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Author Topic: Books on All Medium Boxes  (Read 5622 times)

Offline mikecva

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Books on All Medium Boxes
« on: June 16, 2011, 06:28:57 pm »
Are there any books or web sites on using all medium boxes?
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Offline D Coates

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2011, 06:32:03 pm »
There are plenty of folks who do it.  Michael Bush who's on here regularly has a great website where he covers it well.  http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm
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Offline AllenF

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2011, 07:53:44 pm »
A lot of post on this site about it.   Just search it.

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2011, 09:06:32 am »
The Backyard hive, by Kim Flottum favors eight frame boxes.  I think he mentions all mediums but I seem to remember it having eight frame deeps for brood.  Steve of Brushy Mt has been a proponent of all mediums for years.  I don't know of a book with that specific idea.  But I am a proponent, and soon will have a book... but it's much broader than just how to keep bees in mediums.

Basically it works like this.  Three ten frame mediums =  2 ten frame deeps.  4 eight frame mediums = 2 ten frame deeps.  So just adjust most advice to that math and it works fine.  If you location would take two ten frame deeps to get through the winter then you need four eight frame mediums or three ten frame mediums.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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Offline mikecva

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2011, 12:07:17 pm »
Our area is easily supporting 10 frame boxes, mine did great over winter and are almost finished their second medium box of honey. I just feal uneasy guessing at what to do and would like to read about sucesses and failures of other who do all mediums.
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Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2011, 12:37:28 pm »
My experience with eight frame boxes is they winter better in my experience as the cluster fits the box better and they don't leave behind frames of honey on the outside as much as they do in the ten frame hives.

My experience with all mediums is they winter better in my experience as they have better communication between the frames because of the gap between the boxes. Steve of Brushy Mt. used to say there was some research to this effect, but I'm unsure where to find it.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
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Offline FRAMEshift

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2011, 03:11:55 pm »
But I am a proponent, and soon will have a book... but it's much broader than just how to keep bees in mediums.

Michael, are you writing a book?  When will it be published?  We teach classes to new beekeepers and they are always wanting to know what book we recommend for chemical free, foundationless beekeeping.  Please let me know what you are planning.  And if you need someone to do a careful proofreading of the text, let me know.
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Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2011, 04:27:39 am »
>Michael, are you writing a book?

I pretty much just organized the web site into a book.

> When will it be published?

I should get the proof in a few weeks.

> We teach classes to new beekeepers and they are always wanting to know what book we recommend for chemical free, foundationless beekeeping.

My plan is to do a three volume set.  All three in a hardback and each volume separately in paperback broke out as "beginning", "intermediate" and "advanced".

> Please let me know what you are planning.

Looks like 623 numbered pages, 671 actual pages.  That's pretty much it.   

>And if you need someone to do a careful proofreading of the text, let me know.

Well a few months ago I certainly did...
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline FRAMEshift

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2011, 09:09:56 am »

My plan is to do a three volume set.  All three in a hardback and each volume separately in paperback broke out as "beginning", "intermediate" and "advanced".
That sounds like a good plan, especially since the entire work is so large.  Please let us know when it's available and where it can be purchased.

Quote

>And if you need someone to do a careful proofreading of the text, let me know.

Well a few months ago I certainly did...

I'm amazed at the errors I find in books.... even those from very high quality publishers.  When I was publishing scientific papers, I got used to doing extremely careful proofing.  (And my wife worked for a time as a professional proof-reader. )   I wouldn't offer to do a reading for content, but if you need a final text proofing before it goes to print, I could certainly do that.
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Offline T Beek

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2011, 11:13:59 am »
I may be missing some pages but I think I've already printed and assembled the majority of MBs website into book form.  But that won't keep me from purchasing the upcoming volumes.  Keep us all posted please.

thomas
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Offline rail

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2011, 11:09:32 pm »
The Backyard hive, by Kim Flottum favors eight frame boxes.  I think he mentions all mediums but I seem to remember it having eight frame deeps for brood.  Steve of Brushy Mt has been a proponent of all mediums for years.  I don't know of a book with that specific idea.  But I am a proponent, and soon will have a book... but it's much broader than just how to keep bees in mediums.

Basically it works like this.  Three ten frame mediums =  2 ten frame deeps.  4 eight frame mediums = 2 ten frame deeps.  So just adjust most advice to that math and it works fine.  If you location would take two ten frame deeps to get through the winter then you need four eight frame mediums or three ten frame mediums.


Is it easier to split from a 4 eight frame medium brood chamber, as compared to a 2 eight frame deep brood chamber?

If I understand correctly, I can split my 2 eight frame deeps next spring? If I had chosen 4 eight frame mediums, I could split one of the mediums and leave a 3 eight frame brood?
Sirach

Offline FRAMEshift

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2011, 06:44:49 pm »

Is it easier to split from a 4 eight frame medium brood chamber, as compared to a 2 eight frame deep brood chamber?

MB has developed the idea of "splitting by the box".  With 4 8-frames mediums, he just takes every other box and deals them out into the two splits.  With 4 boxes of bees, he has found that taking every other box for a split will give it an adequate breakdown of resources.... enough eggs, capped brood, nurse bees, honey, pollen, etc.     2 8-frame deeps is not as many bees and not as much resources and you can't "deal" the boxes out since there is only one top box and one bottom box.   So on average you would get better splits starting with 4 8-frames medium boxes
Quote

If I understand correctly, I can split my 2 eight frame deeps next spring? If I had chosen 4 eight frame mediums, I could split one of the mediums and leave a 3 eight frame brood?
First, I think you are equating 2 8-frame deeps with 4 8-frame mediums and that is not correct.  4 8-frame mediums are equivalent to 2 10-frame deeps.   You can do whatever splits you want but I think MB's point was that with 4 8-frame mediums, you can split without having to open the boxes and check frame by frame to make sure you have the necessary resources in each split.   It's a lot quicker and easier to "split by the box".
« Last Edit: June 21, 2011, 08:23:24 pm by FRAMEshift »
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Offline rail

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2011, 08:18:56 pm »

Is it easier to split from a 4 eight frame medium brood chamber, as compared to a 2 eight frame deep brood chamber?

MB has developed the idea of "splitting by the box".  With 4 8-frames mediums, he just takes every other box and deals them out into the two splits.  With 4 boxes of bees, he has found that taking every other box for a split will give it an adequate breakdown of resources.... enough eggs, capped brood, nurse bees, honey, pollen, etc.     2 8-frame deeps is not as many bees and not as much resources and you can't "deal" the boxes out since there is only one top box and one bottom box.   So on average you would get better splits starting with 4 8-frames medium boxes
Quote

If I understand correctly, I can split my 2 eight frame deeps next spring? If I had chosen 4 eight frame mediums, I could split one of the mediums and leave a 3 eight frame brood?
First, I think you are equating 2 8-frame deeps with 4 8-frame mediums and that is not correct.  4 8-frame mediums are equivalent to 2 10-frames deeps.   You can do whatever splits you want but I think MB's point was that with 4 8-frame medium, you can split without having to open the boxes and check frame by frame to make sure you have the necessary resources in each split.   It's a lot quicker and easier to "split by the box".

The hive is still drawing out the bottom deep, instead of installing the second deep should I install mediums and work towards the the 4 eight frame medium brood? I already have medium equipment.

I like this practice and wish that I had read about this before my package install!  :roll:
Sirach

Offline FRAMEshift

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #13 on: June 21, 2011, 08:30:02 pm »
IMHO, it's better to standardize on one size frame and one size box.  If you are doing Langstroth hives, I think 8 frame mediums are a good way to go.  So yes, I think you would be better off to just use 8 frame medium boxes from now on and migrate away from the deeps as soon as you can.
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Offline TwoHoneys

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2011, 07:36:08 am »
The hive is still drawing out the bottom deep, instead of installing the second deep should I install mediums and work towards the the 4 eight frame medium brood? I already have medium equipment.

I like this practice and wish that I had read about this before my package install!  :roll:

I had the same realization soon after I started keeping bees, rail. A friend gave me his then-standard 10-frame deep equipment, and for a season I kept two colonies in deeps. But running all mediums made more sense to me, so I began the season-long process of shifting to a new set up.

I began adding 8-frame medium boxes on top of my 10-frame deeps...this requires cutting a small piece of lumber to cover the gap created because of the difference in widths (and initially you'll need to anchor that board with a brick or something to keep it in place), but the bees soon propolize the lumber so that it's pretty secure.

Also, if I were you, and if I were planning to switch to mediums, I would begin installing medium-depth frames into the deep hive bodies you're already using and let the bees draw their comb on frames you can eventually move into your new medium boxes. Yes, the bees may also decide to draw comb in the void space this creates beneath the medium frames, but you can always cut that comb off and rubber band it into another medium frame. Slowly but surely, you can transition out of your bottom deep and into mediums. For me, it was totally worth the trouble.

-Liz

 

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Offline T Beek

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2011, 11:32:18 am »
I also went thorough the process of going from deeps to all mediums.  As for going from 10 frame to 8 frame, all I did was create 2 follower boards for all supers.  Now all medium supers can house full colonies or be squeezed down to support NUCS.  For me its the best.

thomas
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Offline Dave360

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #16 on: June 22, 2011, 08:49:38 pm »
Micheal

Looking forward to Book(s)

good luck

Dave

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #17 on: July 08, 2011, 06:45:54 pm »
>Is it easier to split from a 4 eight frame medium brood chamber, as compared to a 2 eight frame deep brood chamber?

Looks like it's been covered well already, but yes, I just "deal" the boxes when there are four or more eight frame mediums and don't look for the queen.  Very simple.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline annette

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #18 on: July 09, 2011, 09:41:01 pm »
Michael make sure you let us know about the book. I want a copy as well.

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Books on All Medium Boxes
« Reply #19 on: July 10, 2011, 01:43:07 am »
Ditto what Annette said.  I'm interested in the book, too....you can tell I need all the help I can get with all of my newbie questions that I've been asking.  Besides, my eyes are beginning to bleed from reading all the pages on your website...going for new glasses Monday! (seriously!!)  ;)

Ed
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