Queen Grafting Season is Here - Queens Available for Local Pickup

We’re in the thick of queen grafting season here at Chuck’s Honeybees! Our hives are showing strong brood patterns, and we’re actively grafting queens to expand our apiaries and help local beekeepers get the genetics they need.

What We’re Doing

Our grafting program focuses on selecting the best genetics from our healthiest colonies. We’re grafting lots of queens to:

First Queen Grafting Day of the 2026 Season!

What a way to start the weekend! Today marks the first queen grafting day here at Chuck’s Honeybees in Old Ortega, Jacksonville. After building and sharing the cell starter setup yesterday on YouTube, I’m diving right into selecting the best larvae from my strongest hives.

2026 Queen Cell Starter Configuration - Setting Up for Grafting

Beekeeping in Jacksonville, Florida (Hardiness Zone 9b) means our season starts earlier than most. While much of the country is still buried in snow, our bees are already sensing the coming spring and the early hints of the maple bloom.

In my first video of 2026, I walk through the essential January chores that set the foundation for a successful year.

Getting Ahead of the Curve

January is all about readiness. In this update, I cover: