I switched from the traditional double-deep brood boxes to all 8-frame mediums with a top entrance.

BushFarms.com/bees.htm

If you look at the catalogs, it seems to take a lot of equipment to keep bees

Even this can be simplified. . . .

Free hive stand

* Consider flooding issues

I switched to all 8-frame mediums:

– lighter

– all equipment interchangeable

– easier to manage

I only need to stock:

– one size frame– one size foundation– one size box

When I buy these, I get a better price than if I were to spread my order over different sizes.

Oops! Someone put a medium frame in a deep hive body.

Often brood frames in deeps don't get completely drawn out and filled.

Medium fully drawn

Brood isn't chilled by bottom entrance and SBB.Queen can lay all the way to bottom of hive.

In 10 frame hives, the outer frames are often ignored.

Management:

– taking a medium frame from a hive has a smaller impact (1/32 vs. 1/20)

– splits are easier– by the box– pulling frames from multiple hives to make up a

new hive

The bees seem to like a top entrance just fine . . . .

To deal with heat:

-- offset bottom box

Excessive heat didn't seem to be a problem; I saw little bearding, and no more than with a bottom entrance.

Top entrances don't get blocked by snow, ice, or dead bees

Top entrances are less prone to pests such as mice and skunks

Feeding with quart and half-gallon mason jars

8 frame equipment is treated as a “specialty item”--but this is changing

My hives consist of three pieces of wooden-ware.