The Metallic Queen Excluder is a wire grid accessory placed between the brood box and honey super of a Langstroth Hive to separate the queen from the honey production zone. Worker bees pass freely through the wire spacing to store honey in the super, while the larger queen body cannot pass, keeping the honey super free of brood, eggs, and larvae. This produces cleaner, brood-free honey frames that are easier to uncap and extract.
What Is the Metallic Queen Excluder?
The Metallic Queen Excluder is a hive management accessory used at the honey production stage of commercial beekeeping. The grid spacing is calibrated to allow worker bees, whose thorax width is approximately 4.2 mm, to pass through freely, while blocking the queen, whose thorax width is approximately 5 mm. For a more affordable alternative, see the Plastic Queen Excluder at KSh 700.
What Is the Price of the Metallic Queen Excluder in Kenya?
The Metallic Queen Excluder is priced at KSh 1,100 at Urban Beekeepers in Nairobi. In stock ā no lead time. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Nationwide delivery available to all major towns. Payment accepted via M-Pesa and card. Urban Beekeepers takes bulk orders. Call 0797 764 747 or message via WhatsApp to discuss.
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Key Features and Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel or galvanized wire grid |
| What’s Included | Metallic Queen Excluder (one unit per hive) |
| Grid Spacing | Calibrated to allow workers through, exclude queen |
| Compatible Hive | Standard 10-frame Langstroth Hive |
| Function | Separates brood zone from honey super |
| Durability | Long service life, rust-resistant |
| Reusable | Yes |
| Price | KSh 1,100 |
Who Needs the Metallic Queen Excluder?
- Commercial Honey Farmers: Farmers harvesting honey for retail or cooperative markets who need clean, brood-free honey frames. A queen excluder is standard practice for commercial honey production.
- CBOs and Cooperatives: Community honey projects producing honey for sale where product quality and cleanliness are important for buyer confidence and market access.
- Beginner to Intermediate Beekeepers: Beekeepers adding a honey super to their Langstroth hive for the first time who need to implement the brood-honey separation fundamental to managed hive honey production.
How to Use the Metallic Queen Excluder
- Time the installation correctly. Install the Metallic Queen Excluder when the brood box is 80 percent full of bees and the honey flow is beginning. Installing too early can discourage bees from moving into the super.
- Place on top of the brood box. Lay the Metallic Queen Excluder flat on top of the brood box, ensuring it sits flush with no gaps at the edges.
- Stack the honey super on top. Place a honey super fitted with frames and wax foundations on top of the queen excluder. The bees will move up through the excluder to fill the super with honey.
- Harvest when 80 percent capped. Harvest super frames when 80 percent or more of cells are capped with wax, indicating honey has ripened to the correct moisture content.
- Remove and clean after harvest. Clean the queen excluder with warm water to remove propolis and wax buildup. Store dry until the next honey flow.
Care and Maintenance
Proper care extends the working life of your Metallic Queen Excluder and keeps it performing effectively season after season.
- After each honey flow, remove the Metallic Queen Excluder and scrape off propolis buildup with a hive tool. Soak in warm water for 20 minutes if propolis is heavy, then scrub with a stiff brush.
- Inspect the wire grid for bent or broken wires annually. A damaged grid may have gaps wide enough for the queen to pass through. Replace if the grid is significantly deformed.
- Store the clean, dry excluder flat between hive boxes when not in use. Storing vertically can warp the frame over time, creating gaps at the edges when placed on the hive.
Why Buy From Urban Beekeepers?
- In stock ā same-day delivery within Nairobi
- Nationwide delivery to all major towns across Kenya
- Call or WhatsApp: 0797 764 747
- Trusted by commercial farmers, CBOs, and NGOs across Kenya
- M-Pesa and card accepted
Shipping and Delivery
Urban Beekeepers delivers countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos, Kitengela, Kitui, and all major towns across Kenya. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Call 0797 764 747 to confirm delivery timelines for your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a queen excluder used for in Kenyan beekeeping?
A Queen Excluder is placed between the brood box and honey super in a Langstroth Hive to prevent the queen from laying eggs in the honey frames. This keeps the honey super free of brood, producing cleaner honey that is easier to extract and process for sale.
What is the difference between a Metallic Queen Excluder and a Plastic Queen Excluder?
The Metallic Queen Excluder uses a wire or stainless steel grid that is more durable and longer lasting than plastic. The Plastic Queen Excluder at KSh 700 is a more affordable option. Both function identically. The metallic version is recommended for commercial operations.
Does a queen excluder reduce honey production?
No. A queen excluder does not reduce honey production when used correctly. Install the excluder only when the colony is strong enough to expand into the super ā when the brood box is at least 80 percent full.
Does Urban Beekeepers deliver the Metallic Queen Excluder outside Nairobi?
Urban Beekeepers delivers countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Machakos, Kitengela, Kitui, and all major towns across Kenya. Same-day delivery within Nairobi. Call 0797 764 747 to confirm delivery timelines for your location.
