[ilivetobealive]

I'm up to 8 healthy hives and am having trouble remembering which ones are doing what...which queens I used and from where...and so on.

I was considering writing a number on the back of each hive with a POSCA marker and using a notepad to track progress.

Or using a note card that I attach to the hive in a plastic bag?

Maybe go freestyle, writing on the inner cover?

What methods have you found useful to keep record of your individual hives?

 

[JenWV]

last year I wrote on the top with a Sharpy. I worked great for me, except it rained so much last year the notes would fade in 2 to 3 wks.
This year I'm going to transfer any needed notes to paper after I'm finished with inspections. I don't have to deal with sticky honey or propolis on my paper or phone which ever I'm using.

 

[Splatt]

My method usually involves asking my wife something like: "Hey, Sweetie, when did we put the drone frame in Hive 2? It was last week, right?"

 

[MsBeHaven]

There are a million ways to do it, from pen and paper to computerized graphs. Just depends on what you want to do. I personally use beetight, and while it's a decent program for the geek in me, it's not perfect. It's $15/ yr. just my two cents.

 

[Thershey]

I too use beetight and find it very easy and quick to use. Wish it had a weight field but otherwise great. Free up to 6 hives.

 

[JMat]

When I originally started I used pen and paper as well... I now use HiveTracks and while it was pretty good before this season update it's even better now.

 

[RustyKnight]

Hivetracks.com the free version is sufficient for a hobbyist. Great mapping tool too to see where your bees fly

 

[enjambres]

I saw in a video that Michael Palmer wrote on duct tape that was stuck on the lid, so he could see all his notes from the season while he was at each hive.

I would find a computer app a pain because I'd have to enter the info twice: once in the field and then again transfer it to my computer. But I am low tech person. I just use a notebook.

I did try Hivetracks and I didn't find it that useful for a small, stationary apiary like mine. It had way too much minute detail.

The other thing besides recording the info is making sure you can keep track of which hive is which. Each of mine is a different color - and I confess - has a different nickname which matches the color, (i.e. my green hive is called "Fern"). This makes things easy for me and my brain.

The only thing I am really rigid about recording are my mite drop numbers.

Enj.

 

[Ben Little]

I am using palletized hives 4way and I have numbered the pallets and each pallet has the letters A B
C D
We keep track of what was done on paper, I use a loggers crayon to write on the wood, cheap and effective.

 

[My-smokepole]

Note book for me . At this time . I have played with hivetracks but at this time I find it a pain to work with..
David

 

[Acebird]

I don't keep records but the best one I heard about would be a brick that is painted different colors or engraved on each surface placed on top of the cover.

Things that don't change can be written in a note book before you get all sticky. I would mark the bottom boards. Less likely to be moved around.

 

[TxGypsy]

I am toying with the notion of using large washers and painting them different colors. Ex...a red washer means this hive needs to be checked often....a black washer means queen cells...etc. I could even place them in different places on top of the hive to signify different things. That way I can just walk down my row of hives and know what needs to be done rather than having to constantly consult a notebook. Not that I won't keep records in a notebook on some things, but many things don't actually need to be kept in records.

 

[Pete O]

The logger's crayons- terrific idea! Weatherproof and at the end of the season you can easily remove it.

 

[GaryG74]

I use one of those composition books like you use in school for notes on weather, condition of hive, etc by hive number. You can write the number on the hive with a permanent marker or use nail on numbers for each main deep or medium. I use the metal numbers like you put on a mail box post or your house (smaller numbers).

 

[Michael Bush]

Most of us have a secret code with the bricks...

 

[Beregondo]

If all want is to know what to do next time with a hive, I use a brick code.
A brick on edge needs a queen, one set toward the back left corner got a queen cell last time I was in the yard, back right time before that...I place the brick or a pebble in certain places and certain ways to let me know what I did/need to do/what condition of hive is.

When I'm experimenting ,I keep a note sheet in a document protector under the hive (if i used tele cover instead of migratory covers, I'd ut it btw the inner & outer covers).

Some folks just write on the top w/ a magic marker, and repaint it each year.

 

[Acebird]

Most of us have a secret code with the bricks...

A newbie like myself would forget the code and then not know what the brick meant. A permanent mark would help with that. Also you could add boxes for checks or writing dates.

 

[Towers9]

My app is called HiveManager and iPhone/iPad version is available. The android version is currently in beta testing.

You can take notes, pictures, add inspections etc.

Kevin
http://hivemanager.webs.com

 

[WBVC]

There was a post a while back of a card that is laminated and a paper clip moved along to indicate what is up with hive. Looked like a good system. Hopefully someone good with search strings can locate and repost it
For now I use duct tape and bricks or rocks.

 

[Michael Bush]

Burke's hive minder:
http://jarsa.net/beekeeping