Get ready for an invigorating journey into the world of poultry, as we unravel the intricacies of laying cycles, bird selection, and egg production. Our expert guides are seasoned veterans in the poultry hobby. We'll draw on their wealth of knowledge to delve into the impact of various factors on the laying cycle, from lighting to regional variances. They reveal golden strategies for keeping track of the best eggs and spotting poot quality hens, emphasizing the importance of selecting for vig...
Think your chicken coop is “good enough”? What Rip, Jeff, and Carey reveal in this episode will change the way you look at every part of your coop—from the floor under their feet to the air they breathe. Most poultry keepers focus on predators, bedding, or heat… but the real secrets that make coops safe, healthy, and long-lasting are hiding in plain sight. In this episode of Poultry Keepers Podcast, we break down the most misunderstood parts of coop design. You’ll learn why insulation isn’t n...
Discover the real secrets behind a clean, productive, low-stress chicken coop that keeps your birds happy, healthy, and stress-free. In this episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, and Carey Blackmon reveal the five coop setup choices that have the biggest impact on flock health, egg quality, and ease of management. These aren’t the tips you find on Pinterest—these are the practical, experience-backed methods used by lifelong poultry keepers. In Part 1, you’l...
Think your chicken coop is “good enough”? What Jeff reveals in this episode will change the way you look at every part of your coop—from the floor under their feet to the air they breathe. Most poultry keepers focus on predators, bedding, or heat… but the real secrets that make coops safe, healthy, and long-lasting are hiding in plain sight. In this episode of Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip, Carey, and poultry nutrition expert Jeff Mattocks break down the most misunderstood parts of coop design...
If you’ve ever wondered why some coops keep birds healthy and thriving while others create nonstop problems… this episode is your missing blueprint. Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, and Carey Blackmon break down the real factors that make or break a coop—space requirements, ventilation, run design, soil management, flock stress, and more. Whether you’re building your first coop or improving one you’ve used for years, this conversation will help you avoid the hidden mistakes that lead to behavioral...
Welcome to Part 4 of the Poultry Health Master Class, featuring poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks and poultry educator Carey Blackmon. In this final session of the series, Jeff and Carey walk through advanced poultry health concepts, including how to recognize internal issues through necropsy, how heart attack presents in chickens, and how to manage rare but serious conditions like Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS). You’ll also learn practical, science-based natural remedies for improving flock health...
In Part 3 of the Poultry Health Master Class on The Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Carey Blackmon and Jeff Mattocks continue their deep dive into poultry health, exploring the causes, symptoms, and management of some of the most common ailments affecting flocks today. This educational episode covers Marek’s disease, gout, bumblefoot, rickets, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic respiratory disease (CRD)—each explained with clarity and real-world experience that backyard and small-flock keep...
In this follow-up episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, poultry experts Jeff Mattocks and Carey Blackmon dive deep into the details of building and maintaining reliable poultry water systems for every season. Learn how to design a system that keeps your flock’s water clean, cool, and flowing — even in freezing winter temperatures or summer heat waves. Discover the pros and cons of nipple and cup systems, how to reduce water pressure safely, and practical DIY tricks for heat and freeze prote...
Welcome to another episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast! In this first part of our two-part deep dive, Carey Blackmon and Jeff Mattocks unpack everything you need to know about poultry water systems—from nipple and cup design to keeping water clean, cool, and algae-free. Whether you’re raising a few backyard hens or managing a larger breeding flock, clean water is critical for bird health, growth, and egg production. Carey and Jeff share practical solutions for summer heat, winter freeze pr...
In this episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, Jeff Mattocks and Carey Blackmon continue their Poultry Health Master Class with an in-depth look at real-world health issues every poultry keeper faces. Learn how to recognize early symptoms, identify management causes, and apply effective solutions for viral and bacterial conditions that can affect your flock. Topics covered include: Understanding and managing Mycoplasma-related respiratory diseaseRecognizing Botulism and how Clostridium bacte...
Welcome to The Poultry Keepers Podcast! In this first installment of our four-part Poultry Health Master Class series, Carey Blackmon and Jeff Mattocks dive deep into the most common poultry health issues—and how to manage them naturally and effectively. In this episode, you’ll learn how to identify and treat: Dry vs. Wet Fowl Pox — what they look like and how they spreadInfectious Bursal Disease (IBD) and what signs to watch forCRD (Mycoplasma) and other respiratory illnesses: prevention and...
In Part 2 of Getting Ready for Breeding Season, The Poultry Keepers Podcast continues the conversation with deeper insights into preparing your flock for success. This episode covers critical topics every poultry keeper should know, including: How to manage lighting for optimal fertility without stressing birdsThe role of water systems and continuous flow setups in maintaining flock healthWhy nutrition—especially amino acids like lysine, methionine, and threonine—directly impacts egg quality ...
Are your chickens truly ready for breeding season? In this episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, Jeff Mattocks and Carey Blackmon dive into everything small flock keepers need to know to prepare for a successful breeding program. From selecting the best hens and roosters with the fewest defects, to setting realistic long-term goals for your flock, this discussion lays the foundation for healthier birds and stronger bloodlines. You’ll also hear practical tips on lighting management, line bre...
In Part 2 of our Heritage Poultry Flock Breeding & Management series, master breeder Frank Reese, Jr. dives into the practical realities of keeping true utility strains going—how many hens you need to maintain genetic diversity, when to share bloodlines with trusted partners, and how hens vs. roosters influence different traits (hens driving body size and skeletal/health; roosters shaping egg production and plumage pattern). We also talk through the business side: define your market befor...
Heritage poultry breeding isn’t nostalgia—it’s a disciplined, data-driven path to better birds and better outcomes. In Part 1 of this deep-dive, Frank Reese, Jr. joins Carey Blackmon and Jeff Mattocks to unpack what “heritage/standard-bred” really means, how USDA recognizes certified standard-bred labels, and why the American Poultry Association’s Standard matters on the farm and in the marketplace. We cover picking your purpose (meat, eggs, or both), matching breeds and lines to goals, and t...
Drowning in extra roosters as grow-out season hits? This episode lays out a practical, ethical roadmap so you can plan before you hatch—and avoid the last-minute scramble. We cover the real-world options, their pros and cons, and how to set up a reliable, humane system that fits your space, goals, and local rules. What you’ll learn Why planning matters: straight-run math, space, feed, timelines, and neighbor considerationsOption 1: Grow out and harvest yourself — reliable, data for dual...
In this episode, we introduce Mia Thom, one of our new Poultry Keepers Podcast content creators. Mia shares her inspiring journey raising Black Silver Marans and Silver Cuckoo Marans in Southern Oregon. From her first $10 hen that sparked her passion, to carefully line breeding, selecting for dual-purpose traits, and overcoming challenges like egg color, heat stress, and hatch rates, Mia offers practical insight into the rewarding world of project varieties of Marans. She also discusses how s...
In Part 2 of Nature vs Nurture: Hatching Chicks with Hens or Hatchers, we explore the time-tested traditions of broody hens alongside the science of modern incubators. Discover: How to prepare housing and bedding for a broody henWhy moving a setting hen rarely works and what to do insteadThe benefits and drawbacks of peat moss, straw, and other bedding optionsWhy incubator calibration is critical for successThe importance of stable temperature and humidity for hatch ratesWhat to feed chicks ...
Thinking about letting a hen hatch her own chicks instead of using an incubator? In this Poultry Keepers Podcast episode, we explore the pros, pitfalls, and fascinating realities of hen hatching. Learn why some breeds—like Silkies—are famous for broodiness, how a mother hen’s natural care can boost chick survival and growth, and the environmental factors that trigger broodiness. We share practical advice on feed timing, managing aggressive flock members, and when (and if) you should mov...
In Part 2 of this Poultry Keepers Podcast, Jeff Mattocks and Carey Blackmon return to tackle more proven, real-world strategies for preventing heat stress in your birds. From ventilation hacks and nutrition adjustments to water system improvements and coop cooling tricks, this episode is packed with practical insights every poultry keeper can use. We dive into: Airflow and coop design for better temperature regulationWhy chickens prefer apple cider vinegar in summer water Frozen treats: ...