How many brood boxes should I use? (2024)

FAQs

How many brood boxes should I use? ›

“If you want to do the approach of minimum hive numbers and maximum management, then a single brood box is the way to go. However, if you want to be able to manage a larger number of hives with less input into each, then a double brood box will be much better,” says Dr Mark Goodwin.

Add your next box once the bees have drawn out 5-7 combs in their first box. How long this will takes depends upon the weather conditions and your individual bees. Inspect every two weeks to monitor your hive's progress.

We've seen suggestions as low as 5 frames and as high as 8 (the latter seems too late, to us). Around 6-7 is a nice balance and what many beekeepers will use.

Most beekeepers start their hive with two deep boxes because these boxes are mostly brood and so not as heavy. They will then use mediums or shallows for the rest of the hive because that is where the honey is stored and honey is heavy!

If you are just starting out, most reputable beekeeping sources will recommend starting with two hives. Having two hives for your first few years will help you to learn the art and science of beekeeping, while providing you with the proper amount of experience and resources needed to successfully keep healthy bees.

“If you want to do the approach of minimum hive numbers and maximum management, then a single brood box is the way to go. However, if you want to be able to manage a larger number of hives with less input into each, then a double brood box will be much better,” says Dr Mark Goodwin.

Reversing the position of your brood boxes — and adding an additional box, if necessary — creates space in the brood nest and encourages the colony to expand upward instead of swarming. Consider temporarily increasing the number of brood boxes in the spring, providing you can do so with mostly drawn comb.

Use the 7/10 rule, meaning the bees should have used seven out of the ten frames in the current boxes before adding an additional super. Add one super at a time for best results. It's better to add supers a little early than it is late. The 7/10 rule applies to adding extra boxes for honey.

Honey supers can easily become brood boxes as time goes on.

They're all geared up to do their work swarming, and they can build comb very quickly and fill out a whole box in a week or so. Look at that, the bees are coming home.

How many honey supers should I add? ›

You can add as many supers on your hives as the bees can fill. It's important that honey supers are added when the nectar flow is heavy to give the bees room to store honey and to prevent overcrowding inside the hive.

It depends entirely on conditions. If nectar availability dries up the bees will remove honey from the frames to survive. Typically though it would be reasonable to expect a super to fill in a month or two under average conditions.

Here's a rule of thumb when considering whether you can keep a beehive in your garden: A typical beehive is about 22 inches by 16 inches. You need at least five feet of space in every direction around the hive. If you plan to have multiple beehives, they should be at least three feet apart.

Many factors can affect this decision, including local climate and colony size – so it's a great idea to consult with local beekeepers, or jump onto our Community Forum to assist in finding the perfect set up for you. In our experience, either one or two brood boxes work well.

You can space a pair of hives as close to six inches from each other, but you need several feet of space around one or two sides in order to move equipment around as you're working the hives. Know what predators (man or beast) are in your area and what protection your bees will need.

When starting a beehive, the spring is ideal time. As soon as the weather begins to warm up and flowers start to bloom, you can set up your hive. Plan well and get your bees into the hive as soon as possible to allow them the time to gather as much nectar as possible through the next few months.

If the colony has a lot of bees, I might have the top box as 2 brood plus one of foundation plus 2 more of brood. This gives instant warm space for the bees to draw comb and doesn't split the brood nest as the queen can travel from, say, top left then down to the lower box and then up to top right.

In our experience, either one or two brood boxes work well. In our region (Northern NSW, Australia) we have found that running a single brood box will lead to honey being stored in the Flow Frames much earlier, especially when your bees are using them for the first time.

You can space a pair of hives as close to six inches from each other, but you need several feet of space around one or two sides in order to move equipment around as you're working the hives. Know what predators (man or beast) are in your area and what protection your bees will need.

In a single box, they keep their cluster tight, and have plenty of population packed around the winter brood nest. This tight space also keeps the bees relatively compressed around the entrance, affording them better protection against robber bees and other pests.