Metal Queen Excluders
A galvanized metal queen excluder keeps the queen down in the brood nest so your honey supers stay brood-free and clean to harvest. The welded wire grid is spaced to let worker bees pass through while stopping the larger queen. Choose 8 or 10 frame.
Features
- Welded wire grid spaced to pass workers and block the queen
- Galvanized metal — rinses clean and lasts season after season
- Keeps brood out of honey supers for clean harvest frames
- Fits standard Langstroth equipment in 8 or 10 frame
How it works in real life
Set the excluder flat between the brood box and the first honey super, then add your supers on top. Workers move up through the grid to fill the supers while the queen stays below, so the comb you harvest never holds brood. Bees propolize the wires over time — scrape it flat with a hive tool now and then so workers keep moving freely. Some keepers add the excluder only when the supers go on for the flow and pull it for winter.
Before you order
Pick the size that matches your hive body — 8 or 10 frame. Keep a wire excluder flat in storage; a bent grid can catch on bee wings. If you want a rigid version that resists warping, see the wood-bound excluder below.
Pairs Well With
- Wood-Bound Metal Queen Excluder — framed version that stays flat and resists warping
- Plastic Queen Excluder — lighter, lower-cost option
- Cloake Board — uses a built-in excluder for queen rearing
Specifications
- Material: galvanized metal wire
- Sizes: 8 or 10 frame Langstroth
- Use: between brood box and honey supers
FAQ
Do I need a queen excluder?
It's optional but useful — it keeps brood out of your honey supers so harvest frames are clean. Some keepers run without one and manage brood placement by hand; many prefer the certainty of an excluder.
Does the excluder harm the queen?
No. The grid is spaced to let workers through and simply blocks the larger queen from passing into the supers.
Metal, wood-bound, or plastic — which should I choose?
Bare metal is durable and economical; the wood-bound version stays flat and resists warping; plastic is the lightest and cheapest. All do the same job.
Which size do I order?
Match it to your hive body — 8 or 10 frame.
