Poly Dadant hives?

[Greggorio]

I haven't had a chance to google it yet but do poly hives come in various sizes for different frames or just to one frame size? I live in France so if you're going to have frames then it's Dadant or it's an arse to get a hold of.

Are poly's cheaper? Are they strong?

Any help much appreciated

 

[Thymallus]

Yes you can buy Dadant Poly hives, yes they are strong and yes they are cheaper.
Although if you drop a super from the top of a step ladder when removing it full of honey they do crack. But they repair fine!

 

[BeeJayBee]

You can buy polystyrene Langstroth Jumbo from Swienty. Brood frames are the same size as Dadant. http://www.swienty.com/shop/default.asp?catid=1086

Poly hives are generally cheaper than cedar.

Swienty poly boxes are moulded so there's no putting together. They need painting because eventually they'll be affected by UV.

They're sturdy enough. They get chewed by determined mice and woodpeckers, same as wooden hives. Repair with expanding foam and then paint.

You can buy plastic hives from ICKO. No idea what they're like. http://www.icko-apiculture.com/en/ruche/plastic-hives.html

There's a list of French beekeeping equipment suppliers here http://www.beekeeping.com/databases/suppliers.htm#f
some more in a mixed list on here http://www.beekeeping.com/_menus_us/index.htm?business.htm&1

 

[drstitson]

french dadants are different size to italian or UK ones.

DOI: use MB jumbo poly's for dadant frames.

 

[itma]

I reckon that folk would be better to realise the LACK of standardisation in the "Langstroth world" before buying into the idea of "the world's most popular hive".
Different names can be given to the same thing, and the same name can be used for very different (incompatible) frame depths - especially once one starts looking at different countries.
See for example http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/lang.html

 

[Greggorio]

I've been through most of those sites. They sell nuc poly's or parts of polys but not enough to make the whole thing. Theyre also never hugely cheaper than wood. I can get a wooden dadant with frames, roof, floor, broodbox and one super for 100 euros. Or 70 if I want it flat packed.

I will keep looking. Thanks for the info