Shallow supers are lower than brood boxes. The difference looks small and is practically considerable.

The main reason

Weight. A full deep box is barely liftable for many; a shallow one stays manageable.

Back problems are the commonest reason beekeepers stop. Anyone planning for the long term chooses shallow.

Further advantages

• Finer steps when expanding
• Varietal honey can be harvested separately
• Filled and capped faster
• Easier to handle when extracting

The drawbacks

• More boxes, more handling
• A second frame size in the operation
• More material overall

The second frame size

The point to weigh: shallow frames are not interchangeable with brood frames.

That means keeping duplicate stocks of frames, wire and foundation.

When to add them

In good time, before it gets crowded. Lack of space in the supers is a main cause of swarming mood.

But not too early: a colony that cannot occupy the space will not warm or defend it — and wax moths find room there.

Separate combs for supers

Super combs are not used in the brood chamber.

Brood comb carries residues and cocoon remains; honey stored in it takes some up. Light, never-brooded comb in the supers is one of the simplest quality measures there is.

The boundary

With supers on, neither feeding nor treatment takes place.