Pros and cons of a single national brood box.

[kazmcc]

The second post for idiots corner As a lot of you know, we are currently running on brood and a half. I hate it. It's messy when doing inspections, ripping apart brood and stores. Would it be possible to switch to using a single national brood box. My decision needs to be made now really, as my queen spotting abilities are just naff

What would my main problems be? I imagine it would be building for winter mainly.

No matter how long I keep bees, I'll always be in idiots corner

 

[Silly Bee]

Sounds like you too have discovered the problems with brood and a half.

Any new colonies I have are going to be Double or single brood.

 

[Tdf]

14x12 could solve your problem

 

[kazmcc]

14x12 could solve your problem

Money is still tight for the project, and I've been very kindly sent lots of national equipment now so we will probably stay with them. If money was no object, then I would switch. I seem to remember people over-wintering on single national broods on here. If anyone has had any success with them, let me know

 

[TOBY-3652]

All mine are on 1 national brood box. As are all my mates he has got over 40 ive found as long as you keep youre eye on them and as when you see q cells. Ive had no problems up 2 now

 

[MuswellMetro]

Money is still tight for the project, and I've been very kindly sent lots of national equipment now so we will probably stay with them. If money was no object, then I would switch. I seem to remember people over-wintering on single national broods on here. If anyone has had any success with them, let me know

you can buy a 90mm eke converter for about £25 from the big suppliers that converts the standard brood to 14x12 ( or build a 90mm eke)

alternative is a Hamilton converter that allows you to use ten 16x10 commercial frames

and Welcome back Kaz

 

[mbc]

Most of mine are on single national broods and over winter fine.
Pros are you get more of the honey in your supers and easy inspections and cons are a smaller brood area with all the associated problems (mainly earlier swarming and smaller colonies).

 

[VEG]

single national here as well no probs so far with local mongrel queens that the bees have raised themselves

 

[kazmcc]

you can buy a 90mm eke converter for about £25 from the big suppliers that converts the standard brood to 14x12 ( or build a 90mm eke)

alternative is a Hamilton converter that allows you to use ten 16x19 commercial frames

and Welcome back Kaz

That, sounds like a very good plan. Thanks MM

 

[MuswellMetro]

That, sounds like a very good plan. Thanks MM

My wife who is 5ft 2" finds the 14x12 diffuxult to turn over and 16x10 would be better for her as they are less deep

a Hamilton converter is about £8.....but remember the comercial 16x10 are short lug frames ...

 

[mbc]

My wife who is 5ft 2" finds the 14x12 diffuxult to turn over and 16x10 would be better for her as they are less deep

a Hamilton converter is about £8.....but remember the comercial 16x10 are short lug frames ...

I'm over six foot and I find working a 14x12 brood box tiresome. I quite like commercial frames( 16x10) but to be honest, I'd stick with brood and a half rather than going 14x12.

 

[iand]

Kaz I use double brood through spring to get new comb drawn in the upper box. They start drawing at the bottom bar. The Q soon jumps on this laying it up while keeping the bottom box going. Don't forget this is the build up to the swarming period, so everyone is kept happy Q laying, wax makers etc. BUT before you get to the point of nice weather for crop gathering(we are prone to cold north easterlies for early Osr crop)(or all resources will go into the 2nd bb) remove one box & use as a split or make a couple of nucs.
If you can't find the Q, don't worry just put an extra excluder between these boxes for a few days. The one that has fresh eggs must have the Q.
The rest of the year I use a single box.
All frames are of course interchangeable unlike brood & half.
Just a few thoughts to be going on with, it sounds like you have a bit of extra gear, so maybe you can fit a system together with what you have.
Give it a go if it works fine, if not well you haven't laid out a lot of cash.

 

[Polyanwood]

I like 14 x 12. They are certainly easier than the jumbo langstroth. I'm not very big, but can lift the 14 x12 easier than the jumbo langstroth.

 

[meidel]

I've got used to the 14x12 tho only 5' myself.

But I think 16x10 equipment are cheaper than the 14x12 frames and foundation. So there's that to consider as well.

 

[richardbees]

re expense: it's not just a question of adding an eke to a national bb...kaz would also have to buy new frames and foundation.

I've always managed with a single bb....who know's if it made them swarm earlier or reduced the annual honey crop?.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Most around here manage fine with single National broods

 

[jackbee]

Money is still tight for the project, and I've been very kindly sent lots of national equipment now so we will probably stay with them. If money was no object, then I would switch. I seem to remember people over-wintering on single national broods on here. If anyone has had any success with them, let me know

14x12 is national size sides wise so all other hive components will fit above/below as normal

 

[kazmcc]

Thanks for all the advice, a lot to consider. I may need smaller frames soon as I have a problem with my wrist and hands now, so maybe I need to take any worsening of my condition into account

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Time to get an assistant. Big strong, keen bloke.

Oh, I forgot. You now have one!

D

 

[kazmcc]

Heh heh, which is why I am now back on the allotment list. Already had him clearing the school veg beds

He loves it really