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One fully covered deep frame (both sides) holds ~1,500–2,000 adult bees. Count frames with 75%+ bee coverage on both sides.
Adult bees ≈ covered frames × 1,750 (average)Brood frames indicate future population. One deep frame of sealed brood produces ~3,500 bees over 12 days. Open brood adds current nursery count.
Emerging bees (12 days) = sealed brood frames × 3,500Spring buildup colonies grow exponentially. Summer peak colonies reach 50,000–60,000 bees. Winter clusters reduce to 10,000–20,000.
Peak population ≈ 30,000–60,000 for strong double-deep colonyUpdated: July 2026
6 covered frames × 1,750 ≈ 10,500 bees. With 3 frames sealed brood: +10,500 emerging in 12 days. Colony building well — ready to super in 2–3 weeks if weather permits.
18 frames of bees in double deep + super: 18 × 1,750 ≈ 31,500 adults. With 6 frames brood, effective population approaching 45,000–50,000 — strong honey production potential.
3 frames of bees in double deep box: ~5,250 bees. Below threshold for honey production — consider combining with stronger colony or requeening.
Only count frames with significant bee coverage (50%+ both sides). Empty drawn comb in the box does not mean bees occupy it.
Large population with failing queen (no eggs, spotty brood) is declining despite current bee count. Always verify brood pattern alongside population estimate.
Colony strength drives management decisions — splits, supering, and treatment timing all depend on population. This calculator estimates bee population from frames of coverage, brood area, and seasonal benchmarks.