Numbering Poly Hive

[SteveJ]

I've got some trafelite numbers to put on my poly hives . What's the best glue to use? Contact cement? Don't want to melt the poly too much conversely don't want the glue to degrade in the damp.

SteveJ


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[BeeJayBee]

I put the numbers on the roof.

 

[theeggman]

We find a stencil and black felt tip pen works on poly + wood, we can paint over to change a number and no fear of it falling off.

Tim

 

[itma]

I agree that the roof is the ideal place to identify a colony.

I've used UHU contact adhesive (from Lidl) to stick plastic frame rails to the poly in Paynes nuc ekes. Seems to work fine.

Try a little of your adhesive on an inconspicuous place on an inexpensive part (maybe under the roof?)

 

[Hivemaker.]

I agree that the roof is the ideal place to identify a colony.

I find it more reliable to number the brood box, but numbering both would be better than just numbering the roof.

 

[itma]

Not quite sure what "reliable" means in this context, but I think that it is simplest if the roof (and its ID) stays with the Q, whether its spring cleaning (and a move to a different brood box), artificial swarm or whatever.
OK, you have to change the roof when you move them from wood to poly, but I think that some renumbering is inevitable. Queen/roof identification seems to minimise the confusion - for me anyway!


One might possibly expect large-scale operators to have every single bit of kit identified, serial numbered and logged wherever it went. But then, this is beekeeping, not food manufacturing!

 

[Hivemaker.]

Move say 50 hives to osr/heather with screens on... whatever, all hives much the same, how are you going to put the correct numbered roof on the correct hive, the box and queen number normally match, not the roofs.

Edit..and they are a lot easier to view by having the numbers on the box when looking for particular numbers, easier than going round every roof until you find the ones your looking for.

 

[oliver90owner]

OK, you have to change the roof when you move them from wood to poly

?? Not always. I don't.

 

[madasafish]

I am going to place my numbers onto a small rectangle of varnished ply and gaffer tape it to the hive. Paint the gaffer tape the same colour as the hive.

Solid fix but easy removal and no hive damage...

 

[drstitson]

if you're 4 hives are in a row (or other defined orientation) why do they need numbering?

1-4
A-D
FL FR RL RR

 

[Heather]

I paint number on blank c.d. and drawing pin them onto the hive

 

[itma]

Move say 50 hives to osr/heather with screens on... whatever, all hives much the same, how are you going to put the correct numbered roof on the correct hive, the box and queen number normally match, not the roofs.

Edit..and they are a lot easier to view by having the numbers on the box when looking for particular numbers, easier than going round every roof until you find the ones your looking for.

Yes, I agree that for moving 50 or so hives between sites, roof-only numbering would not be ideal.
However, that isn't my problem (or the OP's, or for the majority on here!)

And my preference is for identification on one of the sides of the roof, rather than on the top.

 

[Hivemaker.]

However, that isn't my problem (or the OP's, or for the majority on here!)

I must remember to stop giving advice, it is obviously of little value on here.

 

[itma]

OK, you have to change the roof when you move them from wood to poly

?? Not always. I don't.

Yes, the simple short generalising statement isn't the whole story.
Shorter posts do tend to flush out frustrated proof-readers!

Many (likely most) poly hives retain standard internal dimensions, and consequently have larger external dimensions than their wooden analogues.
Standard wooden roofs don't fit them, and the hive-change I was referring to would cause the problem I indicated.

If using a standard-outside smaller-inside poly, or a home-made and oversized wooden roof, then there would indeed not be a problem.
I didn't think it necessary to flag up where there would NOT be a difficulty with my proposal.

 

[REDWOOD]

I personally prefer to number brood boxes and queen age, ever had a roof blown off and damaged performed an AS swapped boxes to strengthen a weak colony, one BB on top of the other.
Old tin cans I use for hive numbers

 

[sipa]

Strip of ducktape and indelible marker to write on it. Works a treat.

On the box / roof, wherever !

 

[itma]

I must remember to stop giving advice, it is obviously of little value on here.

I'm always interested to learn what works for others - but most beeks (myself included) don't always realise "where someone is coming from" when they are asking for advice.
In this case, what is good advice to the beek with 50 hives is tackling a problem that the one with 4 (like the OP), simply would not have.


And anyway, when was the last time you heard of a beek with 50 hives asking for advice on his hives?


/ Last one I remember concerned poly nucs with leaking feeders ... last autumn?

 

[REDWOOD]

I think stevej was only asking what glue to use to stick his numbers on his hive as it was a poly.
grip fill, polyurethane glue or even double sided tape should be fine

 

[itma]

I think stevej was only asking what glue to use to stick his numbers on his hive as it was a poly.
grip fill, polyurethane glue or even double sided tape should be fine

True.

 

[Swarm]

I must remember to stop giving advice, it is obviously of little value on here.

I do hope this was said in jest, you've probably forgotten more about bees than most here will ever know

Since the colony lives in the brood chamber, I'd number that. To be honest, if we are talking four hives, is there any need for numbering?