Brian, >>We run 280 colonies and when pulling honey there is no real good place to leave 2 or 3 frames that might have a hundred cells of brood at most.. You have a nice size operation. I'd save the frames with brood and return them on the hives with the wet, extracted supers then. Put them over a queen excluder though. >>We check each yard every 2 weeks and I'd rather have some occasional brood comb then no honey. I've heard this argument. [I've been pondering using 3 deeps - the unlimited brood nest - and queen excluders.] I've been putting excluders on AFTER the bees start to store honey up in the supers. I think, when it's done this way, they continue storing in the supers well after the excluders are inserted. Waldemar Long Island, NY :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::