2 brood boxes?

[Ammerbee]

I was looking round an apiary near to where I live and noticed several hives had 2 brood boxes (with 2 or 3 supers on top). I'm close to putting a third super on one of my two hives, but wondered why these folk had not added another super rather than a second brood box...am I missing a trick?

 

[Anduril]

Depends how prolific your bees are.

 

[bpmurray]

They may also be trying to get the bees to draw comb for nucs.

 

[bob_o]

I will all ways put a extra brood box on any strong hives when I take the last of the honey off. By doing this you give the bees extra room in the hive so all of them can get inside. They will start to work on any new foundation and if there are bees in them over winter you are less likely to get mice take up residence and destroy a good brood box of frames.You will need to feed them a bit extra. Then the following year if the hive starts to swarm you can split it by just placing a board between the two brood box's. You will need to then go in to the hive after a couple of days to find where the queen is and to remove any extra queen cells. I have also seen a double brood split in to 4 or 5 but then you are making a lot of work.

 

[enrico]

Prolific bees need a brood and a half or two brood box's. The latter makes it easier to split colonies if they need it. Too much room is better than not enough room for brood. I always give a full size colony more room by adding another box, half or full size. Supers can be added as needed.
E

 

[Ammerbee]

thanks

so should I put a second brood box on now and/or a third super?

there's a new queen (I think) and so not much brood

 

[enrico]

Either if they need it, neither if they don't. If she needs room to lay another brood box, if they need room to store nectar another super
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[Ammerbee]

much appreciated

ok very clear - I think it's a super coz I'm not even sure she's been mated yet