National hive poly

jap gt

Im looking for a new national hive, what is the feedback on poly hives, pros cons over wooden

Apiarist

Pro:
- may be cheaper
- much lighter. A wooden hive full of bees is very heavy and unwieldy.
- better heat insulation
- may come with a feeder, so no need to buy one
- easy to paint with masonry paint

Cons:
- not as sturdy. I can stand on my wooden brood box even if it is turned on a side, poly box would be crushed
- poly nucs that I have have no frame runners, so frames gets propolized to the box, making it difficult to prize out the first frame. As a consequence, more damage to sides of the box
- easy to damage when scraping excess propolis/wax with a hive tool

brianmc

jap gt wrote: »

Im looking for a new national hive, what is the feedback on poly hives, pros cons over wooden

Pro:

Even when a poly box comes flat packed like the Swienty ones, they assemble in about 10 seconds. without tools.

Effects

I don't like how they can be damaged easier. I haven't any poly full hives but always use poly nucs. They always overwinter better in them.