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Inspection and Action Record

Overview

In many arenas, there is a saying,

If you didn’t record it, it didn’t happen.

Beekeeping should be considered in the same way.

All but the beekeeper who is content to just watch bees come and go will benefit from keeping records.
The Hive and the Honey Bee

Why Record Your Beekeeping Activities?

  • It eliminates having to remember
  • It allows you to look back at what you did and consider what worked … and what didn’t.
  • Forces you to plan ahead – maximizing your activities when you open the hive

What Should Be In Your Log?

Recommended

  • Inspections
  • Actions taken
  • Actions needed
  • Treatments
    • Addition of
    • Removal of
  • Harvests
  • Queen information

Also

  • Current weather (when you inspected the colony): this can help explain why the bees acted the way the did.
  • Plants currently in bloom
  • Key Document Information (e.g., your apiary registration)
  • Feedings

Must
Especially if you sell products from your hives

  • Expenditures
  • Sales

Note: Each state has differing laws about how income (especially hobby income) should be handled. Check with your accountant or tax attorney.

Additional pictures of this

Usage Notes

Your records can be on paper or recorded with an electronic application.

Paper-based Record Keeping

Keep a separate record for each colony.

Keep the records in a notebook which is easily identified as such. Keep the notebook where you can find it.

If you choose paper, there are many sources which provide pads of them. Alternatively, you can use the one below.

Electronic Record Keeping

If you choose to record your activities in an application, there some really good ones. The one we use (my daughter, my granddaughter, and me) is HiveBloom. It is quite easy to use and seems to meet our needs as hobbyist beekeepers. And attaching pictures we took on our smartphone is great.

We have 5 hives and have found that using a paper record whilst performing our inspections is useful. That way we don't have to remember everything we when return to the house.

HiveTracks is another electronic application commonly used. I've no experience with this application, so I cannot comment on it.

How it Works

Notes on Making One

More Information

Example Hive Inspection and Action Record Form

Published Articles

Books and Papers

  • The Backyard Beekeeper by Flottum, Kim.
  • Beekeeping for Beginners by Bradshaw, Amber.

Web Sites

Presentations

Other

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About this Site

Disclaimer: eMail comments to me at BeekeepingBoK @ Gmail.com. The process of beekeeping can cause injury or be a health hazard unless proper precautions are taken, including the wearing of appropriate protective equipment.