Broedkasten

Broedkasten are hive bodies used in beekeeping to house the brood nest. They are usually the deepest boxes in a hive and contain frames with brood combs where the queen lays eggs and worker brood develops. The exact size and the number of frames vary with the hive design (for example Langstroth, Dadant, or Zeeuwse) and regional practice. In standard layouts, brood boxes sit beneath honey supers and together form the main living space of the colony.

Construction and operation: Brood boxes are typically wooden boxes with removable frames and wax or plastic foundation. The frames can be inspected to monitor brood pattern, queen presence, and colony health. The brood nest tends to remain together, with the queen primarily confined to these boxes; bees expand into additional brood boxes as population grows. In spring, beekeepers add brood boxes to accommodate rapid brood rearing; in autumn, the brood area may be reduced to help wintering.

Variations and management: The use of single or multiple brood boxes depends on colony strength and management style. Some systems use deep brood boxes, others use medium or shallow frames. The brood boxes are designed to allow easy removal of frames for inspection and for transferring brood between boxes when needed. The arrangement of brood boxes with other hive components, such as honey supers and covers, is chosen to facilitate temperature control, ventilation, and access for inspection.