Poly hives

[Bear]

Do bees in polystyrene hives use less feed over winter? I expect they would compared to wooden ones but is it much less?

 

[Millet]

Do bees in polystyrene hives use less feed over winter? I expect they would compared to wooden ones but is it much less?

Not sure.. as the question is always in my head..if they are warm they are active in poly..which means they need food..if they are cold in wood they need to keep warm which means they also need food..?

 

[B+.]

Not sure.. as the question is always in my head..if they are warm they are active in poly..which means they need food..if they are cold in wood they need to keep warm which means they also need food..?

Polyhives are far better insulated than wooden beehives. This means the bees don't need to consume as much food to generate the warmth they need to survive

 

[Poly Hive]

The bottom line is they Winter better in poly.

Don't believe me? Ask ITLD.

PH

 

[Levitt53]

I have poly hives and am always amazed how much honey is still there in the spring, it seems to be about the amount I thought they were left with although there is lots of ivy around us so they no doubt bulk up on that.

 

[Finman]

The most important is spring build up that the colony is early ready to catch yield.

I have used terrarium heaters in spring in build up, and it has taught how important heat is to bees.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have poly hives and am always amazed how much honey is still there in the spring, it seems to be about the amount I thought they were left with although there is lots of ivy around us so they no doubt bulk up on that.

Drawn frames are handy. Swap one out and put in freezer. Use for nucs later in the year.

 

[madasafish]

I have one poly hive and 7 wooden ones with poly covers. I weigh before and after winter.. The poly hive uses about 5-8 kg less in winter..

 

[Bear]

I have one poly hive and 7 wooden ones with poly covers. I weigh before and after winter.. The poly hive uses about 5-8 kg less in winter..

That’s quite a bit. I have 2 poly nucs and they over winter very well.

 

[bingevader]

Polyhives are far better insulated than wooden beehives. This means the bees don't need to consume as much food to generate the warmth they need to survive

But doesn't this depend on the thickness of the poly and the wooden hives?
What thickness poly, compared to what thickness wood?
Completely anecdotally, and non scientific, but our WBC seems to overwinter better than the Nationals. The 25mm Warre hives also overwinter better than the Nationals. That would suggest that the design and thickness of the wood also has an impact.
I don't have any polys to compare with.

 

[Erichalfbee]

But doesn't this depend on the thickness of the poly and the wooden hives?
What thickness poly, compared to what thickness wood?
Completely anecdotally, and non scientific, but our WBC seems to overwinter better than the Nationals. The 25mm Warre hives also overwinter better than the Nationals. That would suggest that the design and thickness of the wood also has an impact.
I don't have any polys to compare with.

derekm is your man. He’s done and published work in this. Search his posts here

 

[Walrus]

Although it's getting away from the OP's question about stores consumed, there are many beekeepers with hundreds of hives who use wood very successfully, including in places with severe winters.

ITLD says that poly hives give him a better honey yield than wood (10-15% IIRC) and furthermore that keeping a poly feeder on top of a wood hive gives most of the benefits of a poly hive. It works for him in his area.

However, Hivemaker uses only cedarwood hives and Mike Palmer uses pine (in an area with deep snow for 3-4 months in winter). It's not all about thermal performance for everyone. Personal preference comes into it, plus what works in each person's location.

Some people hate the bulkiness of poly hives which makes stacking them on a truck harder. I remember Lorraine Muldoon in NZ told me she tried them but she is in a windy area and they got blown all over the place so she prefers wood.

I have mainly Swienty poly langstroth brood boxes on wood floors, and I like them. However, I have some wood hives and I like them too. I cannot tell much difference between them performance wise (but I don't have hundreds to compare with).

For anyone who is curious just try a few poly hives and a few wood hives and decide for yourself which you prefer - it's the only way really.

 

[Ian123]

Bees don’t require poly they survive and indeed thrive in a sound wood hive. Obviously with modern materials we can assist them. But really don’t get hung up on poly and I’ve had a reasonable number of both from early 2000s

 

[Bear]

But doesn't this depend on the thickness of the poly and the wooden hives?
What thickness poly, compared to what thickness wood?
Completely anecdotally, and non scientific, but our WBC seems to overwinter better than the Nationals. The 25mm Warre hives also overwinter better than the Nationals. That would suggest that the design and thickness of the wood also has an impact.
I don't have any polys to compare with.

WBC’s are better in the winter to keep the heat in and good in the summer to keep the heat out due to their double wall. Scottish invention I believe.

 

[pargyle]

WBC’s are better in the winter to keep the heat in and good in the summer to keep the heat out due to their double wall. Scottish invention I believe.

No .. William Boughton Carr IHence WBC !)... a good old YOKSHIRE beekeeper .. one thing that a Scot didn't invent !

 

[Finman]

Although it's getting away from the OP's question about stores consumed, there are many beekeepers with hundreds of hives who use wood very successfully, including in places with severe winters.

y.

It is easy to imagine, because British beekeepers have not used polyhives many years.

.everyone can continue beekeeping with wooden hives like before. No need to change them to poly..

 

[Bear]

No .. William Boughton Carr IHence WBC !)... a good old YOKSHIRE beekeeper .. one thing that a Scot didn't invent !

I stand corrected.

 

[Poly Hive]

The Scottish version is the Glen hive with a very different floor and also a MUCH bigger brood box for the Amms. Odd that if you think about it.

They must have some winds in NZ as mine stay perfectly still in Scottish gales.

What I note most of all is that in Spring the timber units are usually some two to three weeks in front the poly with brood. BUT when the poly start within a matter of a couple of weeks they are ahead of the timber and stay there. Up here where our season starts later than many down south this is important to say the least.

And for sure they Winter better than timber and produce more honey.

No brainer.

PH

 

[ericbeaumont]

It's not all about thermal performance for everyone. Personal preference comes into it, plus what works in each person's location.

True (unfortunately) but it ought not be so. Beekeepers should shelve their personal whims and age-old preferences and choose hive material from the perspective of bees.
If we were to include bees under the everyone label and ask their personal preference, what would be the answer?

 

[madasafish]

True (unfortunately) but it ought not be so. Beekeepers should shelve their personal whims and age-old preferences and choose hive material from the perspective of bees.
If we were to include bees under the everyone label and ask their personal preference, what would be the answer?

Holes in trees 10 meters off the ground ... would be the bees answer..Free from bears and humans and very well insulated.