The Queen Excluder is a precision wire grid placed between the brood box and honey super of a Langstroth Hive to prevent the queen from accessing honey frames. Worker bees, which are smaller, pass through the grid to store honey in the super. The queen, whose body is larger, cannot pass through. This separation keeps the honey super free of brood, eggs, and larvae, making harvested frames significantly cleaner and easier to process. For a more affordable plastic option, see the Plastic Queen Excluder at KSh 700. For the premium metallic wire version, see the Metallic Queen Excluder at KSh 1,100.
What Is the Queen Excluder?
The Queen Excluder is a hive management accessory used at the honey production stage of commercial beekeeping. The wire grid spacing is calibrated at approximately 4.2 to 4.4 mm, the width that allows a worker bee through comfortably but is too narrow for the larger queen, whose thorax width is approximately 5 mm. Brood-free honey supers produce higher-quality honey with less contamination from brood pheromones, bee bread, or larvae during uncapping and extraction.
What Is the Price of the Queen Excluder in Kenya?
The Queen Excluder is priced at KSh 900 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.
š¬ Order Now on WhatsApp ā KSh 900
Key Features and Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel wire grid |
| What’s Included | Queen Excluder (one unit per hive) |
| Grid Spacing | Approximately 4.2 to 4.4 mm |
| Compatible Hive | Standard 10-frame Langstroth Hive |
| Function | Separates brood zone from honey super |
| Durability | Rust-resistant stainless steel for long service life |
| Reusable | Yes |
| Price | KSh 900 |
Who Needs the Queen Excluder?
- Commercial Honey Farmers: Farmers producing honey for retail, cooperative, or export markets where clean, brood-free frames are a minimum quality requirement.
- Intermediate to Advanced Beekeepers: Beekeepers with established colonies who have moved from crush-and-strain honey to using a honey extractor and want to maximise honey quality.
- CBOs and Honey Cooperatives: Community honey projects producing honey for sale who need to meet quality expectations of buyers, traders, and food processors.
How to Use the Queen Excluder
- Install when colony is strong. Install the Queen Excluder only when the brood box is 80 percent full with bees on most frames.
- Place on top of the brood box. Lay the excluder flat and flush on top of the brood box. Ensure no gaps at the edges that the queen could squeeze through.
- Add the honey super. Stack a honey super fitted with frames and wax foundation on top. Workers will begin moving up within 24 to 48 hours.
- Monitor progress weekly. Check the super weekly by lifting it to observe comb building and capping progress.
- Harvest when 80 percent capped. Harvest super frames when 80 percent or more of cells are capped with wax.
Care and Maintenance
Proper care extends the working life of your Queen Excluder and keeps it performing effectively season after season.
- Scrape propolis and wax from the wire with a hive tool after each honey flow. Soak in warm water for 30 minutes if propolis is heavy, then scrub with a stiff brush.
- Inspect the wire grid annually for bent or broken wires. Significant deformation can create gaps wide enough for the queen to pass through.
- Store the clean, dry excluder flat between hive boxes when not in use to prevent frame warping.
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 the difference between the Queen Excluder, Metallic Queen Excluder, and Plastic Queen Excluder?
Urban Beekeepers stocks three queen excluder options. The Plastic Queen Excluder at KSh 700 is the most affordable. The Queen Excluder at KSh 900 uses stainless steel wire for better durability than plastic. The Metallic Queen Excluder at KSh 1,100 is the most durable option. All three function identically and fit a standard 10-frame Langstroth hive.
Does a queen excluder reduce honey yield?
No. A queen excluder does not reduce honey yield when installed at the correct time. It improves honey quality by keeping the super brood-free. Install when the colony is strong enough to expand into the super.
Does Urban Beekeepers deliver the 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.
