Which poly hive?

[HelenHP16]

hello
Just thinking about what to spend last years honey money on and would like to try a poly hive. Does any one have any recommendations as to which one to go with?

Thanks

 

[user 6228]

hello
Just thinking about what to spend last years honey money on and would like to try a poly hive. Does any one have any recommendations as to which one to go with?

Thanks

Yes I do but I'm waiting for publication ... 10 months and counting.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Does any one have any recommendations as to which one to go with?

A Paynes poly hive.

 

[Apple]

hello
Just thinking about what to spend last years honey money on and would like to try a poly hive. Does any one have any recommendations as to which one to go with?

Thanks

A Beehivesupplies National

The roofs are prettier

( My sister uses them, I have WBC's hives so do not have problems with insulation)

 

[clv101]

I'm tempted to try a polyhive this year, really like the Paynes polynucs we've got.

The options are:
Swienty from C Wynne Jones
Paynes
Modern Beekeeping
Bee Hive Supplies

Any more?

I'm tempted by the Swienty as it's the same 460mm external (only 10 frames) so maintains simple compatibility with wooden kit and maybe little easier to move.

 

[Bosleeu]

Very happy with my Paynes polyhives.

 

[Itchy]

If you do go with Paynes, be sure to buy a super, stuff it with insulation and glue the lid on it, then use the whole assembly as a lid, otherwise you will get condensation and mould.

 

[Madge]

If you do go with Paynes, be sure to buy a super, stuff it with insulation and glue the lid on it, then use the whole assembly as a lid, otherwise you will get condensation and mould.

Why glue it on? Use the the shallow as an eke and put the lid on!

 

[pargyle]

Why glue it on? Use the the shallow as an eke and put the lid on!

Yes ... that's what I do with my PP's .. gives you the chance to use the super in the season ... make an eke for 50mm insulation for the summer. I too like my Paynes Poly hives - not the prettiest boxes but work well and good value ...

Their sale is still on if you are quick:

http://www.paynesbeefarm.co.uk/sale/

 

[kevrhcfag]

We have used a couple of swienty for a season or 2 and its OK, bought a couple of paynes supers / bb last year because needed quick boxes.

Swienty the external dimensions are the same so sit nicely on wood boxes, floors and roofs fit, but you have a lip internally. Bees do well in them, but the design means that its a frame less so fill them a bit quicker. The new design the roof is a bit fragile and you can't get at the Varroa tray unless you add to it or take the hive apart to pull it out. (poor design). Flat packed but easy enough to put together.

Paynes have the internal dimensions the same so you can fit the same number of frames, but have a lip externally if putting on a normal wooden hive. I find it a bit fiddly to line up properly and personally don't like the lip, you can't fit a normal roof on (not tried in on a floor so don't know, but don't think it would sit properly). I can't comment on the condensation matter as haven't run a full hive with a roof on. Come as one piece.

Both need a thin / polycarbonate / polythene "crownboard" as the roofs are shallow.

Haven't tried the others and won't be anytime soon.

It depends what you prefer, but our preference is for the Paynes simply because of the number of frames, its tough enough to keep the little darlings in the boxes as it is without reducing frame numbers. (which is why we ended up with both makes)

 

[madasafish]

I'm tempted to try a polyhive this year, really like the Paynes polynucs we've got.

The options are:
Swienty from C Wynne Jones
Paynes
Modern Beekeeping
Bee Hive Supplies

Any more?

I'm tempted by the Swienty as it's the same 460mm external (only 10 frames) so maintains simple compatibility with wooden kit and maybe little easier to move.

Abelo

 

[Jimmy]

The options are:
Swienty from C Wynne Jones


Any more?

Solway bee supplies also supply swienty. I have had excellent service from both CWJ and Solway Bee Supplies.

 

[drstitson]

with a few bits of strip wood to make a shallow eke the abelo LS polys happily take more national frames warm way than a proper national (13 IIRC).

 

[itma]

If you do go with Paynes, be sure to buy a super, stuff it with insulation and glue the lid on it, then use the whole assembly as a lid, otherwise you will get condensation and mould.

No longer needed.
The 'new' (more than a year old) roof design is thicker (so is better insulated), has a deeper 'wrapover' and isn't such a tight fit. They have also proved strong enough to stack full supers on without the worries I had about the old one.
A great practical (and slight aesthetic) improvement.
And they are cheap (even outside the sale, they are cheaper than Thornes sale wooden second flatpacks).
So worth replacing any 'old' roofs with the newer revision.
My 'old' roofs are now only used for topping stacks of spare/ready supers.

A Beehivesupplies National

The roofs are prettier

( My sister uses them, I have WBC's hives so do not have problems with insulation)

The BHS roofs are better looking than Paynes (in my aesthetic opinion).
And they fit nicely over Paynes boxes.
But they are much more expensive!

The newer BHS boxes (again more expensive than Paynes) do have better handholds and thus look more traditional.

I'm just not particularly keen on the BHS (expensive+) floor. I don't particularly like Paynes either, but it is less than half the price!

 

[jonnybeegood]

Bhs hives are only £135. The hive package includes a thick insulated gabled roof, with open mesh floor, a jumbo (14x12) brood box, 5 metre hive strap, plastic queen excluder, 11 hoffman spacing frames and foundation per lift, varroa inspection tray, entrance reducer and inner cover. Not that expensive & my bees are happy in them.

 

[itma]

BHS roof on its own £42
Paynes roof £17 (£14.55 currently in the sale)

BHS super £25
Paynes £16.50 (£14.03 currently in the sale)

The £135 BHS package is single 14x12, no supers, no QX.
The equivalent Paynes package (not in the sale) is £112.80
Paynes sale offers a single 14x12 package for £58.14 (but without frames), so leaving you £75 to spend on 11 frames and foundation ... There should be a bit of change out of that £75.
If you bought the no-frame package from BHS, it would be £102, (compared with the £58 from Paynes.)
Yes, BHS frames do seem rather cheap ... as part of the package. Haven't I read something on here about their frames?


My point was that the BHS hives are more expensive than Paynes. Comparatively, never mind absolute terms.


/// Unfortunately, I've never spotted a BHS sale. And their marketing plan does discount hive packages (or prices up individual boxes) - which is awkward when you want some more supers, or don't want their floor, or just want to buy a roof for your stack of spare supers ...

 

[Mikeb123]

Just received a paynes poly hive and I'm very pleased! Great quality, interchangeable with my wooden hives, cheap, more pros than wooden so I have no complaints. Looking forward to using it!

 

[jonnybeegood]

BHS roof on its own £42
Paynes roof £17 (£14.55 currently in the sale)

BHS super £25
Paynes £16.50 (£14.03 currently in the sale)

The £135 BHS package is single 14x12, no supers, no QX.
The equivalent Paynes package (not in the sale) is £112.80
Paynes sale offers a single 14x12 package for £58.14 (but without frames), so leaving you £75 to spend on 11 frames and foundation ... There should be a bit of change out of that £75.
If you bought the no-frame package from BHS, it would be £102, (compared with the £58 from Paynes.)
Yes, BHS frames do seem rather cheap ... as part of the package. Haven't I read something on here about their frames?


My point was that the BHS hives are more expensive than Paynes. Comparatively, never mind absolute terms.


/// Unfortunately, I've never spotted a BHS sale. And their marketing plan does discount hive packages (or prices up individual boxes) - which is awkward when you want some more supers, or don't want their floor, or just want to buy a roof for your stack of spare supers ...

I wasn't comparing the two I was giving details of the poly hives I use which the op asked for, not comparing prices, I find them great hives, & the package does actually include a wired QE & foundation. & you can buy supers individually as with any part of the hive

 

[Cussword]

Solway bee supplies also supply swienty. I have had excellent service from both CWJ and Solway Bee Supplies


Solway's are £129, with 2 supers, plus frames and foundation.

 

[Cussword]

Ah, sorry, 14 x 12 are £148.95.
I really must pay more attention!!