Odd Acres Apiary
Italian Queen Bees
Italian Queen Bees
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**We have experienced a higher demand for our queens than expected. We are presently sold out of our Spring season queens. More will be available in January 2026. We are currently focusing on nucleus orders. If you have any questions about our queen bees, please visit our 'Contact' page, and we'll be in touch soon. Thank you. **
We produce our own Italian queens raised in our apiaries at Carwoola and Numeralla, NSW. We aim for locally adapted bees that perform well in our region.
Our queens are not banked. They head a colony at our mating yard until they are sold. They are marked and provided in a JZBZ enclosure with attendant bees and fondant. Our queens are shipped via Australia Post Express Sachel or they are available for pickup from our apiary locations near Canberra and Cooma.
Product Questions
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When should I expect my queen bees, and how long does it take to deliver them?
We send our queen bees using Australia Post Express Satchel, with delivery to anywhere in Australia within 3-4 days - except Western Australia and Tasmania who don't allow the import of live bees.
To ensure bees are not sitting in the Australia Post sorting rooms over the weekend, we visit a major parcel centre in Canberra and mail our bees to you on a Monday. When they are on the way we will email you the tracking number so you can promptly collect your queens when they arrive.
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Should I have bees delivered to my home or pick them up from the Post Office?
We recommend you collect your queen bees from Australia Post. They usually arrive in the morning, and you can collect them early in the day and prepare them for transfer to their intended colonies. If you elect to have them delivered to your home address, we suggest you be home that day to receive them and take them inside immediately. Remember, home delivery may have your bees bouncing around in a delivery van and then left on the porch in full sun - which should be avoided if possible.
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What happens if my bees arrive dead?
Queen bees rarely arrive dead. We provide adequate food (fondant) and about 6-8 companion bees in each cage to care for the queen. Bees seem to be quite tolerant of being in the post for up to a week, and Australia Post has processes and procedures for the care and delivery of live animals. However, if your bees are dead, please contact us describing your problem. We will aim to respond to you within 24 hours.
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How should I care for my queen bee when it arrives?
When your bees arrive, please place them in a dark, draft-free location, away from chemicals, at a room temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius. Place a drop of tap water on the cage wire enclosure so the nurse bees can keep the queen and themselves hydrated.