Brood box size

[Popparand]

By default I inherited all my hives. They are all nationals on 14 x 8 bb's. From other postings it seems that I would be better off with 14 x 12 so the bees would have more room and maybe a better chance of getting through the winter.

Changing over would mean moving the brood nests over to new frames, then chucking the old ones. Then the cost of new boxes, frames, foundation etc.

I am using omf's and kingspan roof insulation. Is it worth changing the brood boxes for the larger size?

 

[Cuckmere couple]

or the option i'm trying to pursue of double brood, i'm attracted to benefits i hear for such as keeping it versatile, ease of use for splits, swarm control and comb changing

 

[enrico]

By default I inherited all my hives. They are all nationals on 14 x 8 bb's. From other postings it seems that I would be better off with 14 x 12 so the bees would have more room and maybe a better chance of getting through the winter.

Changing over would mean moving the brood nests over to new frames, then chucking the old ones. Then the cost of new boxes, frames, foundation etc.

I am using omf's and kingspan roof insulation. Is it worth changing the brood boxes for the larger size?

Certainly not this year. If you are going to do it then do it before you start buying more stuff!
E

 

[Popparand]

or the option i'm trying to pursue of double brood, i'm attracted to benefits i hear for such as keeping it versatile, ease of use for splits, swarm control and comb changing

Others say that double bb's are a pain in the neck. To each his own.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

it seems that I would be better off with 14 x 12 so the bees would have more room and maybe a better chance of getting through the winter.

Why?

 

[Beefriendly]

Neither double brood nor 14x12's are ideal. But double brood gives you a lot of versatility and is my preferred situation. You can start colonies off as single brood, expand to double when or if required. Contract down to single brood box. Easy to split two boxes for swarm control etc.
No need to split boxes for every inspection etc.

However the biggest determining factor as to single or double brood is the bees you keep. No point in thinking "I want to use double brood" if your queen is struggling to lay 5 frames of brood.
Let the bees tell you what space they require.

 

[Ian123]

Its not 1 of those things that has a straight right or wrong answer. Much will depend on how prolific your bees are and your style/how you opperate. For me 14x12 amounts to a brood and a half in capacity and thats just not large enough for a decent queen, mine can be in 3 standard broods at the height...Personaly i prefer standard broods and use them as honey supers as well, keeping to 1 size of frame and meaning frames can be swapped out to clear any honey congested in brood area and that appears to be an issue a lot found this season. Just for example a friend started on dbl broods and decided it was a faff the next season he went 14x12 and then found they were not big enough/flexible and the year after went back to dbl brood. Your comment about it benifiting bees and getting them through the winter is just a red herring, its just simply a case of matching the size of the colony to box or boxes and the amount of stores in them.

 

[Popparand]

Why?

Somewhere else there is a posting to the effect that larger bb's mean the cluster is further away from the cold air outside the entrance.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

sounds like absolute rubbish to me.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Somewhere else there is a posting to the effect that larger bb's mean the cluster is further away from the cold air outside the entrance.

I think the air under the omf might be equally cold?

 

[Swarm]

Don't like 14x12 frames, if you need a bigger brood box I'd prefer 16x10 commercial frames, better altogether than 14x12.
However, double nats are a very good option. Use of dummy boards allows you to cater for any colony and a tall, narrow cavity is right up their street.

 

[SteveG]

14 x12 are a great work out when inspecting. ordered by mistake (Long Story) this year.
Standard National BB all the way with additional super if bees require.

 

[john t]

the national bb is very flexible and as you already have this size its easier to stay with it, its also the most popular size in the uk so acquiring more hives is easy.
, if you want to go 14x12 you can purchase or make a converter that fits below the national bb , how much room they need will depend on your bees your location and the season,

 

[Murox]

By default I inherited all my hives. They are all nationals on 14 x 8 bb's. From other postings it seems that I would be better off with 14 x 12 so the bees would have more room and maybe a better chance of getting through the winter.

Changing over would mean moving the brood nests over to new frames, then chucking the old ones. Then the cost of new boxes, frames, foundation etc.

I am using omf's and kingspan roof insulation. Is it worth changing the brood boxes for the larger size?

with Beefriendly and Ian123 . Flexibility & single frame size throughout - as long as you can handle the lifting. Keep using kingspan .