Small cell & excluders

kdm · April 06, 2009, 04:40:46 AM

Will small cell bees go through a queen excluder better than large cell bees ? I have 5 small cell & 7 large cell hives to play with.

RayMarler · April 06, 2009, 12:29:07 PM

Will small cell Queens got thru an excluder?

Robo · April 06, 2009, 01:06:46 PM

Quote from: kdm on April 06, 2009, 04:40:46 AM
Will small cell bees go through a queen excluder better than large cell bees ? I have 5 small cell & 7 large cell hives to play with.

I haven't done any explicit trials, I use my queen excluders as queen hinderers by rotating them 90 degrees. However, I would suspect that any difference would be marginal at best and even small cell bees will need to be coaxed thru an excluder just like large cell bees.

Robo · April 06, 2009, 01:09:14 PM

Quote from: RayMarler on April 06, 2009, 12:29:07 PM
Will small cell Queens got thru an excluder?

It all depends on the size of the queen. Some queens will fit thru excluders and some won't. Of those that will fit, some will go thru.

My "small cell" queens are no different than my large cell queens. They are all reared the same way.

kdm · April 06, 2009, 01:41:46 PM

Thank you Robo. I know about crowding bees through a excluder, but didn't know if smaller bees would pass through better. I will try the sideway excluder on some this year. I will also try a couple of sc & lc the the normal way.

bassman1977 · April 06, 2009, 07:32:27 PM

QuoteWill small cell Queens got thru an excluder?

I have never noticed a difference between the queens I have which have been on small cell and anything I have bought from a supplier. I would say it depends, to your question. As mentioned, if it is a smaller queen naturally, then it's possible.

Michael Bush · April 06, 2009, 08:03:07 PM

>Will small cell bees go through a queen excluder better than large cell bees

Yes.

>Will small cell Queens got thru an excluder?

No more so than large cell queens. I'm not convinced there is any difference.

kdm · April 07, 2009, 04:02:06 AM

Thank you Michael. I will compare a few this season.

Michael Bush · April 07, 2009, 09:57:11 PM

Why not skip the excluder. :)

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesulbn.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#excluders

kdm · April 08, 2009, 04:24:28 AM

I at one time keep 40 to 50 hives for an additional income. I wanted all the honey i could get so i let the queen lay in the honey suppers when she wanted &when the brood hatched they wood back fill them with honey. I am not so pressed for production now as i am retired. I want to keep my honey combs as clean as possible. I also think strong hives & strong honey flows are the best way to use the excluders.