Poultry Nerds: Backyard Chickens, Quail & Hatching Eggs
Want healthier birds, better hatches, and fewer costly mistakes? Poultry Nerds gives backyard flock keepers and breeders practical, science-informed answers about chickens, Coturnix quail, hatching eggs, incubation, breeding, nutrition, brooding, biosecurity, housing, and flock health.Jennifer Bryant of Bryant’s Roost and Carey Blackmon of Show Pro Farm Supply bring real-world poultry experience to honest conversations with breeders, researchers, poultry professionals, and other people who truly know birds. We explain not only what to do, but why it works, so you can make better decisions for your own flock.Whether you are setting your first incubator, raising breeding stock, shipping ha...
Standard Cornish Chickens: Not Cornish Cross! | Blake Phillips
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Standard Cornish chickens aren’t Cornish Cross—and choosing good breeders takes more than spotting a big young bird.
Blake Phillips of 4 Hill Acres joins Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon to talk about raising large-fowl Cornish, selecting for balanced proportions, and waiting long enough to see a potential breeder’s full promise. Blake explains why he waits until about 18 months to choose his breeders and what he hopes to preserve by continuing to breed an older male.
In this e...
Chicken Keeping That Works for You | Nikki Husted of Purely Chickens
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A beautiful chicken coop is only useful if it works for your birds—and for the person doing the chores.
Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon talk with Nikki Husted of Purely Chickens about backyard chicken keeping, learning from social media without copying every trend, and making practical choices for your own flock. Nikki shares her journey from hatching chicks in a kindergarten classroom to educating chicken keepers online, plus the thinking behind her books Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple and A...
Duck Care Myths: Water, Niacin & Health with Dr. Teresa Morishita
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Do ducks need a pond? Can ducklings swim? Does every duck need extra niacin—and what health risks should backyard keepers actually watch for?
Jennifer Bryant welcomes poultry veterinarian Dr. Teresa Morishita back to Poultry Nerds for a practical conversation about duck care, feeding, and flock health. Jennifer brings examples from her own Welsh Harlequin flock and her move toward Muscovies, while Dr. Morishita discusses the questions she encounters in veterinary practice.
In this episode:
• Drinking water, bill...
How Thin Shells Affect Incubation: Calcium, Phosphorus & Vitamin D for Hens
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The chick pulls much of its calcium out of the eggshell, so what the hen ate before she laid the egg matters long before it hatches.
Thin shells, soft shells, or chicks that don't make it: it is not always the incubator and it is not always shipping. Carey and I walk through calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, why a hen needs all three, whether more oyster shell helps, whether chickens get vitamin D from the sun, and why vitamins...
Heat Plates Don't Heat the Brooder: Brooder Setup Mistakes That Kill Chicks
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Heat plates don't heat the brooder. They heat the chick, and only if it can touch the plate. If you're losing chicks, that's one of several brooder mistakes we see all the time.
Carey is building a new brooder, so we're getting into what actually matters when you raise chicks: why an old-time show breeder swears by solid-top brooders, why 99.9% of the "my chicks are dying" messages we get in winter come down to one thing (the...
Why Predators Keep Showing Up at Your Chicken Coop | David Mizejewski
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Why do raccoons, snakes, hawks, and other wildlife keep appearing around a chicken coop? Sometimes the chickens are not what attracted them first.
National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski joins Jennifer and Carey to explain how spilled feed, rodents, habitat, and easy access can turn a poultry area into a predator destination. Drawing on more than two decades of wildlife education, David helps us look beyond simply blaming the predator and understand what is happening around the coop.
...
Chicken Coop Design: Ventilation & Deep Litter with Matt DuBois of Carolina Coops
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Does keeping chickens really have to mean constant coop cleaning? Matt Dubois of Carolina Coops joins Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon to discuss how thoughtful coop design can make backyard chicken keeping easier.
We explore Matt’s approach to deep litter, why ventilation matters in every season, and how space, moisture management, and predator protection shape a functional chicken coop.
In this episode:
• Deep litter explained—and why sand is a different approach
• Ventilation versus drafts, includin...
Chicken Labels Explained: What Are You Actually Paying For?
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Fresh. Natural. Organic. Free-range. Air-chilled. Raised without antibiotics. A package of chicken can carry half a dozen reassuring claims—but what are you actually paying for?
In this episode, Jennifer and Carey sort through the language on grocery-store chicken packages and explain which questions those labels answer, which details they leave out, and when a higher price may—or may not—match what matters to you.
We discuss:
• Why “fresh” describes temperature history, not the slaughter date
• What n...
The Molt: Why Are My Chickens Naked?
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Chicken molt season can make even experienced keepers panic: feathers everywhere, birds that suddenly look half naked, fewer eggs, and a flock that seems miserable.
In this episode, Jennifer and Carey break down what a normal molt looks like, what triggers it, and how to help chickens through it without adding more stress. They cover:
• Why shorter days can trigger a molt
• Why egg production often slows down or stops
• Why molting birds may feel hot, uncomf...
American Bresse vs. Orpingtons: Which Makes the Better Meat Bird?
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Why raise American Bresse for the freezer when giant Orpingtons are already on the farm?
Jennifer and Carey compare American Bresse, standard-bred Orpingtons, and Cornish Cross chickens—not just by size, but by growth rate, feed investment, reproduction, flavor, texture, and usefulness in the kitchen.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Why standard-bred and utility Orpingtons are not the same
• How breeding priorities affect growth, egg production, and carcass development
• Why Jennifer selects American Bresse at 17–18...
Poultry Nutrition Just Changed: The First Major Update Since 1994
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For the first time since 1994, the National Academies has released a major revision of the nutrient requirements for poultry. What does that mean for the feed in your barn—and should you change anything?
Jennifer and Carey break down why crude protein alone does not describe a complete diet, how digestibility and amino-acid balance affect what birds can actually use, and why species, genetics, age, reproductive workload, environment and water all matter.
In this episode:
• What the new...
Buying and Selling Hatching Eggs
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How do you choose a reputable poultry breeder—and what should you ask before buying birds or hatching eggs?
In this video, we cover 10 important questions every buyer should ask before placing an order. You’ll learn how to evaluate a breeder’s experience, breeding goals, nutrition program, recordkeeping, biosecurity practices, shipping methods, replacement policy, and customer support.
We also explain the green flags that inspire confidence, the red flags worth investigating, and why NPIP participation alone doesn’t guaran...
Summer Chicken Feeding Myths: Do Chickens Need Electrolytes? | Poultry Nerds Podcast
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Every summer, backyard chicken owners hear the same advice—but how much of it is actually true?
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we separate fact from fiction as we tackle common summer feeding myths, including:
Does scratch corn cool chickens down—or make them hotter?Should treats replace layer feed during hot weather?Can chickens have unlimited watermelon and frozen fruit?Does protein make chickens overheat?How nutrition affects egg production during summer.Why bala...Keeping Chickens Cool in Summer Heat
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Are frozen treats really dangerous? Should you close the coop to keep hot air out? Does ice water hurt chickens?
Summer is full of advice about keeping poultry cool—but not all of it is accurate. In this episode of Poultry Nerds, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon tackle some of the most common heat stress myths they see online and explain what actually helps birds survive hot weather.
Drawing from current research and years of practical ex...
Backyard Chickens and Apple Cider Vinegar
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Episode Description
Can apple cider vinegar prevent disease? Is bleach water ever safe for chickens? Are homemade remedies helping your flock—or creating new problems?
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey Blackmon and Jennifer Bryant play Fact or BS? as they tackle some of the most common chicken health myths circulating online. From apple cider vinegar and water additives to dangerous cleaning myths and summer flock care, they separate evidence-based poultry ma...
How to Build a Poultry Business Without Burning Out
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Quick Look
In this episode, we discuss:
Why so many poultry keepers and homesteaders experience burnout.The difference between working in your business and working on it.Why social media shouldn't be your entire business strategy.How websites, blogs, and email lists create long-term growth.The story behind why Jennifer created Beyond the Egg.Most people start raising poultry because they love the animals—not because they want to spend every evening answering Facebook messages, updating social media, or...
Flies in the Coop: Causes, Prevention, and Control
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What Flies Are Really Telling You About Your Chicken Coop
Flies are more than just an annoyance—they're often an indicator of what's happening in your coop and run. In this Poultry Nerds Podcast clip, we discuss why flies are attracted to chickens, the environmental conditions that encourage them, and practical management strategies to reduce fly populations.
Whether you keep a small backyard flock or manage a larger operation, understanding the root causes of fly problems ca...
Poultry With Purpose: Harrison's Hatchery and Carolina Rooster Solution
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What happens when a simple incubator turns into a mission?In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we visit with Laurie Pineda of Harrison's Hatchery to hear the inspiring story of how her family's poultry journey began with one young man's fascination with hatching chicks.Harrison, who is on the autism spectrum, discovered an incredible passion for incubating eggs. That passion eventually grew into Harrison's Hatchery, where the family now hatches thousands of chicks while creating meaningful opportunities for learning, responsibility, and...Coturnix Quail Selection Points
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What makes a quality coturnix quail breeder? In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant of Bryant's Roost and Carey Blackmon discuss practical quail selection methods that breeders can use to improve their flocks generation after generation.
Whether you are raising coturnix quail for eggs, meat production, hatching eggs, homesteading, or developing your own breeding program, understanding how to properly evaluate birds is one of the most important skills you can learn.
Topics covered include:
<...Broody Chickens : Care, feed and breaking them
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Broody hens are a natural part of chicken keeping, but they can be confusing and frustrating if you don't understand what's happening.
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon take a deep dive into broodiness—what causes it, how to recognize it, and what poultry keepers should do when a hen decides it's time to hatch chicks.
You'll learn about the hormonal changes that drive broody behavior, why some breeds are more li...
Feed, supplements and Carey's BIG announcement!
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What should you feed your chickens, quail, and other poultry? Does protein really matter? Are expensive feeds worth the cost? And how much does nutrition impact hatchability, chick quality, and flock performance?
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon tackle listener questions about poultry feed and nutrition. They discuss feed formulations, protein levels, breeder nutrition, common feeding mistakes, and how proper nutrition affects everything from egg production to hatch rates.
Whether you're...
What to feed my chickens, dry incubating/hatching, and more listener questions answered
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From hobby chickens to homesteading chickens, we all have questions. In this episode we discuss feeding chickens to dry hatching and more!
Hatching Marans
Dry hatching
washing hatching eggs
Exploding eggs
Chick Electrolytes
Hatching Upright
Listen on your favorite platforms, youtube and on the www.PoultryNerdsPodcast.com
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Support the show
<...Coffee Eggers, Homesteading & Hatching with Little Willow Homestead
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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon sits down with Jessica from Little Willow Homestead to talk about chickens, homesteading, hatching, and building a recognizable brand in the poultry world.
The conversation covers the story behind the “Coffee Egger,” connecting with fellow homesteaders, and the realities of growing a homestead-focused platform while balancing everyday farm life.
Whether you’re a backyard chicken keeper, breeder, or simply love the homesteading lifestyle, this episode is full...
Heritage Chicken vs Hybrid Broilers: Flavor, Cost, Health & Reality Explained
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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey and Jennifer break down the real-world differences between heritage chickens, hybrid broilers, and the Cornish Cross birds used in commercial meat production. If you’ve ever wondered why home-raised chicken tastes different than store-bought chicken — or whether raising your own meat birds is actually worth it — this episode dives deep into the truth most people never hear.
From Orpingtons and dual-purpose heritage breeds to fast-growing commercial broilers like the Cobb and Ross l...
Silkies Aren’t “Just Cute”—Here’s What You’re Missing
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Silkie chickens are one of the most misunderstood breeds in poultry—and most people are getting it wrong.
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with veterinarian Dr. Nicole to break down what actually matters when it comes to breeding, raising, and selecting high-quality Silkies.
From genetics and defects to breed standards and real-world care, this episode cuts through the fluff and gives you practical knowledge you can actually use.
We cover ev...
How to Start a Poultry Breeding Program: What Every New Breeder Needs to Know
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How do you actually start a poultry breeding program? Carey and Jennifer break down the realities of building a breeding program from the ground up — from picking the right breed and finding a reputable source, to understanding culls, genetics, and the five-year timeline most beginners don’t expect.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to evaluate breed traits, why visiting a poultry show beats scrolling Facebook, the difference between standard-bred, utility, and English-style birds, and how phenotype and genotype actually work...
Splash, Ermine & Modeled: Decoding Americana Color Genetics with Gina Wrather
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Gina Wrather of Wrather Farms in Columbia, Tennessee returns to break down three of the most visually stunning — and most misunderstood — color varieties in Americana chickens. We dig into the genetics behind Splash, Ermine, and Modeled, explain why a recessive gene can hide for 20 years before showing up in your hatch, and talk about the breeder responsibility that comes with selling birds. If you've ever hatched a surprise chick and wondered where it came from, this episode is for you.
Join...
Not All Eggs Are Created Equal — Egg Selection for Hatching
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Think you can just toss any egg in the incubator? Think again. In this episode of Poultry Nerds, we go nest box to incubator — sorting real eggs by weight, shape, shell quality, and cleanliness to show you exactly what to set and what to skip. We cover large fowl, quail, and celadon eggs, break down double yolkers, torpedo shapes, golf balls, and the perfect 67-gram specimen. Plus — a listener question about noisy roosters and how to keep your neighbors from losing their mind...
10 Things You Don't Wanna Mess Up With Your Chickens (But You Will) | Chicken Care for Beginners
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Whether you've already impulse-bought chicks at Tractor Supply or you're planning your first flock, this episode is your roadmap to avoiding the most common beginner chicken-keeping mistakes. We answer real listener questions from a first-time chicken owner — covering nesting boxes, safe treats for kids to give chickens, when to stop using a heat lamp, and whether water supplements are worth the money. Then we dive into our list of 10 critical mistakes new flock owners make: impulse buying without a plan, brooder setup er...
Shipping Hatching Eggs, Buying Better Birds & Incubation Mistakes to Avoid | Poultry Nerds Podcast
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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we get into the real-world side of shipping hatching eggs, buying from breeders, hatch rate expectations, incubation mistakes, poultry medications, NPIP misconceptions, and how to find quality hatching eggs.
We talk through what actually matters when you’re buying hatching eggs or live birds, what questions to ask a breeder, how nutrition affects fertility and hatchability, why some eggs should never be shipped, and the red flags people ig...
Pasture Poultry, Feed Freedom, Duckweed & Natural Flock Health with Blaze of Bad Baxter Farm
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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Blaze from Bad Baxter Farm in Wynnewood, Oklahoma to talk about raising poultry and livestock in a more natural, practical, and self-sustaining way.
Blaze shares how her health journey led her deeper into nutrition, homesteading, growing her own food, and building a farm focused on stronger animals, better management, and less dependence on bagged feed and constant medications. We talk about what it really...
Bresse Chickens Explained | Breeding, Processing, Selection & Why We Prefer Them Over Cornish
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Today we’re talking all about Bresse chickens and why they’ve become one of our favorite breeds for a self-sustaining flock.
In this episode, we cover:
Why we prefer Bresse over Cornish in many situationsMeat quality, tenderness, and ideal processing ageHow to select breeder birds for width, body shape, and table qualityEgg size, egg selection, and incubation tipsHow to build a breeding program around your goalsThe difference between breeding for production versus breeding for showWhy Bresse may...Frozen Quail Feeders Explained | Falconry, Reptiles, Culling & Shipping Tips
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On this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Brent from Zero G Quail Farm to talk all about frozen quail feeders, who buys them, how they are sized, packaged, processed, and shipped, and why they can be a valuable outlet for quail breeders.
We also go down some fun rabbit holes, including the history of quail hatched in space, the strange legal gray areas around keeping quail, and the surprising demand from the falconry community, reptile...
Thinking About Raising Quail? What You MUST Know Before You Start
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Thinking about raising quail but not sure how to get started?
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we walk through the real decisions every beginner faces when starting with quail. Should you buy hatching eggs, chicks, or adult birds? What equipment do you really need? And what housing systems work best for backyard quail keepers?
We also explain the true costs of starting a quail flock, the pros...
The Incredible Edible Egg Hatching | Incubation Science, Air Cells, Shipped Eggs & Hatch Rate Secrets
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Is the egg just a shell with a chick inside?
Not even close.
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we break down the real science behind egg incubation and hatching — and clear up some of the biggest myths spreading through backyard chicken groups.
If you're incubating chicken eggs, quail eggs, duck eggs, or shipped hatching eggs this season, this episode will help you improve your hatch rate and produce stronger, healthier chicks.
...Quail Mania 2 Debrief + Rooster Health: Fertility, Layer Feed Myths, Molt & Aggression
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Quail Mania 2 is officially in the books — and the turnout was huge. In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we debrief the event results, what improved from last year, and what’s already being planned for Quail Mania 3 (including a Kids Corner and the possibility of expanding to three days).
Event highlights discussed:
15 speakers, 16 sponsors, and 1,363 participantsOver 4,800 live chat messagesAll-Access Pass availability through May 31 (so you can learn through breeding season)Then we shift into a to...
Backyard Chicken myths busted
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This week on the podcast we talk about some questions we see asked in our new Facebook group, Incubation Masterclass about incubating and general chicken keeping. We answer general questions and correct some misinformation we have seen discussed. Get more confident with your chicken skills after this episode
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Support the show
Feel Free to email us at - [email protected]...
The Threes C's of Chicks: Better Hatches, Better Broods, Better Birds
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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we break poultry husbandry down into something simple, practical, and proven: the rule of threes.
Every bird goes through three critical stages of life — incubation, brooding, and grow-out — and in each stage, there are three things that matter most. Miss them, and problems follow. Get them right, and everything gets easier.
We dive into:
Egg selection for better hatches (size, shape, shel...From Hobby to Hustle: How to Scale Quail Sales + Payments, Websites, and Reviews
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In this episode, we’re talking about how to scale from hobby quail-keeping to a real business—without getting burned by scammers, chargebacks, or platform fees.
Carrie’s back from travel (and we’re recording during an ice storm), so we’re using that momentum to break down the practical business side of quail: how to start selling, how to get paid safely, where to sell online, and how to price correctly when fees stack up. Ev...
How HP Murray Built a Quail Operation: Imports, Brooder Houses, Automatic Waterers & Quail Math
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In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with HP Murray of Gopher Ridge Farms for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about raising quail, building efficient farm systems, and how quail math can turn a small hobby into a full-time operation.
HP shares his journey from growing up on a farm, stepping away from agriculture, and then returning to it through quail after retirement. From early brooding mistakes to importing German quail lines, this...
