Comments on: Different Size Hive Bodies http://www.beekeepersfriend.com/2008/07/07/different-size-hive-bodies/ Peaches' Beekeeping Blog Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:51:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: ekpeach http://www.beekeepersfriend.com/2008/07/07/different-size-hive-bodies/#comment-291 ekpeach Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:34:04 +0000 http://www.beekeepersfriend.com/2008/07/07/different-size-hive-bodies/#comment-291 Doug, Thank you for your comments. You are absolutely correct on the brood area. There is no room for the honey in the brood area. That is the only drawback to using undersized equipment. But with an extra super of honey left on the hive, the colony should be able to stave off starvation during the winter. It is good to check the bees during that time anyway no matter what size of boxes you use. Using only one size of boxes is a plus in as much as any of the supers will work for everything. Just remember that the comb that the bees use for the brood area is really not good to use for honey that you want to sell. But you can replace them with good clean comb and keep the brood comb to use in the next brood box. Peaches Doug,

Thank you for your comments. You are absolutely correct on the brood area. There is no room for the honey in the brood area. That is the only drawback to using undersized equipment. But with an extra super of honey left on the hive, the colony should be able to stave off starvation during the winter. It is good to check the bees during that time anyway no matter what size of boxes you use.

Using only one size of boxes is a plus in as much as any of the supers will work for everything. Just remember that the comb that the bees use for the brood area is really not good to use for honey that you want to sell. But you can replace them with good clean comb and keep the brood comb to use in the next brood box.

Peaches

]]> By: Doug C. http://www.beekeepersfriend.com/2008/07/07/different-size-hive-bodies/#comment-290 Doug C. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:09:37 +0000 http://www.beekeepersfriend.com/2008/07/07/different-size-hive-bodies/#comment-290 I know of several beekeepers that only have 6 5/8 (Illinoise box)equipment. They use 2 or 3 for the brood area, then excluder and add suppers. Think of how easy it is for maintaining equipment. Regarding 10 over 9 or even 8 frames in the brood area. Bee Culture wrote an article that the essentually said that with the less frames in the hive that the beekeeper would need to monitor for winter honey stores. Most 8 frame equipment I have seen. The queen will lay from wall to wall. 8 Frames of brood. Very seldem does a 10 frame box have brood wall to wall. The 5 3/4 (Shallow) box will weight about 28 lbs. with 9 frame of honey. My preference. I know of several beekeepers that only have 6 5/8 (Illinoise box)equipment. They use 2 or 3 for the brood area, then excluder and add suppers. Think of how easy it is for maintaining equipment.
Regarding 10 over 9 or even 8 frames in the brood area. Bee Culture wrote an article that the essentually said that with the less frames in the hive that the beekeeper would need to monitor for winter honey stores.
Most 8 frame equipment I have seen. The queen will lay from wall to wall. 8 Frames of brood. Very seldem does a 10 frame box have brood wall to wall.
The 5 3/4 (Shallow) box will weight about 28 lbs. with 9 frame of honey. My preference.

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