Estimating Frames of Bees
Frames of bees (FOB) is a standardized measurement of colony strength and population density that allows beekeepers to gauge seasonal growth, assess overall colony health, and compare performance across one or many operations. This is the first step in a full health inspection.
Seams between frames that appear completely packed with bees when looking from the top down and bottom up are considered one frame of bees. FOB are recorded as one (1) deep frame covered with bees. Outside frames count as one half a frame. Mediums covered with bees must be converted to FOBs.
To estimate frames of bees:
Seams between frames that appear completely packed with bees when looking from the top down and bottom up are considered one frame of bees. FOB are recorded as one (1) deep frame covered with bees. Outside frames count as one half a frame. Mediums covered with bees must be converted to FOBs.
To estimate frames of bees:
- Lightly smoke hive entrance
- Remove lid and lightly smoke below inner cover
- Remove inner cover
- Looking down from the top of frames, count FOB from top of frames (top box) - the space between the outside frames count as ½
- Hinge box open
- Count FOB from bottom of frames
- Average the total FOB per box
- Remove box and place on telescoping cover
- Repeat until at bottom box
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Converting to Frames of Bees
Many operations utilize mixed equipment such as one (1) deep and (1) medium box as a brood chamber and may have similar variety when it comes to honey supers. Standardizing the number of Frames of Bees (FOB) is important when comparing populations across operations.
To convert into Frames of Bees (FOB):
Example:
A colony has 2 medium boxes and 1 deep, including a honey super.
Medium box one has 6 full seams of bees. Medium box two has 9 full seams of bees. Totaling 15 medium seams packed with bees.
The deep box has 9.5 full frames of bees.
15 (mediums) x 0.66 = 9.9 FOB (round to 10).
9.5 (deeps) plus 10 FOBs= 19.5 FOB
To convert into Frames of Bees (FOB):
- Estimate number of covered seams of bees per box size
- Use the conversion chart below or calculate your total FOBs per box.
- Total up FOB for all boxes and record the total, rounding to the nearest 0.5 FOB
Example:
A colony has 2 medium boxes and 1 deep, including a honey super.
Medium box one has 6 full seams of bees. Medium box two has 9 full seams of bees. Totaling 15 medium seams packed with bees.
The deep box has 9.5 full frames of bees.
15 (mediums) x 0.66 = 9.9 FOB (round to 10).
9.5 (deeps) plus 10 FOBs= 19.5 FOB
Frames Covered with Bees |
Deep (FOB) |
Medium (FOB) |
10 |
10 |
6.6 |
9 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
5.3 |
7 |
7 |
4.6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
3.3 |
4 |
4 |
2.6 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1.3 |
1 |
1 |
.6 |