v0.31:Hive

A hive is a building used to house honeybees. A hive must first be created in a workshop before it can be built. Hives can be created at a craftsdwarf's workshop, kiln or metalsmith's forge using stone, wood, ceramics or metal. Once a hive is created, it is built using the alt+H hotkey.

In order to house bees, a hive must be constructed on or directly adjacent to a tile that is above ground. A dwarf with the beekeeping labor enabled will place bees in any hive toggled to "install colony when ready," so long as he or she has access to a preexisting colony of wild bees, or another hive that is ready to be split. Once a hive contains bees, it will eventually become "ready to be split," which will allow a beekeeper to populate an empty hive using bees from the original. Doing this leaves the original hive populated with bees, however it will be some time before it again becomes ready for splitting. Bees cannot be brought with on embark, so starting the beekeeping industry requires at least one wild colony. Dwarven hives appear to magically transform bumblebees into honeybees, so a wild bumblebee colony will work if no honeybee colony exists on the map.

Populated hives will eventually produce a honeycomb and a royal jelly some time after they become ready to be split. If the hive is toggled to "gather any products," a beekeeper will harvest the honeycomb and royal jelly, assuming he has access to a jug in which to put the royal jelly. Doing this kills the bees (it is likely that an inexperienced beekeeper will receive a bee sting in the process, which currently seems to be inconsequential), and the hive will be deconstructed and returned to a stockpile. Royal jelly can be eaten or cooked, and the honeycomb is processed at a screw press workshop to yield wax and honey.