New Member - Alberta Canada

rosses · February 24, 2015, 09:16:19 PM

Hi all,

Just completed a Beekeeping course, and am deciding between Langstroth and a Golden Mean TBH. I will be a low volume hobbyist, no more than 2 colonies for a while. If I go Langstroth, I will eventually go foundationless, for crush and strain. I'm thinking foundationless Lang gives me access to all those standardized resources....

Maggiesdad · February 24, 2015, 10:52:00 PM

Welcome to Beemaster!

Starting two Langs and two WAM TBHs here this spring...

mikecva · February 25, 2015, 12:18:31 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Ask any bee questions you like. -Mike

Sumerduck · February 25, 2015, 12:52:51 PM

Welcome. New Beekeeper myself.

DMLinton · February 25, 2015, 07:09:42 PM

Welcome to the Forum, rosses.

Langstroth hives are a very good choice to get started with. Frames with foundation would be better to start than foundationless mostly because, unless the empty foundationless frame is between two fully drawn frames, the bees are just a likely to draw out the wildest mess you ever saw as they are to draw what you might be expecting them to.

Some do crush and strain with plastic foundation. A little more work but just requires shearing the honeycomb with something like a putty knife. A little comb left on the frame will give quickly give the bees ideas when you put the frame back in the hive. Don't forget that it takes more resources to draw comb than it does to fill it with honey.

Maggiesdad · February 25, 2015, 09:36:52 PM

You'll need to get you some of those round things, too...

rosses · February 26, 2015, 02:27:47 AM

Decided on 8 frame medium Langs, foundationless. A local maker makes beautiful hives, with a quilt box, top entrance and peaked lids, screen base with slide in inserts. Ordered 2 hives, total 10 medium boxes, since I'm not very handy with making things myself.

Fingers crossed for a BC nuc from a community club. No guarantee I'll get one. I could order a package from a commercial supplier, but I'd rather Canadian bees and queen than New Zealand.

GSF · February 26, 2015, 09:24:44 PM

Welcome

annette · March 02, 2015, 09:21:19 PM

I have been interested in the Golden Mean TBH for a long time but somehow haven't made the jump to it. I do foundationless 10 frame all medium supers. Crush and Strain. It has worked out well for me.

Michael Bush · March 03, 2015, 02:38:29 PM

If you are building your own, I'd go 15" longer than the 33" golden mean. If you like it (and can live with changing the proportions after which it is named) then add 15" to the length and it will make a very nice hive. At 33" it's not a bad hive but a little cramped.

annette · March 04, 2015, 03:25:19 PM

Thats good info Michael because I have gotten pretty close to ordering this hive many times.
Thanks