Single brood chamber beekeeping

[nehoney]

I recently heard about running hives with only one brood box versus two. I have always used two and somtimes wintered with 2 1/2 boxes here in New England. However, I would like to learn about experiences with a one box system, What are the advantages and disadvantages? Any special care needed to prevent awarms?

[leominsterbeeman]

In New England too,  I use two and will continue to use two.   I havn't lost one yet in the winter.

Anything is possible

Gus S  use to overwinter in  in some nucs!  

R. Taylor use to keep a medium under a deep as a brood chamber to do cut-comb honey.  He would frequently remove frames to make up new nucs (and as swarm control)  this would give a larger brood nest that just one deep and the the deep frames would be on top to be easier to remove.

[photokid]

The hives I've seen here in South Florida mostly use one box. The ones I've seen are for pollination. I have a two box system for now, but will be splitting it into two hives with one brood box each. We use lots of supers and no queen excluder.