floor without a floor

[gmcharlie]

I Was looking at M Bush  Pics of a  "floor without a floor"  and don't quite grasp the point of it????look like a simple removable floor (or top)

[Robo]

It is otherwise known as a "Cloake Board", named after Harry Cloake,  the New Zealander who developed the principle.  It is used for queen rearing.  I explain the process here -> http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/queen-rearing/

[gmcharlie]

Ahhh  so its just a simpley to remove devider.     You mention on that page useing teh hive  with the queen trapped below as a finisher  how do you keep the multiple queens from getting to each other,  and yet let the nurse bees have access?   I was thinking you moved tehm to an incubator when they are a day or so from hatching??  (assuming mine will be on a frame and not in a queen cup,  so I don't think I can remove them without damage.

[Robo]

Yes, a finisher just completes and caps the queen cells.   The cells are moved to individual mating nucs before they hatch.

[Michael Bush]

Robo has the detail, but the concept is simple.  You can set up a queenless portion of the hive for a cell starter on the top and turn it into a queenright cell finisher by simply pulling out the tray.  The other advantage is you can manipulate having entrances on opposite sides to shift the population of bees around.