Central NC, 2 for 2.
Both are first-year hives split from the same package.
One is in a Lang, single 10-frame deep, screened BB open with telescoping top. This hive was weaker going into the winter, and is slower to build up. They replaced their queen at least once last fall, and got some very interesting genetics. The workers have longer-than-average abdomens, and are darker, some almost black. They also have very dense fuzz around the eyes, making their eyes look smaller. Clearly there were a couple of feral drones in the mix. That may be the reason why they have been slow to start rearing brood. We'll see how they do once the flow really kicks in.
The other was split off the first colony in late June last year. In a long hive (takes 33 deep lang frames, migratory tops, 3 1" entrance holes, bottom screened with 1/8" mesh), bottom left open except for a couple of nights during a windstorm at 17 degrees, when I put our homemade "mite board" in to reduce wind blowing up into hive. This colony went into winter with less than 20 frames bees and honey together, with a follower board used to insulate the used from the empty section of the hive. They have the original Italian queen from the package (although right before cluster I spotted two mated queens in this hive, so I don't know whether I now have the mother, daughter or both). This hive is BOOMING, incredibly healthy. Went from 2 frames of brood to 8 in a month, and now they draw a new foundationless frame every 3 days. We are just trying to keep ahead of them and getting ready to split next month.
I've heard that long hives are swarm-prone, and we are definitely going to find out.