Poly Nucs and Hives

[user 6228]

I am too unless the discussion returns to practicalities.

I am sure there are forums to play science on.

PH

A practicality - under what circumstances if any do you open the vents on a poly hive I need to know as I'm putting my bees in polyurethane hive soon, I've found a way to take a guess at it, but what does your experience tell you?
I can insulate the hell out of the hive to protect from cold but when does overheating happen?

 

[madasafish]

Open vents when the bees tell you..

 

[user 6228]

Open vents when the bees tell you..

does that mean I need to buy them a mobile phone

 

[Nightynight]

A practicality - under what circumstances if any do you open the vents on a poly hive I need to know as I'm putting my bees in polyurethane hive soon, I've found a way to take a guess at it, but what does your experience tell you?
I can insulate the hell out of the hive to protect from cold but when does overheating happen?

an asumption on my part but if the poly has a vented/mesh floor I would hope the bees could sort themelves out in most conditions. I have to 2 paynes nuc's and they are fine in the recent hot weather, I have is a ready supply of rain water source nearby i.e. the slow dripping tap on the greenhouse water butt they seem to prefer to anything i have put out for the hive over the years

 

[user 6228]

I'm not familar with the paynes nucs what thickness of polystryene is that and what size frame? The 50mm polyurethane national nuc with a "cushman" style ventiliated floor I have is not in full sunlight all day it has plenty of water around and it "seems ok" but how do i know with out sticking a temp probe in?

 

[drstitson]

when talking about "opening vents" does that mean you are referring to the polish polystyrene hives or the plastic apimaye ones???

 

[user 6228]

when talking about "opening vents" does that mean you are referring to the polish polystyrene hives or the plastic apimaye ones???

any...

 

[Poly Hive]

None of my polys have "vents" apart from open mesh floors.

So my answer is never.

PH

 

[oliver90owner]

A practicality - under what circumstances if any do you open the vents on a poly hive I need to know as I'm putting my bees in polyurethane hive soon,

Simple, I leave the hive fully ventilated at all times. The entrance is open and the OMF is at least partly open - more than adequate ventilation for all circumstances. Bees have been sorting out their ventilation with their own air-con systems for millions of years. Doesn't need human interference on a regular basis.

 

[user 6228]

None of my polys have "vents" apart from open mesh floors.

So my answer is never.

PH

are your hives average 50mm thick polystryene?

 

[user 6228]

A practicality - under what circumstances if any do you open the vents on a poly hive I need to know as I'm putting my bees in polyurethane hive soon,

Simple, I leave the hive fully ventilated at all times. The entrance is open and the OMF is at least partly open - more than adequate ventilation for all circumstances. Bees have been sorting out their ventilation with their own air-con systems for millions of years. Doesn't need human interference on a regular basis.

yes they have adapted cope to wide range of temperatures. However, when they turn on the Aircon it uses fuel, when they turn the heater on it uses fuel. Can you help me understand when in polyhive they reach for the "aircon switch", so I can then "open a window". My maths gives me a guess anda way to translate to diffferent and size hives and construction material, but when does really happen?

 

[sugarbush]

Poly or wood, when the bees start bearding on the outside of the hive; it is past time to open the vents.

 

[wightbees]

The polish poly hive that I have has vents built into every box.You can either block them or have them open.most of mine are blocked but as the temp gets low all will be blocked.it also was built with OMF.

 

[Poly Hive]

My poly is standard 40mm.

PH

 

[user 6228]

Bought a MB national poly hive( as a control and backup in case the PU hives create bee behaviour problems.) - My! they are surprisingly heavy.

Now we are close to the end of a unusual year Has anyone here see the increased honey yield that poly is supposed to give?

 

[Winker]

I love the national poly nucs from Paynes, but they still have design faults, an eek needs to be added for 14X12. i would rather it was all in one. Bees get squashed in between the roof & the top of the walls. A bit of bee space there would be nice. No room for apiguard treatment.

As for the poly BB i cant find one that does a 14X12. I only see a need for poly BB nothing else, the super/roof/floor can be wood/ply

 

[oliver90owner]

No room for apiguard treatment.

What's wrong with an eke for that?

I am reasonably confident an eke, for converting to 14 x 12, could be fixed on securely, too?

 

[user 6228]

...
Now we are close to the end of a unusual year Has anyone here see the increased honey yield that poly is supposed to give?

I ask cos the honey consumptionfor "in season" brood heat requirement numbers are a bit weird

 

[Winker]

No room for apiguard treatment.

What's wrong with an eke for that?

I am reasonably confident an eke, for converting to 14 x 12, could be fixed on securely, too?

aye im going to look at making one from wood to fit. But the only eke i see for sale that fits the paynes poly national nuc is one to make it into a 14X12, which would leave to much space up top for the bees to make wild brace comb

 

[fatshark]

aye im going to look at making one from wood to fit. But the only eke i see for sale that fits the paynes poly national nuc is one to make it into a 14X12, which would leave to much space up top for the bees to make wild brace comb

Been there, done that ... and it works very well. I wouldn't want to use it through a cold snap, but the 20mm or so clearance works just fine for Apiguard. I've also fed a thin slab of fondant using the same type of eke.

Necessity (poor design and £13 for a poly eke ) is the mother of invention

(URL won't translate ... the Scottish Beekeepers Association forums ... fixed with bit.ly)

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fatshark