Hives

Add hives to an apiary, choose a hive type (Langstroth, Dadant, Top Bar, Warré), and link a QR code for fast field access.

Web iOS Android

What is a hive record?

A hive record represents one physical colony box. It has a name, a type, and an optional QR code label. All inspection history is attached to the hive record, so you can view the full health trend of that colony over time.

Hive detail screen showing hive type, last inspection date, and inspection list
Hive detail screen showing hive type, last inspection date, and inspection list

Hive types

Langstroth
The most common hive in North America and internationally. Deep and medium boxes with removable frames.
Dadant
Popular in continental Europe. Larger brood chamber than Langstroth, designed for big colonies.
Top Bar
Horizontal hive where bees build comb downward from movable bars. Common in East Africa and among natural beekeepers.
Warré
Vertical stacking hive based on natural comb building. Minimal intervention philosophy.
Other
Use for any hive type not listed above — nucleus colonies, observation hives, etc.

Choosing the correct type does not affect functionality — it is a label to help you tell your hives apart in the list.

Creating a hive

  1. 1
    Open an apiary

    Tap the apiary name to open its detail view.

  2. 2
    Tap the + (New Hive) button

    A form appears asking for a name and hive type.

  3. 3
    Choose a name

    Use whatever naming scheme makes sense to you: "Hive 1", "Blue box", "South meadow A".

  4. 4
    Select a hive type

    Pick from the list above. You can change this later from the hive detail screen.

  5. 5
    Assign a QR code (optional)

    After saving, open the hive and tap Assign QR to link a printed QR token. See QR Codes for the full workflow.

New hive form with name field and hive type picker
New hive form with name field and hive type picker

Editing a hive

Name, hive type, acquisition date and notes can be changed at any time — in the browser and, since the latest release, in both apps.

  • Web — open the hive and press Edit.
  • iPhone and Android — open the hive and tap the pencil in the title bar.

The QR code stays with the hive record, so renaming a colony does not invalidate the sticker on the box.

Viewing a hive

The hive detail screen shows:

  • Hive type and the date it was added
  • Date of the last inspection
  • Full inspection history, newest first
  • A button to start a new inspection
  • On web: tabs for Inspections, Stats, and Custom Fields
Web: hive detail page showing the inspections tab and hive metadata
Web: hive detail page showing the inspections tab and hive metadata

Tips

Give each hive a short, unique name. When you have many hives, names like "A1" or "Top garden" are easier to read in the list than "Hive 1", "Hive 2", "Hive 3".

Deleting a hive permanently removes all inspection history for that colony. Export your data before deleting if you want to keep records.

In the apps: add a hive by hand

On the apiary page of the iPhone and Android apps tap the amber New Hive button at the bottom right, enter a name, the hive type and, if you like, the day you got it and a note. No printed sticker is needed; the hive gets a QR code of its own that you can print later. A printed sticker still works too: scan it and the app asks for the same details.