When polystyrene hives first came out I purchased a couple of Paynes 6 frame nucs which worked well apart from the feeder so I cut the feeders out without cutting myself and with the aid of some adhesive, made them into 8 frame boxes which I still have - see below.
I also bought a MB Poly (Paradise hive) and a Paynes poly National too.
The MB design looked promising however errors in the bee space and lack of compatibility with Nationals meant that I bought no more.
The Paynes design has all the right dimensions however I found that the supers were a pig to lift with poor hand-holds and the poly was too soft. The 'Captain' also thought the Paynes hive was ugly in the garden so it had to go!
Ever since I have remained using a selection of random-sized WBC's and Nationals.
What's the best poly National hive to use?
I also bought a MB Poly (Paradise hive) and a Paynes poly National too.
The MB design looked promising however errors in the bee space and lack of compatibility with Nationals meant that I bought no more.
The Paynes design has all the right dimensions however I found that the supers were a pig to lift with poor hand-holds and the poly was too soft. The 'Captain' also thought the Paynes hive was ugly in the garden so it had to go!
Ever since I have remained using a selection of random-sized WBC's and Nationals.
What's the best poly National hive to use?
May your bees read the same books as you do.