Queen Excluders

[Johnny253]

Does anyone have a preference for plastic vs metal queen excluders? The metal ones have more holes (wire is thinner than plastic) which could impove accessibility but the plastic ones are cheaper. Just interested in anyones thoughts.

[AllenF]

Metal, easier to clean.

[Anybrew]

Metals ones don't crack and last and last........

[Birdswood]

Metal for me too.

[yantabulla]

Metal is the way to go.  The plastic ones sag & come in contact with the tops of the frames.  This limits the space the bees have to push through them.

My only gripe with the metal frames is that the folded sides provide a harbourage for small hive beetle.  You could fill this space with wax but it would be great if we could source a product with sealed sides eg plastic or nylon.

Yanta

[the-ecohouse.com]

Hi all

Have you seen the new poly injected queen excluder?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Its a thick poly plastic queen excluder (not flexible and long lasting) about $10 each

[ShaneJ]

I'm only new to bee keeping but I currently have 2 hives with supers and no excluder. The queens seem to be very happy in the brood box and haven't bothered to move up into the super. I don't think I'll bother with excluders on any of my future hives.

[the-ecohouse.com]

  @ shane

i said that in my first year as well. ... it was all fine till it was extraction time, then there would always be some pesky brood right in the middle of a honey frame? if you not worried about honey production, its not a big deal they will still do well without one...

just last week ago i opened a hive up and realized that the last time i inspected it i left of the queen excluder off, no more capped honey but plenty of brood instead....

[ShaneJ]

I'll see how it goes. As you pointed out I'm not really concerned about honey production so a bit of brood up top is no problem. Interestingly the local apiary doesn't use excluders and he hasn't mentioned any problems.

[yantabulla]

G'day ShaneJ,

Queen excluders are a great management tool.

At the moment I am looking to increase my hives rather than concentrate on honey production.  I'm not using excluders to maximise brood combs.

I am also raising a few queens which involves the use of a QE (using my methods).

I have never had problems with getting bees to move through QE's - pull a bit of open brood up when they are wanting to expand & they will go through.  It's also a good way of moving old brood comb out of the brood box.

The post is about plastic v/s metal.

As I have said before, good luck on your experiment without queen excluders.

Yanta

[Birdswood]

Is that what you're using Eco? It looks a lot more rigid than the usual plastic ones, which would reduce that sagging feeling you get after a while with the current models.

Leigh

[the-ecohouse.com]

sure is Leigh

I used to use the metal ones but since these have become available there is no comparison.

Super rigid and no sag, i wouldn't bother with the regular ones now.

I only buy / make gear that's going to last the distance.

cheers

[ozbee]

 i have 200 of those ones in the picture and wish i never ever saw them . they start of fine but once there is a flow the bees will build wax on the top bar edges because there slot is the opposite to the old  plastic ones  the bees can lift a edge a  bit then wax it . the queen then can come and go / if you go metal make sure there is a cross wire brace close to the edge . always place cross wire up this stops you forcing the hive tool going to far in and bending wires /

[the-ecohouse.com]

hey ozbee are the ones your using super stiff? i had the same problem with the old flexible style plastic one?

[prestonpaul]

Hi all

Have you seen the new poly injected queen excluder?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Its a thick poly plastic queen excluder (not flexible and long lasting) about $10 each

Hey Eco,
Are you getting these from Gilberts In SA?
Paul.

[OzBuzz]

metal for me - i select when i'm going to use it though - in general the queen stays down for me but it all depends on what's going on

[Michael Bush]

When I use them (seldom) I prefer the wood bound metal...

[the-ecohouse.com]

yep gilbert

[Chris Valentine]

the metal over here in nz are $11.15 for 100 more the plactic are $ 4 my wallet does the talking then