Anyone who’s opened a hot, defensive colony knows how quickly it knocks your confidence. Calm bees matter because nervous inspections are harder on both you and the hive. We breed for calmness first, so you look forward to opening your hives instead of dreading it.
Reserve your mated queen, from £50 with UK-wide delivery
Live arrival guaranteed, or we replace her free.
What is a mated queen?
A mated queen is a young queen that has already flown, mated with drones, and started laying. She’s proven. When you introduce her to a colony, you’re not gambling on whether a virgin will mate well, or what genetics she’ll pick up from the drones flying around your apiary. You know what you’re getting from day one.
That certainty is the whole point. Let a colony raise their own queen, or introduce a virgin, and she mates with whatever drones are local. If those drones carry genes for bad temperament, your problem doesn’t go away. A queen reared and mated under controlled conditions takes that risk off the table.
Why buy your mated queen from us
- Calm by design. Temperament is our number one breeding priority, not an afterthought. Our queens are rated 10 out of 10 for temperament by beginners.
- Known genetics. Our queens come from established breeding programmes with more than 75 years of combined family expertise behind them. You know exactly what you’re introducing.
- Safe arrival, guaranteed. Every queen ships Royal Mail Special Delivery with attendant bees and food. If she arrives dead or damaged, we replace her free. No arguments.
- Support every step of the way. Help before, during, and after introduction, plus guides and videos that answer most questions before you need to ask.
We’re DASH accredited and members of the Bee Farmers Association. Fewer than 0.05% of our shipments have a problem, we respond to enquiries within 24 hours, and we dispatch on the date we promise.
When should you requeen?
Requeening can feel drastic, but knowing when to do it is one of the most useful skills in beekeeping. There are six situations where a fresh mated queen makes the biggest difference.
- Bad temperament. The most common reason, and the most transformative. Replace the queen and a colony rated one out of ten for temperament can become completely calm within a few months.
- Persistent disease. Some problems, like chalk brood, are strongly influenced by genetics. Requeening from a resilient line can turn that around over a season.
- An ageing queen. We requeen every two years as an insurance policy. Younger queens build up faster in spring, produce more honey, and overwinter more reliably.
- A failing queen. Patchy brood, slow build-up, or a drone-laying queen all point to a queen who needs replacing.
- The wrong line for your setup. If your bees don’t match what you’re asking of them, a better-suited line is worth considering.
- Making increase. Splitting strong colonies and introducing a mated queen to each split is a reliable, low-cost way to grow your apiary.
Want the full breakdown? Read our guide to the Reasons to Requeen Your Beehive.
Which mated queen is right for you?
Every queen we sell is a calm, proven mated queen. The difference is the line. Here’s how to choose:
Signature
Recommended
The queens most of our customers choose and come back for year after year. These represent the typical Black Mountain Honey experience: proven performance, calm temperament, and strong productivity.
UK queens
Bred and mated in secluded UK breeding stations by trusted family producers we’ve worked with for years. Fully acclimated to British weather, proven to thrive through wet summers and cold winters. The natural choice if you want locally raised bees.
VSH
Bred for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. These bees actively detect and remove Varroa-infested brood. A smart choice if you want bees that help manage mite pressure naturally, without relying solely on treatments.
Obsidian
Our darkest line, and a favourite for anyone who loves a bit of character in the hive. They fly in cooler conditions, produce huge amounts of wonderfully fragrant propolis, and stay lovely and calm to work. A brilliant pick for an apitherapy setup.
Introducing your queen
Getting the introduction right is everything, and it’s simpler than most people fear. You’ll receive introduction instructions with your queen, and we’ve got detailed guides and videos showing exactly how to do it safely.
You’ll start to notice a temperament change within three to four weeks as the new queen’s workers emerge. By ten to twelve weeks, the colony has fully transitioned to her genetics. If you get stuck at any point, contact us. There are no silly questions.
Our step-by-step guide, How to Requeen a Beehive, covers the cage method, timing, and how to confirm she’s been accepted.
What beekeepers say
Learn why beekeepers choose us.F2 Buckfast Queen
Hi Lawrence, I have been meaning to write to you for a while. You very kindly gave me a replacement queen late last year. She sailed through winter in a nuc and has thrived this year. The bee inspector gave her colony full marks on all counts and wanted to know where she came from. The colony is a delight to work with and Black Mountain is my “go to” supplier, no question. Thank you.
Buckfast queens
Having previously purchased Black mountain Queens. I needed 4 for the final splits for this year. Very happy with the service, and all queens are happily added to thier new homes.
Premium F1 Buckfast Queens
I got offered 2 x premium Buckfast Queens as an alternative to the Lutz Eggert ones due to availability issues. I released the Queens into their Nucs being made up 4 hours before putting Queens in. After 4 days 1st attempt at me releasing the Queens with their workers, the bees attempted to kill their Queens. So I put the Queens back into their cages on their own. I then released the Queens after another 2 days, the bees were calm with their Queens. Eggs seen and Queens in both Nucs after 5 days
First Time
Not the first time I have purchased a new Queen, But its the first time I have tried black Mountain, so i can at least do some comparisons , the purchasing process was excellent, arrived next day, don’t know if this was a bit of luck ?? I only received my purchase a couple of weeks ago, so, i had a quick look earlier this week and the cage was empty, at least no dead queen inside, so i need to leave this hive alone for a few more weeks, fingers crossed.
Impressed with the feedback.
Common Questions
We guarantee safe arrival with Royal Mail Special Delivery. If your queen arrives dead or damaged, send us a photo and we’ll replace her free of charge. No arguments, no hassle.
A mated queen has already mated and is laying, so you know her genetics and her temperament. A virgin or a queen cell mates with local drones, which means you inherit whatever traits those drones carry. If temperament or disease is your concern, a mated queen of known origin is the safe choice.
You’ll notice a difference within three to four weeks as the old queen’s brood is replaced. By six to eight weeks the shift is very noticeable, and by ten to twelve weeks the colony is fully transitioned to the new queen.
The Buckfast is a honey bee hybrid originally developed at Buckfast Abbey by Brother Adam. It’s known for calm temperament, disease resistance, and strong honey production. Our queens are bred by established Buckfast breeders who’ve built on those foundations over many years.
Yes. Queens ship anywhere in the UK by Royal Mail Special Delivery, a signature-required, tracked service. Please make sure someone is available to sign, as queens can’t be left in a letterbox.
