Which hive

[jenkinsbrynmair]

In reality there is a simple reason for choosing the poly route and that is the bees prefer it.

I spent a couple of hours some years ago watching a swarm choosing between two hives. Their scouts were zooming back and fore and bodies of bees left one to examine the other then suddenly the air turned black and the whole lot poured it's self into the poly. Both hives were the same size by the way. Poly was the only difference.

PH

Conclusive proof then

 

[snelgrove]

Conclusive proof then

Yes I agree, that particular swarm preferred poly hives, but you carnt say bees prefer poly to wood by that.
I prefer wood simply because I make my own hives

 

[peteinwilts]

If we were doing what the bees prefer, we would be beekeeping in a hive 5 metres up a tree.

 

[user 6228]

maybe they like the wall thickness of a poly or there was a difference in entrance size