Thought I’d share some (small scale) observations about poly vs wood this Spring and invite comments from other beekeepers who have both
So far this Spring, all my polyhives have made swarm preps (6/6) whether single or double brood, white queen or blue. In contrast my wooden hives (all WBCs) only 1/7 have made swarm preps to date. Similar configurations - some on double some on single brood all doing well on 7-14 frames brood. Again some blue queens and some white.
Interesting all the polys have gathered significantly more honey this Spring. Ahead of the wooden by 1 full super (best has 2 full supers now, worst in wood, has just a few frames).
I keep a mix of 3 ‘queen lines’ and they are represented in each apiary so don’t think different genetics are at play. I have a mix of poly and wood in 2 apiaries, similar conclusions, so don’t think the apiary is a factor but it is small scale and not a scientific study
All colonies were all over wintered in the same way with the same varroa treatments and all have come out of spring strong. I didn’t see a huge difference in winter stores use poly vs wood, with wood slightly less.
Seems to support Murray Mc Gregor’s observations at one of our winter talks, that polys out perform wood. Copied below his comments from our talk:
“ Bees prefer poly hives vs wooden, productivity 20% higher , winter survival rate much superior , strength is superior and recovery time in spring is better, get better productivity in August . Use poly feeders on all hive types as gives about 70% of the benefit of poly. Can be slower to respond in spring so not so responsive to weather as don’t feel the sun as quickly vs wood, but poly soon overtakes”
Only downside I can see is more swarming & control needed to date. However maybe early swarm control by putting queen in Nuc with minimal bees and brood to keep her ticking over, means a good spring crop gathering will continue…then swarming and new queen produced early which is good for later in season. Plus brood break helps re varroa. Aside from a longer process cleaning for poly, it seems to beat wood on many fronts. Perhaps this will be of interest to beginners deciding on hive types or for those toying with making a change
Do you agree or do you have different observations about poly vs wood?
So far this Spring, all my polyhives have made swarm preps (6/6) whether single or double brood, white queen or blue. In contrast my wooden hives (all WBCs) only 1/7 have made swarm preps to date. Similar configurations - some on double some on single brood all doing well on 7-14 frames brood. Again some blue queens and some white.
Interesting all the polys have gathered significantly more honey this Spring. Ahead of the wooden by 1 full super (best has 2 full supers now, worst in wood, has just a few frames).
I keep a mix of 3 ‘queen lines’ and they are represented in each apiary so don’t think different genetics are at play. I have a mix of poly and wood in 2 apiaries, similar conclusions, so don’t think the apiary is a factor but it is small scale and not a scientific study
All colonies were all over wintered in the same way with the same varroa treatments and all have come out of spring strong. I didn’t see a huge difference in winter stores use poly vs wood, with wood slightly less.
Seems to support Murray Mc Gregor’s observations at one of our winter talks, that polys out perform wood. Copied below his comments from our talk:
“ Bees prefer poly hives vs wooden, productivity 20% higher , winter survival rate much superior , strength is superior and recovery time in spring is better, get better productivity in August . Use poly feeders on all hive types as gives about 70% of the benefit of poly. Can be slower to respond in spring so not so responsive to weather as don’t feel the sun as quickly vs wood, but poly soon overtakes”
Only downside I can see is more swarming & control needed to date. However maybe early swarm control by putting queen in Nuc with minimal bees and brood to keep her ticking over, means a good spring crop gathering will continue…then swarming and new queen produced early which is good for later in season. Plus brood break helps re varroa. Aside from a longer process cleaning for poly, it seems to beat wood on many fronts. Perhaps this will be of interest to beginners deciding on hive types or for those toying with making a change
Do you agree or do you have different observations about poly vs wood?
