PH is mostly on the button here.
Weight.
Getting them filled and capped.
Cut comb (for most).
A big box is not so good at the start of the season when warmth is needed to draw comb. May be OK for those with lots of drawn comb, but not for the new starter or a cold spring.
Most extractors are a problem.
Most colonies do not need two broods to overwinter, so potential problems there, too, if sugar is fed.
Good job us 14 x 12ers don't go that route!! Personally I find the jumbo a good format - because I use shallows, because a brood box is enough (and spare) for overwintering, because a shallow is usually enough extra space for spring laying.
Recently 14 x 12s have become too heavy for me, so I don't fancy lifting full brood supers back on after each inspection - remember normally, it is the full ones on top!
Half a box full at the end of OSR? That could be trouble!! Neither ripe enough nor can it be left on.
I can see a good argument for double broods but not when they are higher than that, unless your broods are on the floor (mine are just about the right height for inspecting).
If you want to do it, go poly (join PH) - at least the boxes are lighter!
The MBS polys might be much better in that they only hold ten frames - in fact a good idea if the weight is just a tad too much. I remember the obvious difference between a WBC super and a National (it was considerable). Again, as PH says, they have not done it that way (mostly) since the 1920s (and before) when the standards were set. It is not something new as it's been tried before(so the bee-space frame argument does not really hold water.
But, by all means, try it and get back to us with the results. The 'mostly' rest of us might learn something - or there again the 'mostly' group were probably 'mostly' right already!
Regards, RAB
Weight.
Getting them filled and capped.
Cut comb (for most).
A big box is not so good at the start of the season when warmth is needed to draw comb. May be OK for those with lots of drawn comb, but not for the new starter or a cold spring.
Most extractors are a problem.
Most colonies do not need two broods to overwinter, so potential problems there, too, if sugar is fed.
Good job us 14 x 12ers don't go that route!! Personally I find the jumbo a good format - because I use shallows, because a brood box is enough (and spare) for overwintering, because a shallow is usually enough extra space for spring laying.
Recently 14 x 12s have become too heavy for me, so I don't fancy lifting full brood supers back on after each inspection - remember normally, it is the full ones on top!
Half a box full at the end of OSR? That could be trouble!! Neither ripe enough nor can it be left on.
I can see a good argument for double broods but not when they are higher than that, unless your broods are on the floor (mine are just about the right height for inspecting).
If you want to do it, go poly (join PH) - at least the boxes are lighter!
The MBS polys might be much better in that they only hold ten frames - in fact a good idea if the weight is just a tad too much. I remember the obvious difference between a WBC super and a National (it was considerable). Again, as PH says, they have not done it that way (mostly) since the 1920s (and before) when the standards were set. It is not something new as it's been tried before(so the bee-space frame argument does not really hold water.
But, by all means, try it and get back to us with the results. The 'mostly' rest of us might learn something - or there again the 'mostly' group were probably 'mostly' right already!
Regards, RAB
