Thorn Poly Nucs

[Magwat]

Has anyone seen or had any experience of Thorn poly nucs that have appeared in their 2014 catalogue? I was hoping to see one at the WBKA convention but didn't get there & it's hard to get an idea of what they're like from the white blob catalogue picture. I have a couple of Pains ones but, like many, I detest the integral feeder & don't use it but am happy with them in most other respects. I'm wondering if these new offerings might be a better option.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you take the feeder out of the p a y n e s one you can get eight frames in it

 

[Swarm]

They are another option, that's about all I'd say. More expensive IIRC, other than that they seemed ok. I never use the integral feeder, it's no big deal I just bung it up.

 

[rogerb]

Am I the only one who likes (and uses a lot) the internal feeder? The bees build a lot of brace in there but it’s easy to scrape off. I cut a little square out of the corner of the clear plastic cover so I can pour in feed from the edge with minimal disturbance. Cheers Roger B.

 

[Cazza]

Am I the only one who likes (and uses a lot) the internal feeder? The bees build a lot of brace in there but it’s easy to scrape off. I cut a little square out of the corner of the clear plastic cover so I can pour in feed from the edge with minimal disturbance. Cheers Roger B.

I reckon you are in a teeny weeny minority. I find it a pain and would rather it wasn't there.
Cazza

 

[mbc]

I reckon you are in a teeny weeny minority. I find it a pain and would rather it wasn't there.
Cazza

I doubt it, I think most users have just got on and used it without an issue, its not my favourite bit of design but I use the feeder mostly trouble free on a good number of these nucs, I'll probably try Rogerb's cut out corner for quicker feeding too.

 

[jd101k2000]

Out of desperation, I used the feeder in the poly nuclei. My bees seem to refrain from swimming in it. Unlike the Paynes poly feeder (new design) for the poly hive. I have lost hundreds of bees in that.

 

[Cazza]

I doubt it, I think most users have just got on and used it without an issue, its not my favourite bit of design but I use the feeder mostly trouble free on a good number of these nucs, I'll probably try Rogerb's cut out corner for quicker feeding too.

The cut out square idea is a nice one. I use an eke with a feeder over a cut out hole in the middle, rather than the inbuilt one. No drowned bees then.
Cazza

 

[Magwat]

When I used the feeder in the nuc it ended up with a couple of inches of drowned bees at the bottom even though I had put some twigs & stalks in. I couldn't empty the sloppy mess while there were bees in the nuc so it fermented nicely until I was ready to transfer the bees out. After taking out the frames I tried to pour the stuff out but not much came out & then when I had to knock the remaining bees from the nuc I ended up with fermented bee/syrup mix down my front in in my boots. I decided the feeder was too much hassle & haven't tried to use it again. (I use the eke, a homemade correx feeder board & 4pt round rapid feeder instead). I had intended to try & make a wooden insert, like a frame feeder, to go into the feeder compartment but it tapers towards the bottom so it's not that straightforward but still on the drawing board.

 

[rogerb]

Hi Magwat, most of mine came with a stick of wood in the bottom to stop the bees from drowning (looks like the base rail of a frame, and that’s what those that came without now have), I have lost a few bees in them, but the worst I’ve had amounted to about a one bee thick layer at the bottom. Cheers Roger B

 

[sipa]

If you don't use homemade syrup the feeders are fine, commercial syrups will stay fresh for a long time if not consumed.
just make sure you have the floats in place.

Using an eke with a round rapid feeder and the internal feeder closed off is by far the best solution tho.