More questions for the pro's

**ImaNewBeeToThis** · 01-12-2013, 10:49 PM

1) I found the two types of flowers I want to put in my garden. These flowers are great and the best for honey bees when it comes to producing all the goodies. My question now is, will it draw unwanted attention to my hive and encourage robbing?

2) I'm going with Russian bee's as they fit best for my region, your thoughts on these guys?

3) With my set up I have two options I want to go with. First one is, two 10 frame deeps bodies with two 10 frame medium supers and reduce all 4 to 9 frames. My second option is going with all 4 mediums with 8 frames. The advantage would be same size frames and can switch around with ease. The disadvantage I feel is with a deep I can produce more bees to go to work as with 8 frame mediums I would have that much less working bees. Your thoughts guy's?

4) I'm going with all Walter T Kelly products, as I have hour half drive there and can physically touch everything before I buy it. Do you guys have problem with this company?

Hate the fact I know I have more questions but can not think of them for now. Thanks for your help guys.

**sfisher** · 01-12-2013, 11:17 PM

I dont think you will find any problems Walter T Kelly products.

**ImaNewBeeToThis** · 01-13-2013, 03:41 AM

That's good to know.

**Andrew Dewey** · 01-13-2013, 06:15 AM

Lot's of questions = good; welcome to beekeeping,
answering in order: 1) unless your garden is acres in size, anything you plant will be of marginal benefit to the bees - remember the area the bees will forage in. I can't imagine a situation where what is planted in a nearby garden has any effect on robbing.

2) Russians are fine - they do require slightly different management than Italians or Carnolians. You may have to requeen from a known source to keep the genetic benefits of Russians active in your hives, instead of letting the bees raise their own queens. (The queens will be ok but who are they going to mate with?)

3) Many of the beekeeping gurus like the all medium setup. I use two deeps for my brood chamber and shallows for honey supers. It was the traditional setup when I started, and i can't stomach the thought of tossing all my drawn comb and starting over. I run 10 frames in my brood chambers and 9 (once they are drawn out) in the honey supers. I'm cogitating the use of 9 in the brood chamber and adding a follower board.

4) Kelly is a fine company. Their 2013 catalog just arrived and I'm still going through it. The company is making a big effort to modernize itself while respecting/honoring their roots.

**jrbbees** · 01-13-2013, 06:18 AM

Kelly has been one of the top companies for year 40+ year by my memory!

**Jon11** · 01-13-2013, 06:30 AM

I've bought most of my stuff from Kelly as well, but if you plan on driving, Dadant has a location in Frankfort right off of I-64. You can see everything there before you buy it as well, and have a 1 hour round trip opposed to a 3 hour. As far as Russians go, my Dad used them several years ago and they did really well, but the generations after the first got a little bit hot to handle.

**Mike Gillmore** · 01-13-2013, 06:50 AM

There are no right or wrong size boxes to use in your operation. Each type of set up has it's unique advantages, and disadvantages as well. I would not consider myself a pro, but have been at this a while and have tried different set ups. I would suggest starting out with all 10 frame medium equipment. A new beekeeper who is just starting out and has a shortage of drawn comb will quickly see the benefit of having standard interchangeable frames in all of their boxes, especially during spring swarm season.

After a couple of seasons you may want to try some deep boxes and see how that works out. If you prefer the deeps, the mediums can be used for honey supers.

**ImaNewBeeToThis** · 01-13-2013, 06:57 AM

Guess ill have to switch over to Italian bees as Kelly only offers the Italians in their nucs or the hybrid type which I know nothing about.

**squarepeg** · 01-13-2013, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by ImaNewBeeToThis

Guess ill have to switch over to Italian bees as Kelly only offers the Italians in their nucs or the hybrid type which I know nothing about.

i like the idea of having bees that are adapted to my local area. by dumb luck, i ended up buying bees that were derived from and are open mated with 'feral mutts'.

so far, they have had very few problems with diseases or pests, and seem to get it just right with regard to brooding up and down in synch with the available forage here.