> Yes, one hive of 40,000 bees will produce more extractable honey than two hives
with 20,000 bees.

Horses for courses!  Depends on the race of bee.

If I put my A.m.m. on double brood then I will end up with the equivalent of more than a brood box of honey stored below the excluder - a loss of extractable crop of roughly 70lbs.

If I kept Italians and tried to keep them in a single box then they would swarm - a reduction of crop of ???

But we also need to factor in the cost of winter feed if we are talking about profit.  My A.m.m. get 6.25kg (13.75lbs) of bakers' fondant which costs me around £4; English bulk honey in drums is currently selling for at least £3.10 per lb here in the UK.

Best wishes

Peter 
52°14'44.44"N, 1°50'35"W

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