My Poly boxes

[wightbees]

Lots to do this week, I have a lounge full of poly brood boxes: ) will make floors up next and roofs last, this will keep my son busy for a while. Think I will order another 30 as they are so simple to put together, really liking them: )

 

[birdsandbees]

Blimey! Have you remortgaged your house?

I too love my poly hives but 'another 30' how many have you got, at least 60 by my maths.

What make have you gone for?

 

[wightbees]

I am trying maisemores this time but also have Payne's and lyson . I find that the bees chew Payne's a little so it will be interesting how these do. I have 40 at present to build up, mainly poly but also some wooden. These boxes are so easy to put together though : )

 

[welshgirl]

I've also got paynes and you're right about the bees chewing holes.

Do you use the entrance blocks that come with the maisemore hives? They're really flimsy and I've snapped 2 because the girls gummed up the entrance. maybe i'm just clumsy.

 

[wightbees]

I'm going to try those under floor entrance as pointed out to me in my other Thread.

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's my preference too.
I have all my poly boxes, bar one, on wooden floors, most with underfloor entrances.
I run all my nucs warm way by making the underfloor entrance down one side with an entrance block in that to reduce it right down if need be.

 

[SDM]

I've also got paynes and you're right about the bees chewing holes.

.

Are they older Payne's poly's ?
I've got 32 , 16 of their nucs and never had any chewing.

 

[wightbees]

Mine probably are the older ones, not 100% sure though. The lyson are even older and no problems with them. Will be interesting to see what these are like.

 

[welshgirl]

Mine are 2 yr old, first year they chewed a hole just above the entrance (i assume they were congested as i had reduced the entrance due to a plague of wasps) and last year they chewed themselves a skylight in one of the supers

 

[Finman]

Mine are 2 yr old, first year they chewed a hole just above the entrance (i assume they were congested as i had reduced the entrance due to a plague of wasps) and last year they chewed themselves a skylight in one of the supers

It sounds that material is too soft.
That should not happen in 2 years. Bees can bite box corner round, but not that way.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Which make of poly box?.