Do I need a 2nd brood chamber?

[baddawg1976]

How many bees can survive in a single brood with 9 frames?
Can I just add a super, or should I put a 2nd brood chamber?

[NewBee]

It depends on where you live. If you live in the southern or warmer parts of the country most beekeepers use only one brood chamber. If you live in the northern or colder parts of the country as I do most beekeepers use two brood chambers.

[Whey]

I live in East Texas. We have mild winters here. I think my bees can make it on one deep and one medium. I plan to give it a try anyway. I caught EIGHT huge swarms this spring and flat ran out of deeps......so they got medium supers. If they get light in late winter or early spring I can always feed them (which I have to do anyway even with two deeps)

Whey