10-Minute Quick Start Guide

Welcome to QueenBees! This quick start guide will have you up and running with professional queen breeding apiary management in just 10 minutes. You’ll learn the essential steps to transform your beekeeping operation from paper records to digital efficiency.

What You’ll Accomplish

By the end of this guide, you’ll have:

1. Set up your apiary account with professional structure
2. Added your first hives to the system
3. Recorded your queens with proper tracking
4. Viewed your apiary statistics and breeding forecasts

This foundation will let you immediately start benefiting from digital record-keeping while exploring QueenBees’ advanced features at your own pace.

Before You Begin

Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

1. A QueenBees account - Create one here if needed
2. Active login access - Sign in at https://app.queenbe.es/
3. Basic apiary information - Names of your breeding lines and main location

What Information You’ll Need

Gather this information before starting:

• Your apiary’s name (can be shortened - you can change it later)
• Country location for regulatory and weather data
• Promotional code (optional) for expanding 3-months free trial to longer period

• Queen breeding lines you currently work with
• Main location name where most hives are located
• Current hive names (or numbering system you prefer)

Step 1: Set Up Your Apiary Profile

The initial setup process takes just three quick steps to establish your apiary’s digital foundation.

Select Country and Name Your Apiary

Choose your country for localized features like weather data and regulatory compliance.

Name your apiary using a practical, shortened version of your business name. This appears throughout the application, so keep it concise and professional.

Add Your Queen Breeding Lines

Enter the genetic lines you currently work with in your breeding program. These form the foundation of your queen tracking system.

Use practical names that you and your team will recognize easily. Add multiple lines by pressing Tab or Enter after each entry.

Common breeding lines include:

• Carnica varieties
• Buckfast strains
• Local adaptations
• Hybrid lines
• VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) lines

Name Your Primary Location

Define your main apiary location where most hives are situated. Keep names simple and recognizable - avoid full addresses for security and simplicity.

Good location names:

• “Home Yard”
• “Main Apiary”
• “North Field”
• “Meadow Site”

Complete the Setup

Click “Start my Apiary” to activate your account with full functionality.

Congratulations! You now have 3 months of full access to explore all QueenBees features. This gives you time to fully evaluate how the platform can improve your operation.

Step 2: Add Your First Hives

Now let’s populate your apiary with actual hive records.

Navigate to Your Main Location

Access your location through Locations → [Your Main Location Name] in the left navigation menu.

Your location starts empty - let’s change that by adding real hive data.

Create Hives Efficiently

Most actions in QueenBees start from the circular (+) button in the bottom-right corner.

1. Click the (+) icon and select ‘Add new hive’

2. Enter your hive name using your preferred naming system

3. Add multiple hives - the modal stays open for batch entry

Hive Naming Best Practices:

• Use consistent numbering (H001, H002) or naming (North-1, South-A)
• Keep names short but descriptive
• Consider location indicators for large operations
• Plan for expansion in your numbering system

Step 3: Record Your Queens

Now add queen records to track your breeding stock professionally.

Add Queens to Hives

1. Locate empty hives - each shows an ‘Add new queen’ button

2. Click ‘Add new queen’ to open the queen registration modal

3. Complete essential information:

   Date of Birth: Enter the actual or estimated birth date

   • Affects age calculations and breeding schedules
   • Determines year marking color automatically
   • Impacts productivity forecasts

   Queen Line: Select from the lines you defined during setup

   • Links to your breeding program
   • Enables genetic tracking
   • Supports breeding analysis

   

   Notice how the system automatically assigns the correct year marking color (blue for 2025) based on the birth date.

4. Save the queen record by clicking ‘Add’

Review Your Progress

After adding queens, your location transforms from empty to a comprehensive tracking system:

Continue adding queens to build your complete inventory:

Step 4: Review Your Apiary Analytics

Return to your main dashboard to see how QueenBees transforms your data into actionable insights.

Access Your Breeder Panel

Navigate to Breeder Panel in the left menu or click the QueenBees logo.

Understand Your Dashboard

Current Inventory Summary:

• Total hives and active queens
• Distribution across queen lines
• Age-based queen categorization

Automated Queen Status:

• Queen states based on age and breeding cycle
• Virgin queens ready for mating
• Productive queens in laying phase
• Queens approaching replacement age

Sales Forecasting:

• Queens available for immediate sale
• Projected production based on efficiency settings
• Seasonal planning insights

Example Analysis: In the sample above: 6 hives, 5 Carnica Amazing queens, 1 Buckfast B17 queen. The system automatically categorized queens by breeding status and calculated sales availability.

Next Steps: Expanding Your Operation

Immediate Actions

Explore core features:

• Application interface overview
• Daily workflow examples
• Mobile Focus Mode for field work

Add more data:

• Import existing hive records
• Set up additional locations with location management tools
• Create breeding series for production planning

Advanced Features to Explore

Operational efficiency:

• Bulk hive operations
• Team collaboration setup
• Customer order management

Business growth:

• Sales tracking and reporting
• Breeding program analytics
• Seasonal planning tools

Mobile productivity:

• Field data collection
• Quick queen updates

Your 3-Month Trial Period

What’s Included

Full feature access:

• Unlimited hives and queens
• Complete breeding management
• Advanced analytics and reporting
• Mobile applications
• Support with onboarding and importing data from your old tools

Making the Most of Your Trial

Week 1-2: Master the basics

• Complete this quick start
• Add all current hives and queens
• Explore the interface thoroughly

Week 3-8: Advanced features

• Set up breeding series
• Try customer order management
• Use mobile Focus Mode in the field

Week 9-12: Optimization

• Fine-tune workflows
• Train team members
• Plan subscription strategy

After Your Trial

Subscription options:

• Continue with full professional features
• Choose features that match your operation size
• Maintain free access to core data (read-only)

Data ownership:

• Your information remains accessible
• Export capabilities maintained
• No data hostage situations

Success Tips for New Users

Start Simple, Grow Big

Focus on basics first:

• Accurate hive and queen records
• Consistent data entry habits
• Regular system usage

Add complexity gradually:

• Breeding series and analytics
• Team access and permissions
• Advanced reporting features

Build Good Habits

Data entry consistency:

• Update records immediately after field work
• Use standard naming conventions
• Regular backup and review

System integration:

• Replace paper records gradually
• Train team members systematically
• Establish digital-first workflows

Maximize Value

Use all features:

• Don’t ignore analytics and forecasting
• Explore mobile capabilities fully
• Take advantage of our support

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up QueenBees and taken the first steps toward modern, efficient apiary management. The system is now ready to support your daily operations, improve your breeding programs, and help grow your business.

Remember: QueenBees grows with your operation. Start with what you need now, and explore additional features as your business evolves. The platform is designed to support everything from hobbyist beekeepers to commercial operations managing thousands of hives.