New Hive Composition

[bassman1977]

Michael Bush is big on using all mediums and for numerous excellent reasons.  I know it has been discussed in other threads and I have yet to see him mention any negatives with using all mediums.  If you have seen any of the threads I've posted in the past month, I have been having a problem with my bees not drawing enough comb.  Michael made a suggestion with baiting a brood box and if that deep was a medium, it would make my life a lot easier.  Now I have to swap that deep for a medium so I can make that baiting a realistic situation.  As you can see just by my example, how much easier things would be if there is more compatabilty in your hive boxes.

[Michael Bush]

>I have yet to see him mention any negatives with using all mediums.

There is one down side.  But I don't find it that big of a problem.  A medium with frames is about the same price and the same labor to construct as a deep with frames which holds a bit more.  

If you do the work yourself you'll save that much on doctor bills for you bad back.  If you have others doing the work for you, you'll save that much on workmans comp on people who hurt their back working for you.  

But other than that, it's all gravy.

[banjojohn]

While we are on this, any drawbacks to all shallows?. Please say none as someone gave me a bunch.

[Joseph Clemens]

What depth are those, "shallow's"? If they're 5-11/16" and didn't come with frames you could cut some strips and add a rim 1-1/16" to bring them up to medium size, 6-5/8" and then use the appropriate frame size, 6-1/4".

If they are 5-11/16" shallow supers, I envy you, I still am uncomfortable lifting medium supers full of honey. If I had 50 or more shallow supers I'd be even happier to shift my operation to the even shallower supers.

You could use all-shallow supers, 4 for the brood chamber and however many more, as necessary, above those for honey storage. It should be even easier with less weight.

And the more I think about it the better I like the idea of, 8 frame - 5-11/16" deep supers.

[Michael Bush]

You could run all shallows.  I prefer all mediums because I get a little more comb for a frame.  Bees adjust to most any space configuration as long as they have enough bees to manage the volume.