It sounds as if, this is very divisional issue. I 've heard both sides of the aisle.
It keeps the queen out of the supers, but it cuts down on your honey production.
your thoughts would be appreciated.
Gerry
N O spells no! Get the hot scoop and read Unlimited Brood Nest on Michael Bush's web site you will be very happy you did I was
kirk-o
yeahhh! let's start that flamewar again.
Excuse if there is going to be a flamewar I want something so I an sit back and watch.
(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/700028/2/istockphoto_700028_popcorn.jpg)
Okay I will also start by throwing a little fuel on the fire.
Don't use them. Unless you are dealing with a hive that you moved into a box from a cutout or a package and even then I would recommend the queen excluders over the entrances instead.
http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/products.asp?pcode=675 (http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/products.asp?pcode=675)
And even then only temporarily.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
they have their uses. i had one between boxes when i needed to reduce hive size. i used one below honey supers after bees started working foundation. i'd bet that if you are using plastic foundation (and i wouldn't) they would not be as useful.
depends on what you want, and how much you want to fool with it. i'll probably use them on some hives this year.
answer: sometimes....and i'd have one or two around.
If you cant find the queen,seperate the boxes with an excluder for a couple days,look for the eggs and thats the side the Queens on.Just a use for it.
A time and place for everything.
I don't use one. It greatly simplifies my life and the bees life. It improves crops and decreases swarming. If the queen wants more room to lay why would I want to stop her and cause them to swarm instead?
Some other opinions:
http://www.beesource.com/pov/wright/bcjune06.htm
http://www.beesource.com/pov/wright/bcapr06.htm
http://www.beesource.com/pov/hayes/abjaug85.htm
Try a search on queen exluders. This has been discussed hundreds of times already.
buzzbee; We also use them when making splits. We place an excluder between the brood chambers so we don't always have chase the queen clear to the bottom board. Charlie
The only use I could see for a queen exluder is to keep a queen from a swarm or cut out in the hive until it's established. There are a couple of other things but I don't remember what they are right now.
I haven't got the chance to use one yet but when and if i do i will probably use it just to keep brood out of my honey.
have a great day,Josh