All mediums

[Bill Murray]

Marley will be having 2 packages I purchased for her coming next month. I wanted her to experience installing a package.
With that being said we will be using all mediums for her. She has problems manipulating deep frames. As I have never done this before and know a few here do my questions are as follows.
1) Are 2 mediums the same as 1 deep?
2) What is the difference in swarming issues.

I realize we will need medium drawn comb, not an issue, but we will have no med. brood upon install to hold them home. Could I use 2 deep frames in the center of 2 mediums?

I know this sounds kinda beginerish, but beginerish it is.

Thanks to any that give feedback it will all be taken, digested, and worked thru.
Bill

[Bill Murray]

After reading through the minutia on the forums here is my plan.
start 2, 10 frame mediums 10 frames drawn comb. 3 frames of foundation , 2 frames deep with open brood , 1 medium feeder in the upper med. box.

[Ben Framed]

Bill Murray
1) Are 2 mediums the same as 1 deep?

Bill personally I have not done the math nor do I use mediums. I was waiting on someone who does use mediums to speak up. I have read that three medium boxes is closely related to 2 deeps where bee space is concerned. If Marley is very young/small you might even consider using shallows?

[cao]

3 mediums = 2 deeps
so 2 mediums = 1 1/2 deeps

If you want brood to keep the new packages anchored, why don't you put a couple drawn medium frames in the broodnest of your current hives.  The queen should lay it full within a week or so.  That way you won't have to deal with deep frames in your medium boxes.  They can be a pain to remove and work with because they will be the center of the broodnest.

They could be installed in one medium but since you will be using a frame feeder, I would use two boxes.  I would put the drawn comb in the bottom box with the medium frames of brood.  The foundation would go in the top box with the feeder.

[Oldbeavo]

What depth are mediums?
We use some "Ideals" which to give you a reference, 5 equal 3 full depths. so they are about 6" in depth

[Acebird]

Don't make it complicated.  If it is a install just install the bees in one box of mediums.  If you have drawn medium frames then use 2 boxes.  Keep an eye on progression and stay ahead of their progress.

[BeeMaster2]

Bill,
I would do as Coa. Put a medium frame in the brood nest of ten hives and then when the 2 packages arrive you will have five brood frames for both hives. This would bee a great start for her hives and lock them in real good.
Jim Altmiller

[Bill Murray]

Thank you cao, that was pretty simple I dont know why I was stuck on the deeps and not going the other route with the mediums. that was just to simple and easy. But thats why discussion is good.

If Marley is very young/small you might even consider using shallows?

I have a few, and actually kicked that idea around, but then thought about the amount of boxes and frames involved, didnt want to get it so labor intensive she would lose the enjoyment of it.

Don't make it complicated.  If it is a install just install the bees in one box of mediums.

The complicated part was because I was brain locked. The brood frames are installed to keep the bees in the box.

2 mediums = 1 1/2 deeps

Thanks for this also. I was just judging didnt do the math. That was so she could visualize what she should have in relation to deeps, which is what she knows at this point.

Thanks again for the comments much appreciated.

[The15thMember]

I remember seeing pictures of Marley on the Beefest thread; I'm super excited for her to get her own bees!    I have always used all 8-frame mediums, so I can't speak to the comparison with deeps, but I highly recommend all mediums for weak-armed individuals like myself.    You will doubtless be familiar with this if you use mediums in your current operation for honey supers, but just in case you only use deeps, a medium full of honey is still extremely heavy, so she may need some help come supering time managing heavy honey boxes.  If she'd rather be able to do all the lifting herself, shallows may be a better way to go, or at least shallow supers.

2) What is the difference in swarming issues.

Could you elaborate on this question a little bit?  I'm not sure what would be different between swarming hives that are in deeps vs. mediums.       

What depth are mediums?
We use some "Ideals" which to give you a reference, 5 equal 3 full depths. so they are about 6" in depth

Mediums are 6 5/8 in. deep. 

[Bill Murray]

It was just kinda me thinking about how fast a box of bees here can go from 0 to swarm in no time. Granted I do help them get to that point, but basically my assumption now is that if she runs 3 mediums as the brood boxes she will be able to keep up with bee growth/nest congestion.

[The15thMember]

It was just kinda me thinking about how fast a box of bees here can go from 0 to swarm in no time. Granted I do help them get to that point, but basically my assumption now is that if she runs 3 mediums as the brood boxes she will be able to keep up with bee growth/nest congestion.

I think that sounds reasonable.  My colonies, which are in 8-frame mediums as opposed to 10-frames, usually have 2 to 3 boxes of brood.   

[Brian MCquilkin]

It was just kinda me thinking about how fast a box of bees here can go from 0 to swarm in no time. Granted I do help them get to that point, but basically my assumption now is that if she runs 3 mediums as the brood boxes she will be able to keep up with bee growth/nest congestion.

I think that sounds reasonable.  My colonies, which are in 8-frame mediums as opposed to 10-frames, usually have 2 to 3 boxes of brood.   

I had all mediums for a while and  3 of them for brood chambers, worked out great

[Acebird]

The brood frames are installed to keep the bees in the box.

A package has a very weak swarm impulse normally.  I would deem a package that swarms does not have desirable genetics for beekeeping.

[Acebird]

It was just kinda me thinking about how fast a box of bees here can go from 0 to swarm in no time. Granted I do help them get to that point, but basically my assumption now is that if she runs 3 mediums as the brood boxes she will be able to keep up with bee growth/nest congestion.

Three mediums is too much to guard for an install.  If you don't use a QE the colony will decide how many boxes they use for brood.

[The15thMember]

Three mediums is too much to guard for an install. If you don't use a QE the colony will decide how many boxes they use for brood.

I agree, I'd install a package into 2 mediums. 

[Mamm7215]

I run 8 frame boxes.  For brood it's 1 deep, 1 medium then qe and honey above them.  Works ok generally.  I'm also trying out a horizontal hive this year but for a package I'd do at least 2 mediums.  In a good weather spring they'll outgrow a 1 medium box pretty quick.

[loisl58]

Very informative discussion. Thank you all for adding to my education.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[Acebird]

For brood it's 1 deep, 1 medium then qe and honey above them.

If you mix sizes for brood you have to have more equipment on hand.  No big deal for a commercial opp but it is a pain for a hobbyist.  You could just run two deeps and the bees will decide if they want to fill all of the bottom one.

[Oldbeavo]

How big, weight/ volume is a package of bees?
I have never bought one.

[The15thMember]

How big, weight/ volume is a package of bees?
I have never bought one.

They are usually 2 or 3 lbs. of bees.  Here's a picture if you have never seen one.
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