Medium size Hive questions

[dlmarti]

I think I've pretty much decided on going with 10 frame mediums, and keeping all of the boxes the same size (and the frames also, of course).
I have a few last questions.

1. When using mediums (10 frame), how many are used to over winter the hive?

2. How many boxes are relegated to the hive (how many below the first super)?  In otherwords if I was to use a queen excluder, at what level would it go?

3. Are there any draw backs to using medium boxes?  Does it cause more overcrowding, ie. swarming?

[bluegrass]

I use all mediums, all eight frames as of this year. (I think the smaller size is better) No queen excluder, but she will stay in the bottom three boxes all summer and in the spring you just have to rotate the top box down if you have more than three on it. As far as wintering I let them have whatever will hold them, usually 2 boxes if I am overwintering a full colony. I like to break most of what I have into Nucs and over winter that way.

[shakerbeeman]

All medium and all eight frame. Sounds like a winner. I am not getting any younger myself. I hope the directions to build are in the live link here.

[KONASDAD]

Most people in NJ(and north) use two deeps for overwintering. Therefore its equivalent is acceptable. At least three, perhaps four mediums. Last winter I overwintered w/ one hive having two deeps, my weaker hive one deep and one medium.

[Jarhead]

I use two deeps for overwintering & no queen excluder.

[annette]

I used 1 deep and 2 medium this past winter and they were fine.

[shakerbeeman]

I am sure I just read that three mediums equal the dimension of two supers. So should go the formula for wintering over. I suspect we are talking ten frame mediums.

[annette]

I am sure I just read that three mediums equal the dimension of two supers. So should go the formula for wintering over. I suspect we are talking ten frame mediums.

Yes, they say that 3 mediums equals 2 deeps. I never started this way though, so I am sort of stuck with 2 different sizes,until I figure out a way to get back to 3 mediums. And yes, I use ten frames all the way.

[Michael Bush]

>1. When using mediums (10 frame), how many are used to over winter the hive?

Three 10 frame mediums equals exactly two ten frame deeps.  That's what is commonly used to overwinter here.  I use eight frame.  Two eight frame mediums equals exactly one ten frame deep.

>2. How many boxes are relegated to the hive (how many below the first super)?  In otherwords if I was to use a queen excluder, at what level would it go?

I would give the queen at least three ten frame mediums or four eight frame mediums.  But then I wouldn't use the excluder.

>3. Are there any draw backs to using medium boxes? 

A medium box costs about the same as a deep box.  A medium frame costs about the same as a medium frame.  But I save more than that on back x-rays.

Most nucs come in deeps.  But if you keep an eight frame deep around you can handle that if the issue comes up.  More and more people are stocking medium nucs.

>Does it cause more overcrowding, ie. swarming?

No.  In fact they overwinter better since there is better communication between frames.

>I am sure I just read that three mediums equal the dimension of two supers.

Two deeps, yes.

> So should go the formula for wintering over. I suspect we are talking ten frame mediums.

That was ten medium frames, yes.  With eight frame medium boxes two eight frame mediums equals one deep.