Brodie
New Bee
- Joined
- May 14, 2022
- Messages
- 64
- Reaction score
- 13
- Location
- Newark notts
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1
Hi guys What Queen excluder for the abelo 12 frame hive ?thank you
As I recall, it either fits awkwardly or beespace is double; whichever, it was irritating to use (not mine, thank goodness).Queen excluder for the abelo 12
I have had some 12 frame poly Abelo hives for 3 years now, after spending all my beekeeping years with Smith’s. I run the poly hives with 11 frames ( it gives me a bit more wiggle room ) and I am still comparing them with my Smith’s.Hi guys What Queen excluder for the abelo 12 frame hive ?thank you
I notice you are using a strip of wood outside your shorter Smith lugs, Have you considered a rim on those to give you space?I have had some 12 frame poly Abelo hives for 3 years now, after spending all my beekeeping years with Smith’s. I run the poly hives with 11 frames ( it gives me a bit more wiggle room ) and I am still comparing them with my Smith’s.
Two things that I’m not keen on.
1 The rebates make it almost impossible to twist the boxes before separating them without having to prise them above the lip. A difficult task if trying to remove two heavy supers at one time. Also you have to be careful not squash more bees when putting them back on.
2 The queen excluders.
Abelo supply a plastic one that sits on top of the rebates and gives bee space underneath but it’s liable to bow, I have tried one.
The metal Q E which they supply is more robust and sits inside the rebates flush on top of the frames. Having used wired framed Q E,s with bee space all of my the time I find the flush ones a pain in the butt! I now have to get the bees between the frames before I can put the Q E back on without squashing them. To avoid vigorous smoking, I lay a cover cloth over the frames for a couple of minutes and then a few puffs of smoke should get the rest down.
Because the majority of my hives are still Smiths I will be sticking with the shorter lugs. I got a joiner to make up the strips to the stop the frames moving on the side of the frame runners and they fit the supers as well. It’s a good idea that you have suggested but I would be worried about a tight fit of the Q E right round the brood box. I will give it some thought thanks.I notice you are using a strip of wood outside your shorter Smith lugs, Have you considered a rim on those to give you space?
Good assessment, Lindsay. Difficut to understand why one extra frame and more complex practical use benefits the beekeeper. Still, design diversification does increase the sales opportunity.pain in the butt
Just the basic green plastic BS National's from Maisemore- they fit perfectly, cheap and cheerful. I've got 30 + of the 12 framers and I love themHi guys What Queen excluder for the abelo 12 frame hive ?thank you
Hi guys What Queen excluder for the abelo 12 frame hive ?thank you
That’s exactly what I use and they work well.Just the basic green plastic BS National's from Maisemore- they fit perfectly, cheap and cheerful. I've got 30 + of the 12 framers and I love them
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