Two or three brood boxes?

[cpekarek]

I'm located 25 mile west of Chicago. I have read some people recommend 3 brood boxes versus 2 for my part of the country. I started my first  year hives with packages May 1st. I fed with 1:1 sugar water using top feeders from May 1st through June 5th. Three of the hives had 8 frames filled out in the bottom box which are 10 frame deeps. I added 2nd brood boxes a while ago and the 2nd boxes are now 5 to 8 frames full (eggs, capped brood, pollen and honey). All look good.  Any thoughts on 2 vs. 3 brood boxes? We should have decent flow through August.

Chris

[KeyLargoBees]

Have always heard 2 deeps or 3 mediums from a brood box perspective....but thats coming from someone who has no winter so take it with a grain of salt ;-)

[Michael Bush]

A large Italian cluster might benefit from the equivalent of two deeps and a shallow (e.g. five eight frame mediums) but anything over that they won't use the honey over winter.  More frugal bees wouldn't have any use for the extra honey, (e.g. Carniolans, Russians, Feral survivors, AMM, Caucasians etc.)

[Acebird]

You as the beekeeper needs to decide whether you will dictate the brood nest or the bees as to how large you will let the brood nest get.  In other words QE or no QE.  Then once you have made that decision you have to manage the size you chose.  It has been done with one deep, two deeps or three deeps up here in the north with all different management styles.  So two or three brood boxes, yes.  Pick one.

[GSF]

I have both. The 3 deep brood boxes seems to be more aggressive. Most of them produce more honey but not all.

[BeeMaster2]

The other factor is the bees, You can put all the boxes on the hive that you want but they make the final decision as to how many they will fill with brood, especially going into winter when they are cutting back and back filling.
Jim

[cpekarek]

Thanks for the replies. My bees are Italian. I can tell by their accent;-) I want to make sure the bees have plenty of room. I'm surprised they have filled the deeps as fast as they have . Our main flow has kicked into high gear in our area. The White Clover, Sweet White Clover, Sweet Yellow Clover, Linden Trees and Sumacs are covered with bees. Our Common and Swamp Milkweed is 1 week from starting to bloom. I guess I will wait and see.

Thanks,

Chris

[Jim134]

    I keep bees in 2 deep and 1 medium for a brood nest. I do the same as this person.Who is very successful keeping bees in Northern New England. His bee yards is about 2 hour
North of where I live.
   






                 BEE HAPPY Jim 134 
         

[Jim134]

             BEE HAPPY Jim 134 

[Duffydog]

You seem to be in y general area. 2 brood boxes are all that is needed. You probably are or should be suppering now.