3300
[email protected]

NORTHEASTERN BKPRS ASSOC
Bethesda Lutheran Church - 205 5th St.; Carlton, MN
Email: [email protected]
http://nemnbeekeepers.org

SOUTHEAST MN BKPRS ASSOC
Assisi Heights
1001 14th Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
2nd Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm for beginners and 7:00 pm for regulars
Secretary/Treasurer: Marlys Jaxosf, [email protected]
President: Ed [email protected]

TODD COUNTY AREA BKPRS ASSOC
18332 County Road 24 Bertha, MN 56437
Elizabeth Williams
Phone: 218-924-4411
Email: [email protected]

TRI COUNTY BKPRS ASSOC
Susan Beyer
Email: [email protected]
http://www.tricountybeekeepers.com/

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[danno]

I sell a few every spring just to kick start cash flow.  They get 2 deeps, new or almost new w/ 20 frames all drawn.   They get 3 frame splits with the original queen, top and bottom for 200.00

[beehappy1950]

That seems like a very reasonable price. I would probably have to have more. Thanks. Also thanks to you Jim 134 for the adresses of all these around here.

[Jim134]

That seems like a very reasonable price. I would probably have to have more. Thanks. Also thanks to you Jim 134 for the adresses of all these around here.

beehappy1950

Are you will to go to North Dakota but at got a MN addresses

North Dakota

NORTHERN PLAINS HOBBY BKPRS
Covering West Central MN & Eastern N Dakota
Mike Sharp - Call or email for meeting place and times
11502 240th St. N.
Hawley, MN 56549
701-388-7674
[email protected]


  BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)