Maisemore Apiary Poly NUC - Disk Q Excluder

[jenkinsbrynmair]

well, at thirty quid a pop including the top feeder compared to thirty seven for a Pains (plus an extra twelve quid for a top feeder, I know where my vote goes (oh, and an extra quid or so for an entrance disc that works - which doesn't really bother me now I know it's goosed as I only used the QE entrance at a whim anyway!)

 

[Thymallus]

well, at thirty quid a pop including the top feeder compared to thirty seven for a Pains (plus an extra twelve quid for a top feeder, I know where my vote goes (oh, and an extra quid or so for an entrance disc that works - which doesn't really bother me now I know it's goosed as I only used the QE entrance at a whim anyway!)

Unless you know summat I don't, both come up at £31.50 on their current websites. Difference appears to be side feeder or top feeder. Both say their prices include VAT.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

just realised I was looking at the nuc with a packet of magic bee potion. Still, the biggest downer with a pains is the side feeder so I had to buy top feeders to put on them anyhow, so, at the moment (I'll let you know again at the end of the season) Maisie's have it

 

[Thymallus]

Why do you think the side feeder is a downer? I find it a great plus....don't have to find lost feeder to put on nuc.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Just don't like it, bees drown easier, just a pain really - spoke to the Paynes lads at the convention and I'm not the only one of that opinion which is why they manufactured the top feeder

 

[einsteinagogo]

Just don't like it, bees drown easier, just a pain really - spoke to the Paynes lads at the convention and I'm not the only one of that opinion which is why they manufactured the top feeder

I put sticks and small branches and lollipop sticks in, I find it helps, BUT when the bees have eaten all the syrup they build brace comb in it, and I always find the queen in there.....after I've put them in a national hive....

later look in the nuc, and the queen is left in the poly nuc, in he feeder section!

 

[Thymallus]

Just don't like it, bees drown easier, just a pain really - spoke to the Paynes lads at the convention and I'm not the only one of that opinion which is why they manufactured the top feeder

I use the wooden floating plank they come with and not seen any problems with drowning bees (to date). With the addition that I paint the sides with mixture of sand and masonry paint to give 'em some grip.
Although it is easy to loose the planks.

I Know some people have complained that the feeder is hard to empty if the bees don't take all the syrup...which surprised me as I just hold the frames (and bees) in place and tip upside down.

Guess it violates first law of not spilling sugar solutions in apiary.

As I'm after some more Nucs I'll give the maismore ones a try.

 

[Thymallus]

they build brace comb in it, and I always find the queen in there.

Ever tried using the plastic queen excluder that comes with them to prevent the Queen getting into the feeder? Or the plastic block to prevent all bee access after feeding?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ever tried using the plastic queen excluder that comes with them to prevent the Queen getting into the feeder? Or the plastic block to prevent all bee access after feeding?

And you worry about losing a top feeder!

 

[Thymallus]

If you'd ever seen my bee shed........
Cutting bits of plastic queen excluders/wooden floats are easy peasy

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I use the wooden floating plank they come with and not seen any problems with drowning bees (to date). With the addition that I paint the sides with mixture of sand and masonry paint to give 'em some grip.

I use 2 of the floats. Solves the problem completely.

 

[mbc]

, at the moment (I'll let you know again at the end of the season) Maisie's have it

I'd be very interested in a running commentary of the maisies box in use, I looked at them at the wbka spring do and decided against buying when I saw the lack of bee space at the top. I bought a couple of the fawns national poly nucs made by steihr instead, these are very good if a little pricey in comparison as the feeder is another £12 on top.
I already run loads of the paynes ones and find them good, I think they're improved by blocking off the mesh floor when not moving bees, you wouldn't let an arctic gale sweep across your babies bottom, would you? No problems with the side feeder here either.

 

[Cussword]

Just been on the phone to Maisies. They are apologetic about the fault, they said they would be thinking about making their own in future, not ordering out. The discs that they sell separately are exactly the same, so it's a question of ventilation holes, or file out to use as QE.

 

[itma]

I have 1 v1 Paynes (under and up - no disc - entrance) and 4 of the v2.
The v2 entrance is a massive improvement ...
I completely block off the side feeder as simply being too much grief. A round 'rapid' does fit inside the eke.
I've just (like yesterday) got a couple of 2nd brood boxes, QXs and top feeders. being able to do double brood or small Bailey seems to me like a useful bit of extra versatility, and the top feeder looks impressively deep while there is no chance of bees getting 'under the bar' and into the tank (he said).

That said, if Maisemore's sort out the beespace, I'd be entirely open to using theirs.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'd be very interested in a running commentary of the maisies box in use, I looked at them at the wbka spring do and decided against buying when I saw the lack of bee space at the top. I bought a couple of the fawns national poly nucs made by steihr instead, these are very good if a little pricey in comparison as the feeder is another £12 on top.
I already run loads of the paynes ones and find them good, I think they're improved by blocking off the mesh floor when not moving bees, you wouldn't let an arctic gale sweep across your babies bottom, would you? No problems with the side feeder here either.

Okay, as promised, the SP so far on the Maisie's nucs. We had one with a strong colony in and I had them with a piece of teram laid over the top bars - no sign of the roof, or the terram even being stuck to the top bars.The rest, just to see what happens I have put nothing over the top bars but have left the bees do whatever they want. Have a selection of others on the go both at the association apiary and at home - some with feeders on and some without - not even a hint of bees sticking the roof down to the top bars or anywhere - same with the feeders, none have even been close to being stuck down.
However i have a few Pains poly nucs on the go with top feeders on and each time they have been firmly brace combed to the top bars, also a lot of brace comb in the slot leading up to the feeder. I had one heck of a job geting the feeder off one nuc last night - almost having to lift the whole lot out and prising the frames loose with a hive tool.
Early days yet - but I'm liking the Maisies ones more and more by the day

 

[lilybetbee]

I have a Maisemore, Paynes and a Park polynuc, I prefer the Maisemore from these three.

 

[youngyoungs]

Going back to the original OP.

We bought a number of the Maisemore Poly Nucs at Stoneleigh for use in the NCBKA training apiary.

What is the combined view, do we return the discs or are we forced to buy replacements elsewhere?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

just don't use the QX setting - pretty pointless anyway

 

[mbc]

Okay, as promised, the SP so far on the Maisie's nucs. We had one with a strong colony in and I had them with a piece of teram laid over the top bars - no sign of the roof, or the terram even being stuck to the top bars.The rest, just to see what happens I have put nothing over the top bars but have left the bees do whatever they want. Have a selection of others on the go both at the association apiary and at home - some with feeders on and some without - not even a hint of bees sticking the roof down to the top bars or anywhere - same with the feeders, none have even been close to being stuck down.
However i have a few Pains poly nucs on the go with top feeders on and each time they have been firmly brace combed to the top bars, also a lot of brace comb in the slot leading up to the feeder. I had one heck of a job geting the feeder off one nuc last night - almost having to lift the whole lot out and prising the frames loose with a hive tool.
Early days yet - but I'm liking the Maisies ones more and more by the day

Sounds promising, the proof is in the pudding as they say.
Diolch for the review Jbm

 

[itma]

just don't use the QX setting - pretty pointless anyway

I use a Paynes polynuc as a skep for swarm collection.
And keep the bees in the nuc at least until they are well established on frames.

Since sometime last year, I've taken to using the QX setting on the entrance disc for the first couple of days as insurance against absconding (pinned with a map pin to prevent accidental rotation).
Seems easy for me and no problem to the bees.

Paynes sell their (big) entrance discs on their own for just £1.02. Would the 190mm diameter fit the Maisemore?