There are many decision to make as you enter the world of beekeeping. And, you will likely buy some equipment you do not need … but you will not find that out until you do make some purchases and try some things out.
It is highly recommended to use Langstroth configuration for your hives. The Langstroth Hive is the standard in the US for most beekeepers. Langstroth hives now come in two widths: the standard width that holds 10 frames and the somewhat narrow and lighter 8-frame width. Either works well and both provide plenty of space for the bees.
So, why choose one over the other? The most basic answer is weight — an 8-frame setup is roughly 20% lighter that the standard 10-frame configuration. A hive in the peak of the honey flow can weigh well over 350 pounds!
That 350 pounds is distributed in the various boxes that make up the hive. In the photo above, you see a lower deep brood box with another medium box above that. The Outer Cover sits atop all the boxes. As you go through the season, boxes are added to give the bees space for “more bees” or for honey. Typically, in north Alabama, the configuration shown above with one deep and one medium is typically considered the brood chamber where the queens lays here eggs become the brood. Pollen and honey are also stored close to the next so the nurse bees can provide the food for the queen and brood. In the winter, the medium box is filled with surplus honey to sustain the colony.
The lower brood box will typically weigh about 60 lbs. but could be as heavy as 90 lbs. if it where full of honey rather than brood and honey. The upper brood box will weigh about 50 lbs. when it contains brood and as much as 65 lbs. when it is full of honey. Then, each additional medium honey super that is added above these brood boxes will weigh as much as 65 lbs. when full of surplus honey.
You will be moving lifting these boxes throughout the Spring and Summer as you do your inspections and add and remove honey supers. So, the weight is definitely a consideration. Finally, since many beekeepers start in their retirement years, the thought of cutting the weight 20% by using the 8-frame configuration is attractive. Further, you can cut the weight for the honey supers another 10% by using the shallow depth supers for collecting the surplus honey. That means a full shallow, 8-frame honey super would weigh more like 35-40 lbs.
Sounds like the decision is an easy one! I thought so but chose the 10-frame configuration and most people do. I think having “true” standard equipment wins the day for may people since they know it will be easier to sell 10-frame equipment.
It’s a decision that has consequences both financially (investment in your boxes) as well as your work load (the lifting weight). The bees don’t care and the frames will fit in either.