As Joel Govostes responded to Elizabeth Vogt s questions concerning the
number of frames in a deep, he pointed out that if one has two deeps for
brood, nine frames in each does not restrict brood space.  Joel is a very
knowledgeable beekeeper and, of course, he is correct.   However, this
exchange again reminds me of the challenges new beekeepers face as they
receive different advice, all of which can be and often is correct.
All of my brood space is a 1 = story hive, with a deep on top and a 6 5/8
(Illinois, or Western) super underneath.  The advantages of this compared to
two deeps are considerable and have to do with reduced lifting and overall
effort.  In fact, in private e-mail not too long ago I listed a few
advantages to Joel, and he responded by listing another 5-6 that had not
occurred to me at the time.  In this set-up, which I mentally had in mind
but did not express, I recommended to Elizabeth that she should always have
10 frames in her brood nest.
 
The result of this was that Elizabeth received two quite different
suggestions concerning how her brood nest should be established, both of
which were  correct , but neither of which may fit her needs or local
conditions.
I wish all new beekeepers had the opportunity to join a club in their area.
There are many ways to keep and manage bees, none are foolproof, and many
are successful.  Often what is most successful depends on local conditions,
and even one s personality or preferences.  By joining a bee club, one is
likely to find a mentor who is successful in the area and can be counted on
to take the five minute phone call that can often make the difference
between success or failure for an entire season!  I maintain an up to date
list of bee clubs in the US and will be glad to respond to those who want to
give me their geographic area and wish local contacts.  This list is also
available once a year in Bee Culture.
Lloyd
[log in to unmask]
Owner, Ross Rounds   the finest in comb honey production.