bee-keeperThe hive type is no small matter — it determines how you'll work for years to come, how many heavy supers you'll lift, how you'll move bees, and which equipment and frames you'll buy. There is no single “best” hive; there is the one that suits you, your back and your forage. Here are four types you'll meet most often.
LR (Langstroth-Root)
The most widespread hive in the world. All boxes are the same height, so frames and parts are interchangeable — that gives you great freedom in your work. It expands easily by adding boxes upward. Pro: it's the standard, equipment is available, it's modular. Con: a full super of honey can be very heavy to lift. An excellent choice for a beginner who wants a proven, flexible option.
DB (Dadant-Blatt)
The most common hive in Serbia. It has a tall brood box and lower honey supers on top. The tall brood box gives the queen plenty of room for brood, so colonies grow strong. Pro: big, powerful colonies, well suited to our forage. Con: the brood and super frames are different heights, so they're not interchangeable. If you keep bees in Serbia, chances are your neighbours and association work DB — which makes getting supplies and advice easier.
AŽ (Alberti-Žnideršič)
A cabinet (“drawer”) hive opened from the back rather than the top. It's worked from a bee house or trailer, standing up, without lifting boxes. The standard in Slovenia and parts of the region. Pro: exceptionally suited to migratory beekeeping (all the bees are in an enclosed bee house) and easier on the back. Con: it ties you to a bee house and specific equipment, and is harder for a beginner without that system.
Horizontal hive (pološka)
A hive that grows sideways instead of upward. You never lift a heavy box — you just add frames at the side. Pro: the easiest on your back, ideal for older beekeepers or those with back problems, and very natural for the bees. Con: it takes up more space per hive and is harder to move and to scale to many colonies.
What to choose
The smartest advice for a beginner: start with the type the beekeepers around you use. That way you'll more easily find second-hand equipment, frames, foundation and — most importantly — advice from people running the same system. Later, with experience, you'll easily judge whether something else suits you better. In the app you pick a type (LR, DB, AŽ, horizontal) for each hive and visually track its box and frame layout, so you have a clear picture of every hive at any moment.