Just getting started ... few equipment questions

[Simondsrach]

https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop/32/Hives-Components/Hive-Kits/4269/Kentucky-Special

I'm thinking of purchasing this ... few quick questions

This is a langstroth hive right?
Doninreally want 10 frames?
I'm going the natural as possible route so I'm doing wood frames with wax foundation...
What style frame do I want for a wax foundation?
I plan on buying prewired wax foundation but this kit appears to not be wired, it's it super hard to wire it yourself?

Sorry for the questions bombs ... this is my third attempt to post so I decided to shorten it up in case I lose it again

[bwallace23350]

10 Frames is fine. I wish I would have gone with 10 frame mediums instead of deeps. 10 frame deeps can be very heavy when they are full. While as of right now that is not a problem for me I do plan on getting older and they could be a problem in the future. That set up looks like a good starter kit. If you don't mind me asking what type bees do you plan on getting?

[Van, Arkansas, USA]

Are your frames with pure wax cell or plastic cell.  Plastic cell will not need wires.  If your frames are preassembled then adding wire to a pure wax cell would be difficult.  Normally the wire is pushed with a roller made just for this purpose, but the wax cell needs to be on a flat surface and not in a frame.

I use wood frame with yellow plastic cell that is wax overlaid.  This best not be used for removal of intact honey comb.  The plastic base cannot be cut as pure wax cell.  I hope I described this accurately.
Edit 8:46 am.

[iddee]

Van, there is a big difference in comb honey and honey comb. I think you need to edit your post. Many people use plastic for honey comb, just not for comb honey.

Simon, 10 frame Langstroth has been the preferred setup for 150 years. Many newbies are always trying something new, but I think you will find most oldtimers are using 10 frame Langs.

You will want to buy hook wired foundation and wedge top, slotted bottom frames. Many, myself included, will install horizontal wires for extra enforcement.
Unless you want to buy more bees every two years, don't go so natural that you don't check for mites and SHB, and treat "IF" needed.

[Simondsrach]

Wow thank you so much for the speedy and very helpful replies.    I don't want to go the plastic route.   The bees are more comfortable with the natural wax foundation from what I've read.  I'm going to with Italian bees.  I thought about Russian but I think for year 1 I will stick with the Italian.  My first goal is to understand and order the equipment and order it.  Then I'm going to start researching reputable bee breeders.  If anyone has any good recommendations I would love to hear them

[Simondsrach]

And I will definitely watch out for and treat if needed and pests.  I'm a huge essential oil fan so I'm hoping as I research and learn more about keeping bees that I will be able to treat the hive naturally as possible. 

[iddee]

Put your location in your profile and we can answer those kind of questions much better.

[Simondsrach]

Thank you I added my location which is waverly ny.   I have a local dadant bee supply company that takes orders for bees but I avoid it because an ex runs it and we aren't exactly on speaking terms.  But there's ways around that if it was my best option for bee delivery.   one last question about the frames too.  I know I'm annoying but I don't have much money to play with and would hate to order something wrong

http://www.kelleybees.com/res/uploads/media//Frame-Style-Descriptions.pdf

Frame style d or sg?

[Michael Bush]

There is nothing wrong with ten frame deeps except the weight.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslazy.htm#uniformframesize

[jimineycricket]

The "D" style frames need wired foundation. The "SG" style can use no wire foundation.

[bwallace23350]

If possible I would talk to another local bee keeper and see if you can't get some feral bees. Around my part of the world they fly earlier in cooler weather and they can survive without treatment.

[Simondsrach]

I have a lot of sour history with the local bee keeper in my small town.   Eventually I dissolved the friendship.  He works at the local bee keeping supply place along with his friends and family.   It's just not a situation that would work.   I'm hoping to find a neighboring bee club once I get more deep into the whole world of bee keeping.  For now I'm just going to rely on the internet and books...

[bwallace23350]

I have a lot of sour history with the local bee keeper in my small town.   Eventually I dissolved the friendship.  He works at the local bee keeping supply place along with his friends and family.   It's just not a situation that would work.   I'm hoping to find a neighboring bee club once I get more deep into the whole world of bee keeping.  For now I'm just going to rely on the internet and books...

Yeah my local bee club is a little weird. They say everyone has to have only landstroth hives and can only have so many hives per so many acres. None of those regulations bother me as I have over 30 acres, past their top limit, and have landstroth hives but it is just the regulations that bother me.

[Simondsrach]

Mine was a personal history ...  I wish I could rewind things and he could go back to just being the beekeeper

[GSF]

Simondsrach, ask as many questions on here as you'd like. I tell folks all the time that this forum board was my mentor.

bw, I currently have 29 hives and a nuc on my property. If you'd ask me a couple of years ago would that be too many hives for one area I would have quickly told you yes. I am surprised at how well they do. You need to mosey on up and sit with us in our meeting sometimes. "Chilton County Beekeepers club, or association or something like that.

[Simondsrach]

Gsf
Thank you
This forum was recommended in the back of my dummies book.  But I'm hands on when it comes to learning and like to talk to actual people who've been there and done that ya know....
  When I decide to do something I put everything I got into it and like to be thorough without complicating things.  I try to be a minimalist too :).   This is something I've been talking seriously about doing for three years ... this year I think my finanaces may allow for me to be able to just do it.  I don't just want to know what to buy or how to do something I want to know why.  Some call it obsessive but I call the word thorough better ... I'm just super excited to start this chapter
In life and teach my daughter another important lesson in life's balances and miracles

[bwallace23350]

Simondsrach, ask as many questions on here as you'd like. I tell folks all the time that this forum board was my mentor.

bw, I currently have 29 hives and a nuc on my property. If you'd ask me a couple of years ago would that be too many hives for one area I would have quickly told you yes. I am surprised at how well they do. You need to mosey on up and sit with us in our meeting sometimes. "Chilton County Beekeepers club, or association or something like that.

Let me know when your next meeting or event is.

[iddee]

You want the D frame. The SG has a bottom and some supplier's wax will be too long and will curl rather than lay flat.

Here is a place in PA that sells bees. He is a member here, but hasn't been on in a couple of years.

http://www.bjornapiaries.com/

[mtnb]

I've been buying deeps and cutting them down to mediums which also gives me an extra wedge for feeding or whatever. Works out well. I've been doing 8 frame but I'm wanting to get some 10's now too to play with. I do have some 8 frame deeps for brood and don't find them THAT heavy to lift. I'm sure I could do 2 more frames. Now 10 frame deeps for honey, I could NOT lift that! lol

[BeeMaster2]

MT Bee,
If you get a 10 frame medium completely full of honey you will find lifting it and breaking it loose on a hot day to be a bit much. I wish I had 8 frame hives.
Jim