Randy asks why two deeps and a medium rather than three deeps, and
whether the bees put a narrow band of honey across the top of the
brood nest, as they would in a 'normal' setup.

Two deeps and a medium, with center boards to separate the hives,
provides each with just short of the equivalent of a deep and a
medium.  Three deeps would provide each with the equivalent of 1.5
deeps.  I guess these are about equal and two deeps and a medium were
chosen only because the cut pieces were all ready there.  But, one
would not want 4 deeps, which would provide each with the equivilent
of 2 deeps.

Commercial or highly skilled beekeepers will often go through their
yards in late spring and look at the status of the supers.  Those that
are almost full will sometimes get a comb honey super on top of the
highest extracting super.  This is highly successful for a highly
skilled beekeeper, but the method will almost always result in only
one comb honey super a hive.  Those specializing in comb honey want
3-5 comb honey supers a hive, and this requires a severe restriction
in the brood nest; thus a maximum of a deep and a medium per hive.
(Many use only a deep per hive.)  One of the most common errors by
hobbyists trying to produce comb honey is to try to produce both comb
honey and extracted honey on the same hive.  It almost never works
(for hobbyists).

Yes, in a side-by-side two queen system one will find the same brood
nest configuration as in a 'normal' hive.  That is, a band of honey on
top of the brood nest and down the sides, and pollen stored
immediately below and adjacent to that, and then eggs and larvae.  The
bees don't seem to recognize that their setup is anything other than
'normal'.

Lloyd

-- 
Lloyd Spear
Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacture of equipment for round comb honey sections,
Sundance Pollen Traps, and producer of Sundance custom labels.
Contact your dealer or www.RossRounds.com

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