{"product_id":"unmarked-mated-vsh-italian-x-buckfast-hybrid-queen","title":"Unmarked - Mated VSH Italian x Buckfast Hybrid Queen","description":"\u003cp\u003eOur Mated VSH Italian x Buckfast Hybrid Queens are the perfect addition to any beehive. These queens are known for their gentle nature, disease resistance, and high honey production. Trust our expertly bred queens for a thriving and productive hive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen‑mated VSH Italian x Buckfast hybrid queen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnmarked\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— these queens will NOT be marked.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips to the continental USA via\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPS Next Day Air.\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLimited availability:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e we produce only small batches of queens\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003estarting in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApril.\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe ship queens\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPS Next Day Air only\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto reduce time in transit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShipping cost is added at checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mb-1 mt-2 whitespace-pre-line leading-relaxed first:mt-0\" data-sentry-component=\"P\" data-sentry-source-file=\"p.tsx\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mb-1 mt-2 whitespace-pre-line leading-relaxed first:mt-0\" data-sentry-component=\"P\" data-sentry-source-file=\"p.tsx\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLive Arrival Guarantee (DOA):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed to arrive alive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAny DOA must be reported within\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e24 hours of delivery\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith a clear photo of the queen in the cage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNewly Mated 2026 Queens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVerified Laying.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLicensed and Inspected Commercial Apiary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eAbout the VSH Italian x Buckfast Hybrid Bee\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the past several years we have been working on introducing the VSH trait to the Buckfast line through Instrumental Insemination. However, we have so far been unsuccessful in stabilizing this trait in the Buckfast line that we maintain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have been able to cross VSH Italian and Buckfast genetics to produce a high quality production queen through drone rearing and open-mating. We have used this line in our own operation for the past three years with very good success.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe use a similar approach as Buckfast queen rearing based upon the purity of stock, controlled mating, precise record-keeping, and judicious selection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur VSH Italian x Buckfast Hybrid queens originate from VSH Italian, Pol-line, and Danish Buckfast lineage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCharacteristics:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e– hardiness in a variety of climates\u003cbr\u003e– excellent housekeeper (which some scientists think might be a factor in disease resistance)\u003cbr\u003e– low swarming\u003cbr\u003e– high honey production\u003cbr\u003e– gentleness\u003cbr\u003e– ease of handling\u003cbr\u003e– superior resistance to disease\u003cbr\u003e– builds up faster in Spring than our Buckfast line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQueen Bee Shipping: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you are ordering for two different dates, please order them on separate orders. There will be two shipping charges, as they will be shipping on two separate dates.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to Postal Service changes all Queen Shipments are by UPS Next Day Air only. UPS Next Day Air offers the fastest delivery and better service. Please make sure someone is home to receive the shipment and care for the queens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou will be notified when the label prints and have the tracking number so you will know when to expect your queens. They will come in a queen cage, escorted by a few worker bees. This cage is designed to both keep her calm and cool in transit and to help slowly introduce her to your colony of bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWE MUST HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER FOR THE SHIPPING LABEL.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQueen Introduction Instructions:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe queen(s) that you will receive are in a combination shipping and introduction cage. There is no need to remove the worker bee attendants. This cage provides food (white sugar candy) during shipment which also acts as a “timed-release” barrier for your hive bees to eat through, allowing several days of pheromone adjustment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hive to receive the queen must have no queen or queen cells already present. Ideally, the hive should be queen-less for at least 24 hours prior to introduction. Be sure to cut down any queen cells that may have developed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cage should be placed in the middle of the brood nest (if no brood is present, place it in the middle of the cluster). Position the cage between two frames, so that the candy end points up and the screen is not blocked. Squeeze the frames around the cage to firmly suspend it, any damage to the comb will be repaired by the bees when the cage is removed. Make sure the hole at the candy end is not blocked. Note: If 10 frames are used, one frame may have to be removed to accommodate the cage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bees in your colony will chew through the candy and release the queen within a few days. Carefully check after three days to ensure the queen has been released. The colony should be disturbed as little as possible for the next two weeks while the queen establishes her brood nest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUS SALES ONLY.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Buckfast USA","offers":[{"title":"July 28th 2026","offer_id":52165758910695,"sku":null,"price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"August 18th 2026","offer_id":52165758943463,"sku":null,"price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"September 8th 2026","offer_id":52165758976231,"sku":null,"price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/5618\/0455\/files\/buckfast_queen.jpg?v=1776634436","url":"https:\/\/backwoodsmarket.com\/products\/unmarked-mated-vsh-italian-x-buckfast-hybrid-queen","provider":"Backwoods Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}