National Bee Hive Boxes, Depths & Uses

The choice of box depth makes the National bee hive the most versatile to use but it can be confusing for a beginner especially as the boxes can be known by different names.

We have National Bee Hive Boxes available in 4 depths as specified below.

Beginners note that the words Brood and Super, when correctly used, refer to the function of a box and not its size so any size box can be used as a brood box or honey super (or nadir but that is another article!).

For example, hives can be made from just Standard Shallow boxes or just Standard Deep Boxes as a One Size Box system.

Note that a queen bee at her peak will require more space to lay her eggs than is provided by a Standard Deep box.

Additional space can be provided with a Standard Shallow box, know as the Brood and a Half system, or with a second Standard Deep box, known as the Double Brood system.

The Double Brood system, with all brood frames the same size, is recommended by many professionals as many management techniques require a colony to be in two brood boxes with frames of the same size.

Extra Shallow Box also known as a Heather Super
90mm depth, this product is unique to us
Uses:
- For honey stores, designed for comb honey production and snatch cropping
- As a feeder eke to house a standard 4 pint feeder
- Place under a Standard Deep to convert it into an Extra Deep

Standard Shallow Box also known as a Super or Honey Box
150mm depth, this is industry standard size
Uses:
- For honey stores
- For brood in a Brood and a Half system
- For honey stores and brood in a One Size Box system
- As a feeder eke to house a standard 4 pint feeder
Standard Deep Box also known as a Brood
225mm depth, this is industry standard size
Uses:
- For brood in a Brood and a Half system or Double Brood system
- For honey stores and brood in a One Size Box system
Extra Deep Box also known as a Deep Brood or Jumbo or 14x12
315mm depth, this is industry standard size
Uses:
- For brood
- Note this is not recommended for honey stores, the full box is heavy to lift and the frames are too big for extractors