Beehive — Minecraft block

Beehive

Beehive is the crafted bee home, storing honey levels for bottles, honeycomb, and crop pollination.

Block ID minecraft:beehive
Mod Vanilla
Game versions
1.21

Description

Beehive is crafted from six planks and three honeycomb, giving players a movable alternative to naturally generated nests. Up to three bees can live inside. They leave during the day, visit flowers, then return carrying pollen; each successful return raises the honey level. At level five, the texture visibly fills and the block can be harvested.

Using a glass bottle collects honey, while shears collect honeycomb. Without a campfire smoke source underneath, harvesting angers the residents and nearby bees, so farms normally hide a campfire below the block. Pollinated bees speed crop growth while flying home, making a small apiary useful beside wheat, carrots, potatoes, and other fields. The block can be moved with silk touch, but careless breaking releases or loses the colony depending on timing.

Java & Bedrock Guide

How to craft and harvest a Beehive in Minecraft

  1. 1

    Craft the beehive

    Place 6 wooden planks and 3 honeycomb in a crafting table: planks fill the top and bottom rows, while the 3 honeycomb go across the middle row, making 1 beehive.

  2. 2

    Attract up to 3 bees

    Lead bees to the hive by holding a flower, or place the hive near existing bees. They enter at night, during rain, or after pollinating a flower.

  3. 3

    Let the honey level build

    Each time a bee leaves, pollinates a flower, and returns, the honey level rises by one. At honey level 5 the hive looks full and starts dripping honey.

  4. 4

    Place a campfire underneath

    Set a campfire 1-5 blocks below the hive so its smoke reaches the bees. The smoke stops them from attacking when you harvest.

  5. 5

    Harvest honey or honeycomb

    Use a glass bottle on a level-5 hive to get a honey bottle, or use shears to get 3 honeycomb. Harvesting resets the honey level back to 0.

Important

Harvesting without campfire smoke nearby angers the bees inside the hive and any bees around it, so always keep a lit campfire below the beehive.

How to craft this block

Used in crafts

Frequently asked questions

Can you craft a Beehive?

Yes. Combine 6 wooden planks and 3 honeycomb in a crafting table — planks on the top and bottom rows, honeycomb across the middle — to make 1 beehive.

What is the difference between a Beehive and a Bee Nest?

A beehive is crafted by the player, while a bee nest generates naturally in flower forest, plains, and meadow trees. Both house up to 3 bees and behave the same way.

How do you harvest a Beehive without being stung?

Place a lit campfire 1-5 blocks under the hive. Its smoke calms the bees so you can safely use a glass bottle or shears at honey level 5.

How many bees can live in a Beehive?

Up to 3 bees can share one beehive at a time.

Can you move a Beehive with bees inside?

Yes. Mine it with a Silk Touch tool while the bees are home (at night or during rain) to keep the whole colony inside the block.

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