Wooden or Poly hives ?

[gwizzie]

Hi everyone, I have as some of you will know been trying out some poly hives (paradise BEEBOX hives) to be exact. I decided today as the weather was good to check on the 4 hives that I have at my new apiary, I have taken a video to show the results and I was very surprised at what I seen.
Anyway here is the video of my findings so far, the video shows that the 2 wooden hives that were the strongest out of the 4 hive when put to the heather are way behind in covering the frames, maybe this is normal ? im not sure as im new to this!!.
All I can see is that the bees in the paradise BEEBOX hives are doing a lot better.

[gavin]

In general, yes, bees in polyboxes build better. There are of course other factors other than strength. I'd wager that your wooden Nationals were holding back from brood rearing in July whereas your warmer poly boxes may have carried on. Then the poly boxes would be poised to expand more now, no matter what, and would be in a better position now to bring home the goodies.

Nice to see the activity in the supers though. Fingers crossed for no frost and a continuation of the heather season well into a particularly warm September ....

[gwizzie]

In general, yes, bees in polyboxes build better. There are of course other factors other than strength. I'd wager that your wooden Nationals were holding back from brood rearing in July whereas your warmer poly boxes may have carried on. Then the poly boxes would be poised to expand more now, no matter what, and would be in a better position now to bring home the goodies.

Nice to see the activity in the supers though. Fingers crossed for no frost and a continuation of the heather season well into a particularly warm September ....

Hi Gav, thanks for your comments that I will take them onboard. I think that personally for me the poly hive will be the way to go for me, but it's still early days yet I have the winter to get over yet.
Yes seeing them in the super working away like that is very rewarding but again these are very small hives as I got them late in the season!! I have high hopes for 3 of them if I can get them through the winter all ok....
I will of course keep this thread up to date with videos of their development over the next month as for the weather, if the forecast is anything to go by and does not change to much I should be ok (fingers and everything else CROSSED)

[gavin]

They certainly winter well in poly too. C4U has been a great proponent of them and has a huge number of colony years experience.

[gwizzie]

They certainly winter well in poly too. C4U has been a great proponent of them and has a huge number of colony years experience.

Hi Gav, yes I am steering more to the poly hives now, just the condensation part that I am a bit concerned about BUT I think I may have an answer for that a mod for the beebox hives.
I will try and get some of that years of experience from C4U if I can at some stage .
Something dawned on me this morning the 2nd hive in the video was a good strong hive but not taking in much honey! I am wondering now has that hive swarmed on me ??? I think I am going to check today to see what is happening with that one!

[gwizzie]

Just checked on the hive and did an inspection of the brood box and all is ok they have not swarmed, but they are not as full as I thought! Hummmm.... they still have room in the brood box for stores so that is were most of the heather honey is going. O well at least they will have that for overwintering and there not that bad a bees as there trying to give me some as well I suppose!

[Mellifera Crofter]

Hi Gav, yes I am steering more to the poly hives now, just the condensation part that I am a bit concerned about BUT I think I may have an answer for that a mod for the beebox hives. ...

What 'mod' do you have in mind?
Kitta

[Jimbo]

I agree I would not mod the poly hives. I have used poly hives for more than 10 years and never had any issues with condensation or dampness inside the hive
I also have a number of wooden hives and the main difference I have noticed is the temperature inside the poly hive must be more constant as the brood nest can sometimes be on the outside frames where as the wooden hives the nest is in the middle of the box


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[gwizzie]

I agree I would not mod the poly hives. I have used poly hives for more than 10 years and never had any issues with condensation or dampness inside the hive
I also have a number of wooden hives and the main difference I have noticed is the temperature inside the poly hive must be more constant as the brood nest can sometimes be on the outside frames where as the wooden hives the nest is in the middle of the box


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Hi Jimbo, thanks for your reply and advise that I will take on board, I have decided to leave them alone . I have noticed this as well that the poly hives brood box is full end to end were as the wooden are NOT! that's why I have decided to go ALL poly as easier and lighter to work with... (two more on order today)

[Mellifera Crofter]

... it's just drilling a hole through the side wall ...

... I have decided to leave them alone ...

That's what I feared, Gwizzie, and I'm glad Greengumbo and Jimbo have dissuaded you.

A hole in the top will just create draughts.

Condensation forms on the coldest surfaces, so I try to keep the area above the crown board the warmest. I use extra insulation (even in poly hives) above the crown board (a plastic sheet in MB hives) inside an eke (a shallow). I've never seen dripping on the bees.
Kitta