What to do

[Hedgerow Honey]

I had a quote for fifteen swienty polys but the maisemore poly sale makes theirs over four hundred cheaper. Do I stick with what I have now or go with maisemore?. I would appreciate feedback of the Maisie poly's

 

[BMH]

I was thinking the exact same thing!

What put me off is the different outer dimensions which makes it all incompatible with Swienty. No idea what the quality is like but dont like the idea of incompatible kit..

I have bought a load of poly nucs though..

 

[Saffabee]

I use Maisie polys, I converted last year to 12x14 and went poly. Couple of coats masonry paint and bees installed all looking good. Bought proper polycarbonate crown boards though as their are too thin. Bees seem to be doing well this winter in them. They seem strong and solid, haven't had any breakages yet. Have bought 2 more hives to replace last two wooden hives in sale and a few bits and pieces as well [emoji2]. Just got to sneak them into shed when they arrive, hopefully when the wife isn't home!


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[birdsandbees]

I'm up to five Maisemore poly Nationals now and will be buying another and a couple of Nucs in the sale, my first poly was Paynes but even when it's painted it looks like a lump of polystyrene, I have commented before about them as I really like them, my only issue is that they need metal runners added to the brood boxes, easily done and I have mentioned it to them but they still don't come as standard, that and the polystyrene entrance blocks, they do a plastic one but again it's an option not standard spec, still at 67.36 for standard brood box, two Supers, clear crown board and plastic excluder they are a good value item IMO
They are pretty robust so far and I'm painting them all too, they do look smart and more like a hive than some other options.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I like the swienty and one of my farmers dropped a round bale on one last week and it survived almost unscathed, Cracking photo of the bale sitting on the roof.

 

[drex]

my first poly was Paynes but even when it's painted it looks like a lump of polystyrene, I have commented before about them as I really like them, my only issue is that they need metal runners added to the brood boxes, easily done and I have mentioned it to them but they still don't come as standard, .

Took delivery today of two paynes poly nat BBs from their sale, and they came with metal runners.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Took delivery of swienty this week

 

[REDWOOD]

Me too. Very impressed with the quality


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[kighill]

I have both, I like the Sweinty boxes (just bought another five 14x12 brood boxes off eBay for my planned changeover. However I had a Maisemore National bought for me at Christmas, I thought I had been sent the wrong one from MB, the site states they are compatible with wooden National but they are not due to the thickness of the Poly. The wood does fit over the Poly but not snugly leaving a lip on the Poly I am worried about possible water ingress.
The advantage over MB over Sw is the price with the MB being considerably cheaper at the moment due to the sales.
I still personally like the Poly from Abelo which comes prepainted and is moulded in one piece.
( I do not like painting)
When it comes to Nuc boxes I have bought Paynes and Maisemore, at the moment I suspect I will favour MB.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

The size difference, I could not live with incompatible equipment.

 

[birdsandbees]

The size difference, I could not live with incompatible equipment.

Is this not the case with all Poly V Wooden National equipment? Surely if the walls are thicker but the internal dimensions the same as a wooden hive there's no way they are going to fit.
Fortunately for me I now only have one timber National left but I suppose if you have a lot of wooden hives and aren't intending to phase them out then having one poly won't help you out much but if you are planning on buying 15 then it's no biggy surely.

 

[REDWOOD]

One thing to remember is the swienty box has one less frame, not a biggy for those who double brood or run 14x12 hives

 

[BMH]

Is this not the case with all Poly V Wooden National equipment? Surely if the walls are thicker but the internal dimensions the same as a wooden hive there's no way they are going to fit.
Fortunately for me I now only have one timber National left but I suppose if you have a lot of wooden hives and aren't intending to phase them out then having one poly won't help you out much but if you are planning on buying 15 then it's no biggy surely.

Swienty has the same outer dimensions as a wooden national but smaller internal dimensions along one axis (10 frames plus a dummy board) so is compatible with wooden supers, queen excluders, feeders, roofs etc

Its the incompatibility between manufacturers of poly hives that poses the potential problem.

Much better to stick to one I reckon..

 

[birdsandbees]

Swienty has the same outer dimensions as a wooden national but smaller internal dimensions along one axis (10 frames plus a dummy board) so is compatible with wooden supers, queen excluders, feeders, roofs etc

Its the incompatibility between manufacturers of poly hives that poses the potential problem.

Much better to stick to one I reckon..

Ahh, I see, thanks for that

 

[Poly Hive]

Just a heads up but I had a Langstroth from Abelo and three different colonies all failed to thrive in it. No idea why but it is what it is.

PH

 

[Swarm]

Swienty has the same outer dimensions as a wooden national but smaller internal dimensions along one axis (10 frames plus a dummy board) so is compatible with wooden supers, queen excluders, feeders, roofs etc

Its the incompatibility between manufacturers of poly hives that poses the potential problem.

Much better to stick to one I reckon..

And the Abelo national poly is the same size and takes 11 frames.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

I have 27 th---s 14/12 cedar and 21 swienty poly's with a mixture of wood/poly supers, They all interchange quite well with no issues I even get 11 brood frames in by shaving off the spacer on the outside frames. I think I will try and barter for a better deal on the swienty I have been really pleased with them but the price difference made a change a consideration, Thanks for the reply's.

 

[BMH]

Here's a thought!

I need 13 swienty national brood boxes. Add that to the order and see if they give a further discount.

I assume they are giving a good discount above and beyond the 4% for south clywd members?

 

[sinya1sinya]

Do you use the clear flimsy plastic sheet/crown board supplied by Maisemore? Any worries with ventilation? Is there no need for a crown board with frame to allow bees over the tops of frames?

 

[wightbees]

I have seen lots of people using thick poly sheet for crown board replacement. In fact I will be doing so this year.