I actually don't use any deeps. But as far as what I have for the queen to lay in, she can have all she wants, as there is no excluder. As far as what I leave them for winter, that depends on the size of the cluster. I leave a hive anywhere from two to five eight frame mediums for winter. Two eight frame mediums equals one deep. Three ten frame mediums equals two deeps. A good queen can have brood in four or five boxes at once. I would not want to limit her.