FAQ’s

KC Bee Lady is an online, home based - business.

Honey is available at our retail locations, each with their own store hours.

We do offer porch pickup upon payment through the website.

Delivery is also available in Belton, Raymore and Peculiar.

We do not accept walk in customers at our home.

Yes, but only through our porch pickup option. All honey purchases must be made through our website before pickup.

KC Bee Lady is a home-based business, and while we're happy to offer porch pickup, our home is still our home. Years ago, we allowed people to stop by whenever they wanted. Unfortunately, it got out of control. People would say they'd be here at 4:00 and show up at 7:00 or 8:00. We've had our doorbell rung at 11:00 at night, people wander around our property, look into our vehicles, and even head back toward our bee yard to take pictures.

That's why we switched to porch pickup. It allows us to continue offering local pickup while giving our family some privacy and keeping everyone safe.

This isn't personal, and it's not because we don't enjoy meeting our customers. It's simply the system that works best for us.

If you need honey right away, we also have three local retail locations that carry our honey during their normal business hours.

Thank you for understanding and for respecting that this is both our business and our home.

The website is the primary source of information and includes answers to most questions regarding bees, pickups, equipment, feeding, and general setup.

Please review the website and FAQ before contacting us.

If you still need assistance after reviewing the website and FAQ, please email:
kcbeelady@yahoo.com

We can no longer accommodate phone calls or text messages due to the high volume received. We understand that email may not be as convenient, but these changes are necessary in order to sustainably continue operating our business.

We do not offer public apiary tours. The best way to visit our apiary is by attending one of our Hands-On Introduction to Beekeeping Workshops, where you'll receive classroom instruction before suiting up and inspecting a live beehive.

If you have bees living inside a structure such as a wall, roof, chimney, siding, or floor, please contact Midwest Bee Removal at (816) 319-3099. KC Bee Lady does not perform structural bee removals.

Please email: kcbeelady@yahoo.com with your name, address, and phone number. Pictures are required, along with information about the swarm’s location and accessibility.

Swarm pickups are limited to Belton, Raymore, and Peculiar only.

We offer two great ways to begin your beekeeping journey. You can attend one of our seasonal Hands-On Introduction to Beekeeping Workshops, where you'll learn in the classroom before inspecting a live beehive, or you can start anytime with our Online Introduction to Beekeeping Course from the comfort of your home.

Both options are designed specifically for future beekeepers and provide the knowledge you need before investing in bees or equipment.

Bee sales begin in the fall for pickup the following spring (typically April–May).
Availability is limited each season. If bees are still in stock, they can be ordered online through kcbeelady.com.  

Yes, bees can often be kept in residential areas.

However, local ordinances, HOA rules, and property size restrictions vary by location. Always check your local regulations before purchasing bees.

Plan for at least 2 hours per month for two hives, with inspections twice a month.

Regular inspections are essential—you cannot leave a hive unattended. During inspections, you don’t need to pull every frame. Focus on looking for eggs, which confirm the queen has been present within the last 3–4 days.

The #1 tip for new beekeepers: look for eggs. The queen can be difficult to spot, but eggs tell you everything you need to know.

No. Bees are available for local pickup only in Belton, Missouri.

Bees are living livestock, and we believe local pickup is the safest and healthiest option for both the bees and the customer.

We sell Italian and Minnesota Hygienic Italian honeybees.

Minnesota Hygienic bees are bred to detect and remove diseased brood, helping reduce certain hive diseases.

Queens are open-mated, so they are not 100% pure.

These bees are not mite-resistant—mite treatment is still required.

No. Bees are only reserved once payment has been made.

No. Orders must be placed through the website.

No. All orders must be placed online through kcbeelady.com.

Any remaining balance at pickup must be paid in cash.

We do not offer in-person shopping or walk-in payments.

A nuc (nucleus colony) is an established hive, typically about half the size of a full hive. It includes a laying queen, drawn comb, and frames with brood and stored honey.

A package is a box of loose bees with a queen who has not yet been introduced to the colony. After installation, the bees must build comb, establish the hive, and accept the queen before the colony can begin growing.

While packages are often available earlier in the season, they are typically shipped from warmer southern states. In Kansas and Missouri, early spring temperatures can still drop below freezing, which can result in significant loss.

For this reason, we offer locally suited nucs, which give beekeepers a stronger and more reliable start. We do not sell package bees.

No, we do not sell package bees.

Packages are typically shipped from southern states where the climate is much warmer. When they arrive in Kansas and Missouri in early spring, temperatures can still be unpredictable. This can lead to stress, loss, or overheating during transport.

For this reason, we focus on selling locally sourced nucs that are better suited for our climate.

Maybe.

Starting with a full hive in May increases your chances, but honey production depends on nectar sources and weather.

Focus on building a strong hive in year one—honey is more reliable in year two.

Our nucs and single box hives use standard Langstroth size frames. Frame dimensions: 19" L x 9-1/8" H (1-1/16" wide).

If your Flow Hive uses standard Langstroth equipment and matches those measurements, it will fit.

Please note: we do not sell, endorse, recommend, or provide support for Flow Hives. This includes advising what equipment to purchase or confirming compatibility with our single box hives or nucs.

If you have questions about Flow Hive equipment, contact Flow Hive directly.

Yes, when available. Current bee inventory and purchasing options are listed on the website.

No. Equipment is sold as part of complete kits only.
Occasionally, extra items may be available, but inventory is limited.

Absolutely.

Your nuc or hive will be carefully prepared for transport so it’s ready for your trip home. Bees travel very well and can safely remain in a vehicle for several hours.
We frequently work with customers traveling from several hours away and even out of state.

Yes, over time.

After a hive survives winter, it can often be split into additional hives in the spring, which can be sold as nucs. Honey and wax products can also provide income.

While it takes time, beekeeping can grow into a self-sustaining hobby.

Yes. Customer support is provided by email at kcbeelady@yahoo.com. Email is checked regularly throughout the week.

We also offer in-hive consultations within 20 miles of Belton, Missouri, as well as Zoom consultations for customers outside our service area. Consultation fees apply.

Due to the high volume received, phone calls and text messages are no longer accommodated.

First, don’t panic. Many new beekeepers assume the queen is gone when she may simply not be visible during inspection. Look for eggs, young larvae, and overall hive behavior before concluding the colony is queenless.

If the queen truly has been lost, the hive may be able to raise a new queen if young brood is present. Other options include purchasing a new queen or combining the hive with another colony if it becomes too weak.

Queen loss is a normal part of beekeeping and something every beekeeper eventually encounters. Learning how to identify and respond to these situations is part of becoming a confident beekeeper.

All colonies are confirmed queen-right and healthy at the time of pickup. Due to the many factors involved in beekeeping after bees leave our care, KC Bee Lady does not guarantee queens, colony survival, honey production, or long-term hive success after pickup.

No, we do not sell queens.

New colonies should be fed consistently while they are building comb and getting established.

In general, bees should be fed until they have drawn out enough comb, are storing nectar/pollen well on their own, and natural forage is consistently available.

In the Midwest, many new beekeepers feed heavily through spring and early summer. During nectar dearths, drought, or poor weather, supplemental feeding may also be necessary later in the season.

Every hive and season is different, so learning to evaluate your colony’s food stores and comb progress is an important beekeeping skill.

Small hive beetles and wax moths are common issues in beekeeping, especially in weaker colonies. In most cases, strong, healthy colonies are able to control them on their own.

The best prevention is maintaining a strong hive with the proper amount of space for the colony size. Too much empty space, weak populations, poor ventilation, or neglected equipment can allow pests to take hold.

There are also traps and management methods available for both hive beetles and wax moths, and beekeepers should familiarize themselves with these as part of ongoing hive management.

Varroa mites are one of the biggest challenges in modern beekeeping and should be monitored routinely. Every beekeeper should learn how to test for mites, understand treatment thresholds, and become familiar with the various management and treatment options available.

There is no single “set it and forget it” solution for mites. Successful mite management requires ongoing observation, education, and timely intervention when needed. Ignoring mites is one of the most common causes of colony loss.

Over the years, we have been incredibly grateful for the support, trust, and kindness shown to KC Bee Lady by so many wonderful customers. Helping new beekeepers get started and watching people fall in love with this hobby has been one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

As our customer base continued to grow, so did the volume of calls, and texts for immediate support. Phone calls and text messages had unintentionally turned into a 24/7/365 bee hotline, which was simply no longer sustainable.

While we have always tried our very best to be available and helpful, we eventually realized that the level of constant communication was no longer sustainable for our family or our business long term.

Too many customers had understandably begun viewing KC Bee Lady as their go-to source for every question or concern. While we are always happy to help when we can, unlimited or lifetime support is simply not something that can realistically be included with a bee purchase.

We work very hard to prepare new beekeepers through our hands-on Introduction to Beekeeping Workshop, online classes, educational resources, and continued email support, but the long-term care and management of the bees ultimately becomes the responsibility of the beekeeper.

This change was not an easy decision for us. It comes from a place of genuine care - both for the beekeeping community we have built over the years and for creating a healthier, more sustainable balance that allows us to continue serving and supporting our customers for many years to come.

We understand this adjustment may feel disappointing to some, and we truly appreciate your understanding and support as we make these changes. We are still here, and we will continue answering emails - just in a more structured and manageable way.

Customer support is now provided by email only at kcbeelady@yahoo.com. We also offer paid in-hive consultations within 20 miles of Belton, Missouri… as well as Zoom consultations for customers outside our service area. Consultation fees apply.

Bee support is reserved for customers.

If you did not purchase bees from us and need assistance, please order a consultation through kcbeelady.com.

No. Bee support is not provided through Facebook comments, Messenger, or public posts. Customer support is handled through email only.

No. Honey is sold through the website and through the vendors listed on kcbeelady.com.