Why did price of mated Queen go up so much?

[Mimi]

I remember when Hal was selling mated Queen for $10; off-season Queens were $40 from HI and Queens from MannLake or OHB were $25 in spring. During COVID there was supply chain issues and prices of most beekeeping things doubled. Now it’s $80-$100 per mated Queen from MannLake for preorder. What happened?

Is there any interest in mated Queens for $25 if you had to drive to Pleasanton? I know Sung and several other in East Bay who sell Queens. I have no problem getting my Queens mated.

Mimi

Sent from my iPhone

[J R]

Who is selling for $25 , are you fishing ?
Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 10, 2026, at 8:34 AM, Mimi <mimi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I remember when Hal was selling mated Queen for $10; off-season Queens were $40 from HI and Queens from MannLake or OHB were $25 in spring. During COVID there was supply chain issues and prices of most beekeeping things doubled. Now it’s $80-$100 per mated Queen from MannLake for preorder. What happened?

>
> Is there any interest in mated Queens for $25 if you had to drive to Pleasanton? I know Sung and several other in East Bay who sell Queens. I have no problem getting my Queens mated.
>
> Mimi
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Alameda County Beekeepers Association" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to the-alameda-county-beekeep...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association/BB4546A0-04AC-4E8A-A409-D30A332D5203%40gmail.com.

[Mimi Edwards]

I would sell my mated Queens for $25 along with a few of her attendants.    Mimi

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association/DC2805F0-2A39-43C5-918A-A5033136DA14%40aol.com.

[gmau...@earthlink.net]

My recollection is that Hal sold his mated queens for $35 which I thought was far below their actual value.  I'm not sure what "off season" is, but the value of mated queens is higher in the winter and that is IF you can find one.  Someone from this area selling their mated queen during the winter has essentially signed a death warrant for the colony from which the queen has been pulled. 

[Mimi]

There are places in HI that sell mated Queens even in winter (as Queens mate in HI year-round).   The expense is getting them shipped here.  

After this rain storm I’ll put together a handful of mating nucs.  Mated Queens should be ready by March. Now I wish I didn’t sell off my mating equipment when downsizing.  My main fear is that I end up with too many bees AGAIN! 

Mimi 

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 12, 2026, at 10:35 AM, gmau...@earthlink.net <gmau...@earthlink.net> wrote:

My recollection is that Hal sold his mated queens for $35 which I thought was far below their actual value.  I'm not sure what "off season" is, but the value of mated queens is higher in the winter and that is IF you can find one.  Someone from this area selling their mated queen during the winter has essentially signed a death warrant for the colony from which the queen has been pulled. 

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Alameda County Beekeepers Association" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to the-alameda-county-beekeep...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association/a4401d50-61f9-4be0-9ac8-e27d44c867can%40googlegroups.com.

[Alan Pryor]

I enjoyed buying Queens from Hal as i always gained so much knowledge talking to him while there picking up the Queen. He always asked Questions about the hive and advice about what to look for and how to tell if they would accept her or not.

Alan 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association/EFE52818-5385-4B81-AA51-C1C1C7590DD2%40gmail.com.

[Catherine Edwards]

Re the cost of mated queens: 

We have all experienced the cost of beekeeping equipment steadily rising every year. The end products just reflect that rise. Queens and nucs become more costly to raise, thus more expensive to buy.

Catherine Edwards

(510)421-7206

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/the-alameda-county-beekeepers-association/CAELxpV4f_4mJzRTXAxid3sWj9qV_V5R6Yi%3DeiMh%2B5YX46qb5YA%40mail.gmail.com.