To exclude or not to use Queen Excluders

[ClatsOre]

My configuration right now is two full height hive bodies and one western hive body with a Queen excluder between the full height hives and the western hive body 6 5/8”.

Is there a need for a Queen Excluder or not?? I just have it in my head that is the way to go.

[Ribster]

This depends on what you are producing. For cut comb honey you need that excluder. For extracted it's optional. Search for previous discussion/argument/brawls over this topic.

[Michael Bush]

IMO, put the excluder in the garage and forget it. Maybe some day you'll need it for something.

[ClatsOre]

In the shop they go.... As you can tell I’m new to this leisure pursuit.... so how many Western 6 5/8" will I need for a good hive? (for honey)By the way I'm not in to it for the honey, just a hobby.

[Mitch]

Good idea most here call them honey excluders but some do have luck with them.Think about it if the bees put broos in your honey super they want it there or need the room so why try to stop them.If you do not want brood in your cut comb super put and extract super on first.This may limit cut comb production but not you bees.

[Robert Hawkins]

Contrary opinion. I have a frien who does extractions for anyone. He keeps the cappings. But he will return untouched any frame with brood in it. If you need to keep brood out of the honey supers, you might reconsider the excluder. It works fine for me. If your brood nest needs expanding you can do it on your terms instead of theirs.

Hawk

[Michael Bush]

I run all mediums, so it's all the same to me. If I find brood in the super, I put it back down in the brood chamber... or not. I've had queens laying in five boxes, but usually they only lay in two or three at a time.

I figure three medium boxes for the brood chamber (equvilant to two deeps) and another three to five for supers depending on if it's drawn comb and how booming the hive is.

[Branman]

It's up to you, some people swear by them, some people hate them; read my sig smile.gif

However, if you rotate your deeps a lot to prevent swarming, etc, you should strongly consider using excluders since you're basically forcing the middle of the broodnest right up against the honey supers.

[BubbaBob]

cut comb or extracted, it's all the same in my operation...every hive gets an excluder along with the first super above brood box.

BubbaBob