Perry, you have the tbh master Adam there to get ya started.
Lazy, I like both so far but will always have more Langs especially for the purpose of honey production and interchangeability. There is probably a larger list than what I can explain but here are a few from my research and limited experience:
Advantages:
-no extractor needed
-affordable
-easy to inspect/calmer bees (one frame at a time vs. taking entire lang box off)
-yummy comb honey if you don't want to crush and strain
-new comb is built constantly (helps a little when controlling mites and shb)
-no lifting of heavy boxes, just one bar at a time (good for older or disabled keeps)
-more wax production (candles, lip balms, selling it, etc.)
-don't have to store honey supers
-I like the taste of crushed honey over lang extracted
-educationally speaking, a very good example of more natural comb building and such
Disadvantages:
-Can't extract bars so bees have to start over (some folks have successfully extracted by cutting the comb to fit extractor)
-Comb has to be treated with respect or it will more easily fall off of the bar
-lower honey production
-less interchangeability like you can do with langs
-not the best for queen rearing because you can't sequester the queen as well
-severe winter environments may be a challenge for the bees because bees naturally move up not across combs
I am hopeful that my bees winter over well. Perry's friend has kept them with success in much more harsh winters in Canada than I have here in the midwest of USA. The Kenyan and Tanzanian hives are used in warm, dry climates more often.
