To use a queen excluder between brood box and feeder?

[SenatorMagenut]

Hi

I currently don't have a queen excluder between the brood box and the feeder. So when I open the hive on Saturday I'm gonna have to check the feeder and all the brace comb in the super it's in for the queen. (Who is unclipped and unmarked.) Would you guys recommend, that once I find her and make sure that she is in the brood box to use a queen excluder?

Thanks,
Senatormagenut

 

[oliver90owner]

I currently don't have a queen excluder between the brood box and the feeder.

This would normally not be an issue. However, perhaps you should describe your 'feeder' arrangement as it seems to be, shall we say, a non-standard item/arrangement.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

Ok

I have a crown board on over the brood box.
Then I have an empty super housing a 1/2 gallon contact feeder.
Then the roof.

Hope this helps!

 

[Sir Quej]

Exactly the same set up as me (except mine isnt a contact feeder). I've had no issues.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

Great

 

[MandF]

Yep, perfectly standard feeding set up!

If you are worried about the queen getting up there, and I understand why, there is no harm putting on an excluder directly under the crown board with feeder holes (which some people refer to as a feeder board on here).

It means one less thing to check/worry about when you come to remove or replace it.

 

[flemage]

dont think you should have any need for QX in the set up above seems a normal situation. i would use a QX only when i put a super on which is filled with foundation ready for them to use (draw comb and ...hopfully fill with honey).

However i have not had brace comb built above the feeder / crown board before? If there is comb above crown board then perhaps you would need to have a look and see if she is there? Have a look for any cell eggs in it. Then i would cover any holes in the crown / feeder board which the feeder is not already covering so that the bees dont get up there again.

 

[oliver90owner]

There should be no issue of bees getting into the empty shallow unless you have an imperfect set up, as in an opening into that shallow through the crownboard. No bees, let alone the queen can get into the feeder, if a contact feeder, so there should be no issue there either.

I would suggest you ignore Mandy's post, close any improper access to the shallow and then remove the Q/E (just another place where the queen can get misplaced on opening the hive) as it is not needed.

RAB

 

[MandF]

Ive had brace comb up to and in the entrance of my feeder. One of the round rapid feeders, not a contact feeder though.

May still get a bit with a QE on, but at least you'd know she wasnt about when you pulled the feeder off.

I agree about blocking the other hole if you arent allowing them up into the roof for another purpose, ie to clean up some comb before you process it.

 

[MandF]

I would suggest you ignore Mandy's post, close any improper access to the shallow and then remove the Q/E (just another place where the queen can get misplaced on opening the hive) as it is not needed.

RAB

I suggest you do not ignore my post, because I said your set up is perfectly normal, but if you are worried about the queen being in and around the brace comb, use an excluder.

Takes all of 5 seconds to check the underside of an excluder, *when* you open up.

As I have said before, bees see above the crownboard as outside their hive, so they shouldnt build brace comb there, nor should the queen venture up there, even when the feeder holes are open.

There are, of course, exceptions to that rule.

 

[oliver90owner]

So you agree, you didn't read or didn't know the difference between a rapid and a contact feeder? So you didn't know that bees should not be able to get into the shallow? Master beekeeper at work. Ha ha.

 

[MandF]

There should be no issue of bees getting into the empty shallow unless you have an imperfect set up,

Not so Olivia, if I want bees to clean up a frame or comb I want bees to get into the empty shallow. Bees getting into the shallow then becomes the perfect set up.

You ought to know about flying things in sealed containers by now.

 

[MandF]

So you agree, you didn't read or didn't know the difference between a rapid and a contact feeder? So you didn't know that bees should not be able to get into the shallow? Master beekeeper at work. Ha ha.

"Should not be able"? If the OP left the feed holes open, as <gasp> some people do, then of course bees can get into the super. Are you thick?

Only one person around here thinks they are a master beekeeper sunshine.

And a master physicist too.

Ha ha.

Get back on your perch.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

Quit the guys... I get your points.

 

[theeggman]

As a "master beekeeper" with 1 yrs. experience.
Are all the the holes in your crown board covered by your feeder?
If not the bees WILL gain access to the super and produce comb.
PLEASE check and ensure that ALL access to the super is closed.
You then shouldn't have any wild/brace comb to deal with.
This time I think O90O was on the right track.

 

[SenatorMagenut]

When I got my swarm they covered both of the holes in the crown board with a metal grill too fine for bees to go through. My feeder only covers one hole. When I put the feeder on, I only removed the grill for the hole that it covers.
So I get the ventilation and no brace comb .

 

[theeggman]

If you have only removed 1 grill WHAT is your problem??
There should be NO bees above the the crown board and therefore NO brace/ wild comb.

I have only 1 Years experience and a lot of of READING.

Sorry to all the more experienced beeks on here BUT there are some threads
that shout "I don't know what I'm doing"

Tim

 

[jackbee]

When I got my swarm they covered both of the holes in the crown board with a metal grill too fine for bees to go through. My feeder only covers one hole. When I put the feeder on, I only removed the grill for the hole that it covers.
So I get the ventilation and no brace comb .

Confused!!!

In the OP below you say you will have to check for queen in feeder and for brace comb in super but then above you say all holes in the board (feeder, crown - whatever!) are covered, either by feeder or mesh.

so no bees will get into void to create brace and queen will not go to feeder, too busy laying (you hope). She gets fed

?????

Hi
I currently don't have a queen excluder between the brood box and the feeder. So when I open the hive on Saturday I'm gonna have to check the feeder and all the brace comb in the super it's in for the queen. (Who is unclipped and unmarked.) Would you guys recommend, that once I find her and make sure that she is in the brood box to use a queen excluder?

 

[REDWOOD]

You have less chance of brace comb without a QE, bees don't build brace comb if the bee space is correct, when you check your hive remove roof, empty super and contact feeder and check the queen is not on the bottom (she probably wont be there) again remove crown board and check for queen, If you are using an OMF the is no need to vent the roof or leave the crown board holes open, place a bit of wood over them as this will keep the heat in, as for clipping it is a matter of personal choice, read a bit on it and see if it suits your style of beekeeping. marking queen is a yes but a bit of practice with drones first is required, don't forget to dispose of marked drones

 

[MandF]

When I first read this I assumed he meant brace comb in and around the feed hole directly under the feeder.

Plus all he was worried about was the queen/eggs being on it, not the brace comb itself (which if it is around and in the feed hole, there isnt much you can do about it afaik).

That is why I said, if he uses an excluder he will know the queen will not be around the feed hole when he takes the feeder off.