the bees there is in the hive. to get a good idea that there is a good population, leave the inner cover and moisture board on, break the top box loose. lift up one side of the box and teeter it back. look underneath the top box. if you have bees covering four frames to the bottom of the top box, that is a good population.
food stores. for me the best way to judge food stores is to slip off the winter cover, i leave the inner cover and moisture board on. break the top box loose with the hive tool and lift the top box off the lower box. 