Anyone use plastic bee hives?

squidink · January 23, 2013, 07:06:58 AM

Out of interest does anyone use plastic bee hives such as Hasson's?

I have ordered a plastic hive to try out but wondered what people's experience both positive and negative are?

Ben

chriso38 · January 23, 2013, 08:34:57 AM

Yeah i looked into it, and seemed a bit expensive. so still with wood :)

AllenF · January 23, 2013, 04:26:16 PM

I do have a plastic super or two that came from the 80s. The plastic inner cover and top cover tend to sweat for some reason. I don't have any in use right now. But they are still solid.

prestonpaul · January 23, 2013, 06:39:20 PM

I've checked them out as I hate painting, and while the concept is great they are fairly expensive!

ozebee · January 24, 2013, 02:01:29 AM

I have used them and find them far superior to wood - no need for painting and they don't rot. I also love the plastic frames which simply click together over a sheet of foundation.

Anybrew · January 24, 2013, 02:07:34 AM

I have 9 Plastic hives made by Parkers and I love them, tough as nails I also use their plastic lids and use them on plastic and wood box,s. The lids are awesome.

Cheers
Steve

Finski · January 25, 2013, 03:05:08 AM

.
I have used them 25 years in Finland
.

max2 · February 17, 2013, 01:55:21 AM

I have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season but I was amazed by the amount of condensation which run off. Maybe a design peoblem? or a climatic issue?
I only use timber here for the last 35 years and have been happy.

edward · February 17, 2013, 03:57:56 PM

Quote from: max2 on February 17, 2013, 01:55:21 AMI have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season but I was amazed by the amount of condensation which run off. Maybe a design peoblem? or a climatic issue?

Sounds like he didn't ventilate properly.

mvh edward :-P

Finski · February 19, 2013, 03:40:22 AM

Quote from: max2 on February 17, 2013, 01:55:21 AM
I have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season

That is odd.

max2 · February 21, 2013, 04:27:33 AM

Quote from: edward on February 17, 2013, 03:57:56 PM
Quote from: max2 on February 17, 2013, 01:55:21 AMI have not used them myself but inspected one for a friend. It was during our dry season but I was amazed by the amount of condensation which run off. Maybe a design peoblem? or a climatic issue?

Sounds like he didn't ventilate properly.

Indeed - there was no ventilation in the lid at all...

edward · February 21, 2013, 07:03:14 AM

"Indeed - there was no ventilation in the lid at all..."

Sounds like there was not ventilation in the bottom board either.

mvh edward :-P

123_Bee · February 22, 2013, 09:49:56 AM

I use polystyrene hives. They don't seem to sweat, and there is less condensation than in the wooden hives I used to use because the walls don't absorb atmospheric moisture - and we had plenty of "atmospheric moisture" last year.

All my hives have open mesh floors and an acrylic crown board which is covered with a thick slab of polystyrene beneath an aluminium roof. They're all on stands about 18 inches high, so well above the ground.

(Sorry if the terms I've used don't match US ones, I hope somebody can translate.)

Lone · February 23, 2013, 04:51:34 AM

QuoteSorry if the terms I've used don't match US ones, I hope somebody can translate

123 bee, from what I hear the terms are pretty similar but our US cousins say aluminium funny :-D

I don't use plastic hives by the way but I have seen them here in the tropics.

Lone

Wonga · March 19, 2013, 07:43:52 PM

So, 123,

Are your polystyrene boxes specially manufactured, or are you using recycled fruit boxes from the fruit n veg. shop? Cos I have been contemplating recycled boxes for a while . . . .

123_Bee · March 29, 2013, 05:12:59 PM

The ones I use are made by Swienty, but there are quite a few other European manufacturers. Fruit boxes aren't dense enough to be used, the bes chew them.

edward · March 29, 2013, 05:47:40 PM

All my hive are poly hives from swienty and I am very happy with them :-D

mvh edward :-P

halfabee · November 04, 2013, 05:11:00 PM

I am using the TechnosetBee hives that became available a few years ago in Australia, I initially started with just 1 to see how they compared and was happily surprised at how well they are made and how well the bees work with them. The appear to be more cost effective that other three plastic hives currently available in Australia (Hasson, Parker & Nuplas) and the quality is exceptional.

The are available from betterbeehives (com.au) though I have also seen them available on ebay.

regards

amun-ra · November 04, 2013, 06:25:03 PM

what do you do if you are unlucky enough to get AFB in a plastic box
you cant burn them ??????

OldMech · November 05, 2013, 12:23:18 AM

Quote from: amun-ra on November 04, 2013, 06:25:03 PM
what do you do if you are unlucky enough to get AFB in a plastic box
you cant burn them ??????

I suppose that depends on where you live.... :evil:
Does plastic or the foam boxes retain AFB if you clean them? Can you scorch plastic/foam?