Poly hive questiions

[Madge]

I purchased a poly hive from Maisemore and was supplied with a flimsy plastic sheet as a crown board, which would lie completely flat against the tops of frames in National Hive. This can't be right surely? I thought that 5-6-7mm bee space required so bees could walk over frames. Also zero chance of ventilation. ???
Set me straight someone!!

Yes, you have to be very careful when you put the sheet down not to squash bees underneath - but I don't think you need to worry about ventilation (they get that from the open mesh floor and from the entrance) or the fact that the bees can't walk over the frames (they can't do that in the wild either).

 

[pargyle]

Yep, my maisemore poly hive came with a thin, clear coverboard that sits on the top of the frames - 500mm square - and now complete with hole!

They don't supply one with their poly nucs (or at least didn't when I bought them) but, as I saw yesterday, you can now buy a poly nuc sized crown board, made of the same material, for £3. Hole not included...

SEE .... Told you there was a market for them....

 

[bontbee]

How do I place an order...?

 

[Levitt53]

Ok I've decided the poly way for various reasons. I've noticed as someone pointed out that Paynes do sell a crown board with holes so I've gone for those.

Another quick question though about painting poly hives. I bought my first colony in a poly hive and that wasn't painted. I got it in May 16 so it has now gone through at least two winters without being painted and my bees seem fine now. If it's a product that is designed and builted to hold bees why do we need to paint it?

 

[Poly Hive]

Because the outside surface will degrade slightly from sunlight.

PH

 

[madasafish]

Ok I've decided the poly way for various reasons. I've noticed as someone pointed out that Paynes do sell a crown board with holes so I've gone for those.

Another quick question though about painting poly hives. I bought my first colony in a poly hive and that wasn't painted. I got it in May 16 so it has now gone through at least two winters without being painted and my bees seem fine now. If it's a product that is designed and builted to hold bees why do we need to paint it?

The Ultraviolet rays from the sun ultimately degrade all plastic. So you need to protect it.
The same UV eventually destroys poly greenhouses.

Plastic can be treated to withstand UV (See double glazed windows).. but if you want a hive to last as long as cedar (20-30 years) painting is a must..

See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9894353 for UV impacts.

 

[Levitt53]

Oh ok that makes sense. I'll do that this summer. I have enough equipment to move them about temporarily.

 

[Poly Hive]

There are polys north of Inverness which are now over 30 years old and going strong. The owner reckons they are fit for the same again.

PH

 

[Swarm]

Ok I've decided the poly way for various reasons. I've noticed as someone pointed out that Paynes do sell a crown board with holes so I've gone for those.

Another quick question though about painting poly hives. I bought my first colony in a poly hive and that wasn't painted. I got it in May 16 so it has now gone through at least two winters without being painted and my bees seem fine now. If it's a product that is designed and builted to hold bees why do we need to paint it?

All I will say before you spend is have a go at lifting the boxes and be certain that you feel confident, the grips really are a poor design.