Howdy from south Alabama...maybe a new BK????

[Intheswamp]

First thing, thank you John for setting up the site and forum...lots of enthusiasm and dedication involved here!!!  My hat's off to you!

I just wanted to say hello from Crenshaw County, Alabama.  My wife and I are still pondering the idea of starting a couple of hives.  I've been reading most everything I can find and trying to get a grip on the general needs and concepts of beekeeping.  Other than the last several weeks of researching we have no background with bees.  I will say that it has been a *long* time since I've seen a honeybee around here...bumblebees, carpenter bees, yes, honeybees...no.  :(

We're in a rural area...lot's of pine forest with some oak thrown in, beaver pond 1/2 mile behind house, english privet, yard full of crape myrtle trees, bahia hayfields, honeysuckle vines, mimosa trees, wild blackberries, miscellaneous flowers around the yard, etc.,.  There is probably 50 acres of overgrown fields with dog fennel, golden rod, you name it in it across the road from us.  I may try to plant some other nectar sources.

I'm hoping to start out with two hives of Italian bees but right now I'm trying to get all of my ducks, er, bees in a row.  I tend to over-research things when I get interested in them.   :roll: 

My plan (unless I opt to purchase some existing hives that are available) is to go with all medium sized boxes.  I like the idea of easily swapping out supers, frames, etc., and also of the lighter weight (I aint' gettin' any younger!).  I haven't decided yet whether to go with an 8 or 10 frame system...the lighter weight of the 8-frame system is appealing but so is the extra two frames of HONEY.   I'll have to read more on Michael Bush's website.  ;)   Even if I purchase the established hives and go with a 10-frame brood box I can always drop back down to an 8-frame by using the follower boards. 

It seems like a lot of stuff to assimilate....housing, feeding, health issues, sourcing bees, learning the bees, honey harvesting,  If we go into to this, and I know two hives isn't a giant endeavor (but it is to us!) we want to do it right and be responsible beekeepers with healthy hives.  I've got room here to expand from the two hives and some property over along a river/swamp bottom that I could even further expand to in the future if things get out of hand.  :-P  But, for now, two hives is our goal.

I'm not sure there's still time to get a couple of colonies going this summer or not...it would be nice to get them going this year so we could harvest some honey next spring.  But either way, we'll be patient.

So, that's where we're at and what we're considering.  I'm going to try to make it to a bee meeting this weekend down at OJ Blount's...that should be an eye-opener for me.

Any suggestions or recommendations are appreciated!!!
Many thanks,
Ed

[JoanneMarie]

Welcome to the forum.  I'm very impressed with how well thought out your plan is.  I just jumped in because I was fascinated with bees once I learned a little bit.  I started with a deep super and now use only mediums.  One size makes things much easier. 

Good luck and have fun!

Joanne

[L Daxon]

Welcome, Ed.
You will learn a lot here.
I can usually squeeze 9 frames in my 8 frame medium boxes.  I put in 9 frames to make sure they are tight with no cross comb building, then jump back to 8 usually once the frames are drawn out -- this also gives me an extra drawn out frame to have in reserve if need.  Dropping back to 8 also improves the ventilation in the summer, etc.

[Francus]

Welcome!

I went with 8 frame mediums. I am using narrow frames, so I get 9 in a box. But this is my first season among the bees and I have no other frame of reference. I also went foundationless and I bought a local hive. It is all going well and it is a lot of fun to watch the bees.

And I like Michael Bush's site a lot. Lots of info for the new beek.

[Intheswamp]

Thank ya'll for the warm welcome.  I've got a lot to learn and have already spent hours surfing the net and reading through the forums.  Lot's of acquired knowledge out here! 

Joanne, I'm not really sure my plan is well thought out...it seems rather chaotic to me right now.  I'm hoping to get a better grip on things after tomorrows visit to OJ Blounts and also with talking with some more local beeks.  :)

ldaxon, that is interesting about squeezing in 9 frames in an 8 frame box...I can understand the idea of doing it to encourage the bees to build their combs to tighter tolerances/specs.  So in standard 8-frame boxes there is enough room left open to insert an extra frame...I'll keep that in mind.

Francus, did you use frames with beveled tops?  Are narrow frames available to buy or do you have to modify standard ones?

Well, I guess I better move to other forums.  Thanks again for the welcome!!! Maybe this time next year I'll be studying up on splitting hives and growing our beeyard bigger!!!   ;)

Ed

[Francus]

I used regular grooved top frames. I put a line of Titebond wood glue in the groove and two of the large popsicle sticks in each frame. You can get a pack of 100 at WalMart in the craft section.

I had to shave the frames down to get 9 to fit. I used a wood shaver, but I guess sanding will do. Make sure they are not less than 1 1/4" wide at the part with the spacer (I shaved both sides of the spacer). Mine actually came out a bit wider and still fit 9 frames in. It's a tight squeeze and you'll need a hive tool to wiggle them out, but the bees don't seem to mind!

[David McLeod]

Welcome to the forum. My people are from LA as well, Clarke county. One of these days I will retire there. As for shaving the frames, I'm running eleven in a ten frame box. I set up the table saw with a sacrificial fence and shaved a sixteenth off each side of the top bar and side bars prior to assembling the frames. When you put them in the box shove them all tight to the center leaving the extra space split between the two outside gaps. Watch to make sure the bees draw out the combs without making fat comb that extends over into the next frame. You may have to so some minor adjustments such as trimming fat comb or shifting frames to keep them straight. Ideally you get two or more perfectly straight combs and you can then rotate empty frames between a couple straight ones to guide them when drawing it out. It's a little more work to run narrow frame, especially foundationless like mine, but it can be done and IMO worth the hassle.