Has anyone tried using 2 Jumbo Langstroth boxes, one for the brood and one as a super? Other than the obvious drawbacks of heavy and extraction problems, is there anything else to consider?
I used two Jumbo Brood boxes for Queen Rearing. Both ended up 10 frames full of brood in each.
(summer 2018)
For reasons which will become obvious ,I now use 6 or 5 frame jumbo nucs x2,
Each box is some 30cms deep and when full of bees, brood and couple of frames of honey weighs approx 35kg each.
Add a hive stand say 25-30cms high and you are looking at a combination including floor and CB approx 1.25meters off the ground and weighing around 80kg.
Lifting one brood box at 35kg from over waist height requires a fair bit of strength, a strong back and another stand to place it on. You do NOT want to pick it off the ground.
You will need to lift the top box off weekly to do inspections Spring/summer.
I used to do competitive weightlifting when much younger. I found i the upper box was very heavy, unwieldy and required steel capped boots for safety. If you have never lifted such weights and /or have a weak back, forget it.
As for the bees filling one as a super.. well can you lift more? Approx 40KG? Will the bees fill one? An awful lot of empty space in Spring . Two shallow supers are much easier to handle full or empty and you can start with one in Spring and add.
Finally - nearly - Jumbo brood boxes = lots of bees. I regularly run 4 to 6 shallow supers on my best colonies. That equates to three brood supers. Even with ladders I struggle over 4 shallow supers. Two brood supers would be horrendous getting the top one off safely perched on a ladder and twisting as you descend to avoid hitting the ladder with the brood box would be a nightmare. A health and safety nightmare.
Surprise conclusion: not practical unless you are very strong and fit. And you would probably dread moving the top one.
