Which hive???

[RoofTops]

On another note I have to say I would like to trial a Poly hive this next year...

James

Beware - once you have tried poly you will never go back to wood. So keep your wooden hives in good condition so they fetch the best price when you come to sell them in a year or two in order to buy more poly hives.

The above is slightly toungue in cheek but I have spoken to many beekeepers who say there are "going to give them a go". I subsequently never heard about any issues. The best example was a beekeeping association who tried them - then ordered a pallet load the next season.

 

[Surreybeekeeper]

Thank you Luminos, much appreciated.

James

 

[oliver90owner]

The best example was a beekeeping association who tried them - then ordered a pallet load the next season.

Yes they did, but they weren't universally popular with the punters. There were grumblings from some! Err, like 'they are *** Langstroths. My hive is different to everyone else's, so I don't like them'. These were new starters who found themselves 'out on a limb' as far as format was concerned.

No complaints at all on the product though. Now the National is available they will perhaps be happier bunnies.

RAB

 

[Onge]

Poly Warre. Tin hat on.

 

[drstitson]

That's easy - Try getting hold of a poly Demeter!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Welcome to the forum, Surreybeekeeper the article was written by PolyHive

Are you the famous surreybeekeeper who has been on tele with Charlie Dimmock?

 

[Luminos]

Are you the famous surreybeekeeper who has been on tele with Charlie Dimmock?

No, I'm the infamous limousinbeekeeper

 

[Erichalfbee]

No, I'm the infamous limousinbeekeeper

ooooops, how did that happen. It was meant for surreybeekeeper. sorry

 

[casualman]

I've got Langstroths. Both poly and Wooden. Don't see the point of of having Nationals with brood and a half.Why not have the appropriate sized brood box in the first place! The other advantage of Langstroths is that you can saunter along to Thornes sale after the scrum has ended, as I did this year, with half an hour to spare until the sale was ove. You can then get what you need without joining the flock of sheep/lemmings. It's all down to persoanl preferncebut as the majority of people in this country have Nationals they will drown out anyone elses view. I'm paranoid about the transmission of Disease so ignore the vargument frequently put forward that one advantage of buying Nationals is that you can buy second hand brood boxes/suers etc cheaper and they retain their value because they are in more demand. As time goes on the view that you shouldn't buy second hand hives because of the risk of transmitting disease will grow.

 

[drstitson]

Casualman

Agree better to be using one appropriately sized box rather than compromise like brood and a half. However....

a standard 10 frame LS deep only holds around 20% more brood than an 11 frame national (60k vs 50k). That is a lot less than a B+1/2, 14x12 or double brood set-up.

So with modern prolific bees one might expect to need 2 LS deeps. So back to the problem of twice as many boxes to manipulate.

14x12 is probably the best way to go for many as retains at least partial compatibility with others. Otherwise perhaps jumbo LS would be better consideration if hives regularly on 2 LS or national brood boxes.

 

[Swarm]

Not to forget that what might be appropriate for your bees, is not necessarily appropriate for others.