Hi everyone,
    I would like to mention that a lot of beekeepers have successfully had bees
make comb honey in the past without using queen excluders (honey excluders). I
really enjoy working on my bees in the summer, not using a excluder,though  I must
put supers on more often. I see it as a real challenge to keep the queen out of
the honey supers, and makes beekeeping alot more interesting. Most new beekeepers
are always opening the hive more often anyway why not learn the right way to make
honey. I had 30 colonies last year which out produced everyone else in the area
except one colony, it also no honey excluder in it.  The bees are less likely to
swarm when not using the excluder because they can move freely throughout the
colony. I tried an excluder once and thought it was the worst piece of bee
equipment made, but then I did learn from an old timer which was so against the
excluders that he asked for the package bees back when I asked him about
excluders. I am getting ready for expanding to 120 colonies this spring and no
excluders used except to get 2 queen colonies started.
 
To all newbees that would like the option not to use an excluder just switch the
brood chambers every 2 to 3 weeks, and don't put supers on to quick. Swithing the
brood chambers when the queen moves up into the second story is a very easy task
you can also check on the health of the bees at that time. This also keeps the
honey out of the brood chamber area which prevents pluging. I place the second
super on when the first gets half way full, the third super is put on when the
first is almost full. the second is the rotated with the first putting it on top
of the brood chamber. By switch the two brood chambers the queen has plenty of
room and feels less crowded, which is the reason see moves up into the supers. The
queen does prefer the dark brood comb over the new white comb.
 
Beekeeping is alot more fun without the honey excluders but that is my own
perspective on beekeeping. have lots of  fun this summer.
 
Elroy