there's a cheaper free option of course...get hold of some drinks crates...put 4 down on the ground and put a wooden pallet on top (you can cut the top part off the drinks crates if you want a stronger and lower base off course)...drinks crates must be as numerous as wooden pallets and wooden pallets are freely available (gumtree advertise free pallets all the time for the hobby beekeeper)
Thank you. I just hadn't thought of plastic pallets. I've currently got an Abello 12 Frame National to be put on a plastic milk crate this coming season. As the wooden pallets are literally rotting over the winter break that house my hives at an a allotments and a farmers field. And I hadn't actually seen these plastic pallets, amazingly considering when I have deliveries to my unit daily I get wooden ones in abundance. Just checked on ebay and they are quite accessible to get hold of.
Aaah! I've just moved my bees onto wooden pallets as I saw them in some of your other videos and thought they looked a good idea. I will have to keep an eye out for some plastic ones for when these rot. The size is great, much better than the usual stands 'cos they take 2 hives and give you room to put the roof etc. alongside.
I get my plastic pallets for free from a company because they are a non standard size and u.k hauliers don’t except loads on them . The pallet firms that pay for standard pallets charge to take them away. So have a drive around a few industrial estates you might get lucky. A lot of mine have Chinese or Japanese print on them.
Our poly hives are on wooden pallets in a similar woodland setting. This year we've found mice nesting under the hives and chewing the poly. We've found a solution of 2 stacks of mini wood pallets with the hive bridged in-between a great alternative plus more ventilation underneath too.
Thanks for the tip Tony. We dont seem to have issues with mice in any of our hive stands or pallets. Where are they chewing the poly? On the entrances?
@@BlackMountainHoney along the underside of the floor where poly meets varroa mesh. No major damage yet but based on the number of effected hives we.re thinking creating a decent void under there might put a stop to it👍
@@tonyfeasby1437 It can only help. We mostly use wooden underfloor entrances with our poly boxes. Not for that reason but they definitely help all round on the vermin front
you've gone around the mulberry bush but it looks like you've arrived at your destination (i came to the same conclusion just recently as to the best base for the price even though i don't have any bees :) but like watching all the vids :) )
As an absolute newbee ( pun intended) how do you work 4 hives on one plastic pallet(stacked 3 high, I was listening) lol without standing in front of an entrance. Retired engineer maybee looking to deep. Love your Chanel am learning a lot. I’m 600 feet above sea level in Scottish Borders so can be cold wet windy loads of snow so I like your idea of plastic pallets lasting for years. Thank you.
I’ve just got some plastic pallets and the man who delivered them advised me to be careful as they become brittle so may be worth keeping a eye on them for that
Cheers Matthew. Yes that can happen with plastic but for beekeeping purposes they should be fine for years if not decades. Ive got some that ive had for 15 years. Bit faded but still fine.
@@BlackMountainHoney it's okay im new to bee keeping and this is my first over winter.. No you didn't mention fondant, I was wondering where the hay came into it? Do you mean that you put it in your syrup and how does it help with feeding the bees. I have two colonies that are struggling to take the fondabee down the hive are very light.
storage shelves, ground insulation and a damp proof layer are also apparent benefits
there's a cheaper free option of course...get hold of some drinks crates...put 4 down on the ground and put a wooden pallet on top (you can cut the top part off the drinks crates if you want a stronger and lower base off course)...drinks crates must be as numerous as wooden pallets and wooden pallets are freely available (gumtree advertise free pallets all the time for the hobby beekeeper)
Thank you. I just hadn't thought of plastic pallets. I've currently got an Abello 12 Frame National to be put on a plastic milk crate this coming season. As the wooden pallets are literally rotting over the winter break that house my hives at an a allotments and a farmers field. And I hadn't actually seen these plastic pallets, amazingly considering when I have deliveries to my unit daily I get wooden ones in abundance. Just checked on ebay and they are quite accessible to get hold of.
They are so good. Every winter I go back and destroy loads of rotten wooden ones and the plastic ones are as good as new!
Aaah! I've just moved my bees onto wooden pallets as I saw them in some of your other videos and thought they looked a good idea. I will have to keep an eye out for some plastic ones for when these rot. The size is great, much better than the usual stands 'cos they take 2 hives and give you room to put the roof etc. alongside.
I get my plastic pallets for free from a company because they are a non standard size and u.k hauliers don’t except loads on them . The pallet firms that pay for standard pallets charge to take them away. So have a drive around a few industrial estates you might get lucky. A lot of mine have Chinese or Japanese print on them.
Our poly hives are on wooden pallets in a similar woodland setting. This year we've found mice nesting under the hives and chewing the poly. We've found a solution of 2 stacks of mini wood pallets with the hive bridged in-between a great alternative plus more ventilation underneath too.
Thanks for the tip Tony. We dont seem to have issues with mice in any of our hive stands or pallets. Where are they chewing the poly? On the entrances?
@@BlackMountainHoney along the underside of the floor where poly meets varroa mesh. No major damage yet but based on the number of effected hives we.re thinking creating a decent void under there might put a stop to it👍
@@tonyfeasby1437 It can only help. We mostly use wooden underfloor entrances with our poly boxes. Not for that reason but they definitely help all round on the vermin front
I bought second hand plastic pallet. These have a solid closed top and no weeds are coming through
Thanks and hope all goes well over the next few months. Peter
Cheers Peter. Same to you! :)
you've gone around the mulberry bush but it looks like you've arrived at your destination (i came to the same conclusion just recently as to the best base for the price even though i don't have any bees :) but like watching all the vids :) )
As an absolute newbee ( pun intended) how do you work 4 hives on one plastic pallet(stacked 3 high, I was listening) lol without standing in front of an entrance. Retired engineer maybee looking to deep. Love your Chanel am learning a lot. I’m 600 feet above sea level in Scottish Borders so can be cold wet windy loads of snow so I like your idea of plastic pallets lasting for years. Thank you.
I’ve just got some plastic pallets and the man who delivered them advised me to be careful as they become brittle so may be worth keeping a eye on them for that
Cheers Matthew. Yes that can happen with plastic but for beekeeping purposes they should be fine for years if not decades. Ive got some that ive had for 15 years. Bit faded but still fine.
Would like some of these pallets as makes inspection easier too just need to source them costly new or good condition
Do you find the plastic pallets help reduce moisture?
Not really but they dont rot and you can strim right up to them. I love mine!
Hi Lawrence, do you still have a contact for the plastic pallets in north wales? I’m still using wooden pallets😢
Before I started beekeeping I had a lot of those plastic pallets and gave them away. Now I am kicking myself for that.
Argh no. What a nightmare. Are they easy to pick up around there?
@@BlackMountainHoney They used to be but now I have to find another source
If you took a regular wood pallet then sprayed it with wood sealant / PVA the material would never rot.
That's a lot of effort to save £5 on a solid recyclable plastic pallet :D
I've been thinking about these and they're a good price. Is it a local supplier? I'm near Wrexham.
He is from Macclesfield way. How many did you need?
12 for now I think. Probably a bit far as can't see him delivering for only a couple.
Yeah he fills his wagon each time which is about 70 pallets. I can get you 12 next time at cost :)
That would be great 🙂👍🏻 when is he dropping the next load off?
@@rmaxeman Ooh not sure. Its just whenever he has built up a wagon of defects
You mentioned Hay if the bees are not taking down the fondant?
Sorry, did I say fondant? I meant adding hay to feeders if they are not taking down syrup ;)
@@BlackMountainHoney it's okay im new to bee keeping and this is my first over winter..
No you didn't mention fondant, I was wondering where the hay came into it?
Do you mean that you put it in your syrup and how does it help with feeding the bees.
I have two colonies that are struggling to take the fondabee down the hive are very light.