How Much To Charge For A Swarm?

[Jen]

Swarm season just around the corner here in northern sunny California. Had a friend ask if they could buy a swarm from me. How much do I charge for a swarm, and how do I get a swarm ready for a buyer?

[G3farms]

I have sold swarms before for $100.00 each in a cardboard box.

How much does a 3lb package and queen sell for?

Just think this is a proven queen that they most likely will not supersede.

[LazyBkpr]

If I do not need another hive I will put a swarm in a 5 frame nuc box, make sure they are up and running and then sell it as a nuc. I do tell them it was established from a swarm, and that I treated it for mites.  I get 140.00. If it was a swarm in a cardboard box, and I knew they had a queen I think the price G3 mentioned is good!

[Jen]

G3- "How much does a 3lb package and queen sell for?"

  Um, I have no idea...  give me a clue

[Mikey N.C.]

Jen, that depends on local prices google and find your local prices.  I've seen as low as 115 for 3lb

[Perry]

Swarm's up here would be around $150, depending on size. They are sought after because you get more bees than with a nuc, and they are in comb-building overdrive mode.

[Barbarian]

The sec of my local BKA has a list of beeks who want a swarm. These can be newbies or members who have lost winter colonies.

If I get a swarm which I don't want then I contact the sec. These are usually collected by the beek in a few days. I usually charge for the equipment that goes with the swarm and a bit on top for me for collecting and looking after the swarm.

Reading the earlier posts, I am well off the bottom of the scale.  Must think again.

[robo]

Just think this is a proven queen that they most likely will not supersede.

Or if you live in a heavy pollination area it is a non-local well travelled queen that has had heavy chemical exposure and will most like fail earlier in life or be quickly replaced.

Unless I know the source of the swarm,  it gets requeened. 

Get the most you can for a swarm but be straight with the people about what you know and don't know about them.

[sc-bee]

G3- "How much does a 3lb package and queen sell for?"

  Um, I have no idea...  give me a clue

In SC this year they were $96 coming out of South Ga.

[sc-bee]

Just think this is a proven queen that they most likely will not supersede.

This is the opposite of what I had read. The primary swarm is the old queen and I thought supercedure rate was fairly high quickly. At least early in the next season.

Also after swarms would have virgin queens.

[Jen]

Scott - "If I do not need another hive I will put a swarm in a 5 frame nuc box, make sure they are up and running and then sell it as a nuc. I do tell them it was established from a swarm, and that I treated it for mites. I get 140.00. If it was a swarm in a cardboard box, and I knew they had a queen I think the price G3 mentioned is good!"

So Scott, when you say 'And that I treated it for mites', is that one treatment for the full treatment of 4?

[Some Day]

Jen,

I am not Scott, but I should think that one OAV treatment on a swarm would be enough.  They will not have any capped brood or comb for the mites to hide in.

[Jen]

Some Day, that makes sense, the mites that would be affected by the OA would be on the bee bodies