newbie question

[amymcg]

OK I have a question about slatted racks and screened bottom boards. Does anyone use both at the same time or is it a one or the other type of thing?  If only one, which do you prefer?  Would a slatted rack interfere with the screened bottom boards for mite control?

[Robo]

Depending on the type of slatted rack, it could interfere with the screened bottom board.  The older style racks had the slats running perpendicular to the frames, which means that mites falling from between the frames had a 50% chance of hitting a slat and not falling to the screen. I have seen some newer designs that have the slats parallel and under the frames, this would eliminate that issue.

I use to swear by using slatted racks as it eliminated bearding for me.  Once the screened bottom board was introduced,  I have switched to them and it is also eliminated bearding.

Unless you are really crowding the bees,  I don't see the need to use the slatted rack,  the screened bottom board gives much better ventilation, especially if you provide top ventilation as well.

[Anonymous]

First off I want to say welcome back Robo I sorely missed your wisdom.
I also use the SSB only and found that it did reduce bearding for me as well as the mites that droped and were not able to climb back on. Of course being rather new at this bee keeping hobby my self I never figured out was the slatted racks were for.
  Al

[Robo]

It's good to be back.

My view on the premise of the slatted rack is that it gave more space under the brood comb, which reduced congestion and gave better ventilation.  The slats prevented the bees from building comb in the space.  It also had a block that prevented the bees from exiting/entering the very front of the frame.  This reduced their desire to chew through the foundation on the ends.

I think it was a good tool, however, the SBB makes it obsolete in my opinion.

[leominsterbeeman]

Amy -  

I use the slatted rack, I like it because the bees fill out the brood box better with it - i.e. larger colony.   It's a good addition for our area.  I use the one with the slats running parallel to the frames.    
 Set it up like in this picture:

http://www.leominsterbeeman.com/logbook04.htm

I havn't used a screened bottom board, so I could tell you if I  get the same results.

[amymcg]

The kit I'm buying from Lagrants comes with a slatted rack, that's why I asked.  I'm going to just try it with that this year and see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

OK Now I under stand the slatted rack function, and agree that the SBB does about all the same things. I controll just how much ventilation with the SBB by the slat or flashing in the bottom of mine.
Another good reason to have more than one colony of bees is so you can Compare the results useing both methods.
  Al