Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 10:43:07 AM

Title: Narrow frames
Post by: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 10:43:07 AM
https://bushfarms.com/beesframewidth.htm

We talked about this at Beefest.  Bill was thrilled with the rapid spring buildup.  Since there is less space between the frames the same number of bees can cover a lot more brood.  An extra frame per box doesn't hurt either.  I run 9 frames in all my 8 frame boxes.  When I had 10 frame boxes I ran 11 frames.
Title: Re: Narrow frames
Post by: Ben Framed on March 08, 2023, 08:41:29 PM
Quote from: Michael Bush on March 08, 2023, 10:43:07 AM
We talked about this at Beefest.  Bill was thrilled with the rapid spring buildup.  Since there is less space between the frames the same number of bees can cover a lot more brood.  An extra frame per box doesn't hurt either.  I run 9 frames in all my 8 frame boxes.  When I had 10 frame boxes I ran 11 frames.

Interesting idea/ I have read of your post here before where you mentioned this subject. I need to look into this further since you have tried and tested this method, and are happy with it. It deserves a closer look in my opinion..

Phillip






Title: Re: Narrow frames
Post by: Michael Bush on March 09, 2023, 09:37:45 AM
I admit I did not think it would make such a dramatic difference in Florida where Bill is, but he says it does.  I know it makes a difference in my cold climate with it's unpredictable cold snaps all through the spring.
Title: Re: Narrow frames
Post by: Bill Murray on March 09, 2023, 09:55:23 AM
I ran them side by side with 10 frames. Its still cold here, although not your cold michael in January when getting them to brood up, and there was a huge increase in the 11 frame hives compared to the 10 frames for early buildup.