The Stockwerk beekeeper

My name is Michael Schachinger and I have been fascinated by insects that establish colonies since forever. Since 2009 I have been working as a beekeeper in larger organic apiaries in Austria and I run a part-time apiary myself in Regau. One focus of my work is the propagation of bees on the sunny side of the Attersee-Traunsee region.

Close up of bees in front of their flight hole
Beekeeper Michael Schachinger
© Mara Hohla / Slow Food und Stockwerk

Our offer for beekeepers

We offer artificial swarms (with or without queen), scions (seasonal or overwintered) and queens. Scions and swarms can be picked up on site. While queens can be shipped, pick-up is preferred.

Seasonal availability: We primarily breed queens for our own colonies. I always strive to breed more than I need and am happy to sell the surplus. Check our store regularly as I strive to keep the availability of swarms and queens up-to-date at all times!

Healthy and vital honey bees are of the utmost importance to us. Therefore, valid certificates are guaranteed for all our offers. I’m also happy to consult beginners!

Please send orders with the desired order number to:

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Update of the offers on 28.12.2024

A swarm of bees forms a cluster in an orange lattice box.

Artificial Swarms

Artificial swarms are formed with bees from our overwintered colonies (regular: stand mated). To achieve the best possible result, we focus on a good mix of bees during the formation of individual swarms (nurse bees from brood combs, builder and collector bees from honey combs).

Newly formed swarms are kept in dark detention to unite them. For artificial swarms we usually use the handy Multibox, for which we charge a 20€ deposit.

Organic artificial swarm 1.7kg with F1 mated queen

Order number 1

  • Queen in feed cage
  • Varroa treated
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery from June/July, depending on weather conditions

Price: € 165,- (gross & including box deposit of € 20), from 3 swarms quantity discount of € 10 per swarm
Expected to be available again this year!

Organic artificial swarm 1.7kg without queen

Order number 2

  • Without queen
  • Varroa treated
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery from June/July, depending on weather conditions

An ideal solution for those who lack bee mass but want to safely implant special queens or even fill many mating boxes.

Price: € 130 (gross & including box deposit of € 20)
Expected to be available again this year!

Eight frames with bees from a strong wintering colony can be seen from above.

Young colonies, offshoots

“Harvest honey properly this year with our overwintered young colonies!

The overwintered young colonies and offshoots are on the common frame dimensions Zander (457x420x220mm) and standard size (EHM 400x370x223mm). The Zander and standard size colonies are formed regularly with center walls.

After you’ve provided your hive material to me I can transfer the outwintering colonies. The handover is a great opportunity to take a look at the bees yourself.

Organic overwintering colony ZANDER/EHM with F1 economic queen

Order number 3

  • powerful colony with 8 combs
  • Varroa treated and well managed
  • detailed control before sale
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery during cherry blossom, depending on weather conditions in mid/end April

Price: € 210,- (gross, from 3 young colonies quantity discount of € 10 per colony)
Sufficiently available again this year!

Organic offshoot ZANDER/EHM with F1 Business Queen

Order number 4

  • 5 combs
  • Varroa treated and well managed
  • detailed control before sale
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery possible from June, depending on weather

Price (gross): € 130,-
Currently not available

Organic honeycomb ZANDER/EHM

Order number 5

As this has been asked for several times, we would now like to offer this possibility:

  • 1x honeycomb of your choice (brood, forage or companion honeycomb) with sitting bees
  • Control before sale
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Price (gross): € 23,-
Currently not available

Queen bee with her court on a wax honeycomb

Queens

The genetic pool of our bees is always based on carefully selected, licensed and tested mothers.

The mating sites are solely dominated by our colonies. Since 2022, when breeding we continuously improve the quality by using the needle test method.

On your request I’m happy to share the examination sheets (in accordance with the breeding guidelines, Apis mellifera carnica).

#herdbook for carnica
#pin test
#HYG #HYG+

Organic queen F1, virgin

Order number 6

  • unsigned
  • Visual inspection before sale
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery from the end of May/June depending on weather and possibility

Price (gross): € 12,-
Currently not available

Organic mated queen F1

Order number 7

  • drawn*
  • Stand mated
  • Visual inspection before sale
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery possible from June/July, depending on the weather

*regularly marked with lacquer, optionally with number plate (+ 0,50€)

Price (gross): € 35,-
Currently not available

Overwintered organic queen F1 from the previous year

Order number 8

  • drawn*
  • Stand mated
  • Visual inspection before sale
  • Health certificate
  • Organic certificate

Delivery from March/April, depending on weather conditions

*regular drawn with varnish

Price (gross): € 48,-
Currently no longer available

Our offer for beekeeping with natural honeycombs

I am happy to share my experience and knowledge after building natural honeycombs for more than a decade. I’m glad to see the interest in beekeeping with natural honeycombs growing.

During the high season it is very challenging for me to plan appointments. Please be patient, especially when asking for a last-minute appointment. I intend to offer consulting visits, lectures and hands-on courses in the future. Please reach out to me if you’re interested! I intend to offer consulting visits, lectures and hands-on courses in the future. Please reach out to me if you’re interested!

If you’re interested to get started with natural honeycombs I recommend the book “Bienengemäß Imkern” by Günther Friedmann and Angelika Sust as well as the articles and Youtube videos of the association “Mellifera e.V.” or the beekeeping Fischermühle.