Naturally Mated Buckfast Queen

About this queen

Buckfast Queens 2026 — Built for the Modern Beekeeper

Meet the queen that changed beekeeping forever. Buckfast queens trace their origins to the lifetime work of Brother Adam, a Benedictine monk at Buckfast Abbey who spent decades travelling the world, hand-selecting the finest bee strains to craft the ultimate colony. The result? A queen that is calm to handle, explosive in spring, and practically effortless to overwinter.

Characteristics:

🌱 Explosive spring build-up — Colonies hit peak population faster, so you never miss an early nectar flow
😊 Exceptionally gentle — Inspections without gloves are routine with a well-introduced Buckfast queen
❄️ Cold-climate hardiness — She reduces egg-laying in autumn naturally, so your colony overwinters on fewer stores
🛡️ Strong disease resistance — Highly hygienic behaviour keeps hive health in check and treatment needs low
🏠 Very low swarming tendency — Colonies stay put and focused on production; less chasing swarms across your apiary
🍯 Outstanding honey yields — Big foraging drive and efficient colony management mean your supers will show the difference

Your order includes:

✅ One marked, open-mated Buckfast queen, ready to introduce
✅ 4–6 attendant bees for safe transit
✅ Slow-release candy introduction cage (Nicot, Lyson, JzBz or equivalent)
🗓️ Dispatch window: Late March – September 2026
🚚 Delivery: UPS 24hr, Europe-wide
📦 Live stock control: Select your dispatch before checkout

Shipping and live arrival

Queens are shipped by express courier and arrive within 24 hours across the EU. Each travels in a cage with attendant bees and candy.

If a queen arrives dead, send us a photo of the unopened cage on the day of delivery and we will replace her.

Introducing your queen

Remove the old queen and any queen cells. Place the cage between two brood frames with the candy end up, and leave the colony undisturbed for about a week while the bees eat through the candy and release her.

Questions? Call or message us and we will talk you through it.

What our beekeepers say

Over the years, I have gradually replaced every queen in my 600 hives with their exceptional stock. The quality, consistency, and dedication of the Bee Brothers team are unmatched.