deep hive bodies vs. mediums in the north

backyard warrior · November 15, 2010, 04:31:57 PM

Just wondering the thoughts of all you guys and gals on deeps and mediums as brood chambers? It seems that alot of beeks are switching from deeps to mediums so the bees can cluster better and you can reverse the boxes more readily because of the seperation advantage of the mediums. Im interested in what u all have to say. Have any of you used the inner screened hive top cover vs. the inner wooden cover what are you thoughts on that as well ?

AllenF · November 15, 2010, 04:42:16 PM

IMO they do better with brood on deep frames (or even better with jumbos). Bigger area for brood that is not broken up. I think a lot of folks are moving into Meds because they are lighter and you can interchange the boxes with your honey supers as long as you don't use any treatments on the frames for pests. If the deep is too heavy to flip around, pull half the frames out then move. But for going frame by frame inspection, 20 frames is quicker than 30 frames.

Finski · November 15, 2010, 05:43:39 PM

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In Finland many use mere mediums in hives because Langstroth is too heavy to them to handle.

Screened top cover makes no sence because heat escapes via it.

All kind of screen in inner cover are bad because bees fill all tiny holes with resin.
10 mm wood board is easy to keep clean and sterilize with propan torch.

L Daxon · November 15, 2010, 08:34:15 PM

I took up beeking after a 20 year absence and this time went with all mediums instead of deeps for the brood chamber and shallows for the honey supers. The weight was an issue, but I also like having all the same size equipment. I just makes it so much easier on me (not necessarily the bees) to be able to switch a frame full of honey or a totally empty frame from any box and put it in another box as desired/needed.

Michael Bush · November 15, 2010, 09:19:23 PM

They winter fine in either, but I think the mediums do have an edge because of the gap.

VolunteerK9 · November 16, 2010, 11:10:10 AM

I have predominately all mediums with a couple that are in deeps. I have mixed feelings on both. Running all mediums seems to take more for the same. I'm wintering in 3 mediums and the others are a deep/medium. I don't know enough about benefits or drawbacks to the bees on either system only to my wallet.

Finski · November 16, 2010, 01:38:33 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on November 15, 2010, 09:19:23 PM
They winter fine in either, but I think the mediums do have an edge because of the gap.

if we talk about the weight of the full box of honey, the polystyrene medium box is the best.

Michael is right that the gap may stop the movement of cluster to the food. It happens when it is long very cold and the piece of cluster is jammed to one point.

A big winter cluster and insulated hive helps the movement of the cluster.

I met a lady who has all but one brood box mediums. So she over winter the hive in Langstroth but other boxes are medium.

BeeHopper · November 18, 2010, 09:55:14 AM

I made the switch to all mediums ( 10 frame ) this past spring with 10 hives, I still have one hive with deeps. In my observations, it makes no difference for the girls. As with anything, there's pros and cons for the Beekeeper, lighter boxes and flexability on the pro side, longer inspections on the con side. I really like the simplicity of working with just one size box, if I were younger and much stronger, I would have all deeps. It does not hurt to experiment with mediums on a hive or two before you make the plunge to all mediums.

BH

latebee · November 19, 2010, 10:38:19 PM

Maybe I am wrong in saying this---but I think the bees would move more freely in a cluster on mediums because of the gap(not in spite of it).This would allow them to access stored honey and still remain committed to the brood in extreme cold.

Finski · November 20, 2010, 02:17:58 AM

Quote from: latebee on November 19, 2010, 10:38:19 PM
Maybe I am wrong in saying this---but I think the bees would move more freely in a cluster on mediums because of the gap(not in spite of it).This would allow them to access stored honey and still remain committed to the brood in extreme cold.

it is easy to cluster to move upwards.
If the cluster starts wintering in upper box, it may stay to prison when the food is finish in upper frames. that happens when there is a long frost period and the cluster cannot expand to reach food.

You avoid this when you put brood frames into lower box before winter feeding. The cluster starts wintering in site where the last brood were.

In cold climate it is essential to have insulated brood boxes. Polyhives are light and helps in wintering and in spring build up.

I made a box from ply. It is stunning heavy.