Poultry Nerds Podcast: A conversation about chicken, quail and turkeys with a side of humor

<p> Jennifer Bryant of BryantsRoost.com and Carey Blackmon of ShowProFarmSupply.com  are here to discuss backyard chicken keeping.  This show dives deep into <b>flock management</b>, <b>poultry health</b>, <b>hatching eggs, incubating</b>, <b>brooding chicks</b>, <b>predator-proofing</b>, and <b>biosecurity</b>.</p><p>We cover everything from <b>chicken coop tips</b> to coturnix <b>quail farming</b>, <b>heritage breeds</b>, and even <b>NPIP certification</b>. Each episode is packed with real-world advice, expert interviews, and practical tips for <b>egg production</b>, <b>chicken behavior</b>, and <b>integrating new birds</b> into your flock.</p><p>With all your favorite breeders, our guests round out the nerd table with the most information.</p><p>If you're a beginner or a lifelong <b>poultry nerd</b>, this <b>chicken keeping podcast</b> will help you raise healthier birds, hatch with confidence, and grow your homestead. Tune in and nerd out with us!</p><p><br /></p><p>Poultry Pro is designed to improve health, efficiency, and profits while managing your flocks and animals better.  Use coupon code POULTRYNERDALERT! for 15% off any subscription.</p><p><br /></p><p>Chicken Bawks!  THE t-shirt for all chicken tenders and a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds Podcast. Check them out at https://thechickenbawks.com/poultrynerds</p>

Talking Chicken and Champion Cochins with Craig Hansen

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Join us on the Poultry Nerds Podcast as we sit down with Craig Hansen, one of the most respected names in the Cochin world. From his start in 4-H projects to breeding award-winning varieties like Silver Laced and Buff Columbians, Craig shares his journey, breeding strategies, and passion for preserving poultry genetics. We dive into show preparation, artificial insemination for fertility, predator challenges, and what it ...

09-18
28:18

From Poultry Nerd to Certified Judge: Keeping Chickens Safe & Healthy on the Farm

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we celebrate a big milestone—earning an American, Oriental, and Spanish Gamefowl Judging Certificate—and dive into essential farm wisdom every chicken keeper needs. From choosing the right judging regalia (coat, apron, or vest?) to keeping your flock safe from common hazards, we cover it all. Learn about chicken wire vs. hardware cloth, preventing injuries from pigs and cows, ...

09-11
48:08

Chicken DNA Testing with Knights Poultry and Lab: Sexing, Genetics, and Breeding Insights

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Brittany from Knights Poultry and Lab in Mississippi to explore the fascinating world of chicken DNA testing. From sexing Silkies and Ameraucanas to identifying the blue egg gene, recessive white, chocolate, lavender, and even duck or emu testing, Brittany shares how she turned a personal hobby into a growing poultry lab serving breeders nationwide. We cover: ...

09-04
26:07

Assessing Your Chicken’s Health: Observations, Necropsy, and Breeding Insights

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we dive deep into how to assess your chicken’s health—from daily live observations to hands-on necropsy techniques. Carey and Jennifer share detailed notes from their flocks, including Orpington grow-out observations, line breeding practices, and surprising behavior differences when young cockerels are raised with mature roosters. We also cover: What to look for in combs, watt...

08-28
43:02

Next Level Nerds with Redmond Hills Farm: Chickens & Quail to profit

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! We’re back with another Next Level Nerds episode, and this one’s packed with real-world farming grit and laughs. 🐓🌱 Meet Bernadine & Ray from Redmond Hills Farm in Oregon. They’ve turned retirement into full-time farming—raising pasture-raised Cornish chickens, quail for eggs & meat, and even working with Longhorn cattle. But their journey is far from simple… 🔥 In this episode: ✔️ Navigating farm-use tax law...

08-21
44:19

Choosing the Right Poultry Breeds for Self-Sufficiency: Heritage chicken vs. Cornish, Ducks, Quail & More

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Ever wondered which chicken, duck, or quail breed is best for your self-sufficient lifestyle? In this fun and informative episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey and Jennifer compare their two very different homesteads—one on multiple acres, one on a small plot—to show how anyone can start raising poultry, no matter the space. We dive into heritage breeds like Orpingtons and American Bresse, fast-growing Cornish Cross...

08-14
38:17

Backyard Chickens on a Budget: How to Start Raising Chickens Without Breaking the Bank

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Thinking about raising chickens but overwhelmed by fancy coops and expensive setups? In this down-to-earth episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we go back to basics with practical, budget-friendly tips for beginners. From cardboard box brooders to free pallet coops, we share our first chicken stories, starter equipment, predator protection advice, and what you actually need—vs what social media says you should buy. Wheth...

08-07
38:44

Indio Gigante Chickens: The Tallest Breed in the World with Whitney from Bissonnette Acres

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Whitney from Bissonnette Acres to talk about the Indio Gigante, a massive chicken breed developed in Brazil for meat production and now turning heads in the U.S. for its size, docility, and dinosaur-like appearance. Whitney shares her experience raising these birds, what makes them different from other large fowl like Brahmas or Ayam Cemani, and the importance...

07-31
42:06

Tiny But Mighty: Raising Button Quail for Fun, Breeding & Profit

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Discover the charming world of button quail! Jennifer shares her journey raising these tiny birds, tips on brooding, feeding, housing, and how custom nutrition boosted hatch rates. Whether you're breeding or keeping them as indoor pets, this episode covers it all. In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey and Jennifer dive into the care, breeding, and quirks of button quail. Learn how to brood them success...

07-24
36:09

Rediscovering the Black Java Chicken: History, Homesteading, and Hope for a Critically Endangered Breed

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this fascinating episode of Poultry Nerds, Jennifer is joined by Jeanette from The Livestock Conservancy and Deborah from High Ground Farm to shine a spotlight on one of America’s rarest heritage chicken breeds — the Black Java. Thought to be nearly extinct, these beautiful long-backed birds boast rich green iridescent plumage, gentle temperaments, and deep historical roots dating back to the early 1800s. Deborah share...

07-17
33:14

Lighting, Molting & Egg Production: How Day Length Affects Your Chickens & Quail

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! What role does light play in your flock’s health, behavior, and egg production? In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we dig deep into how seasonal changes in daylight—like the summer solstice—affect your chickens and quail. From lighting tricks to manage molting, to using LED and rope lights for consistent laying, we share expert tips for lighting routines in brooders, barns, and breeder pens. Join Carey and Jenn...

07-10
35:47

Rainbow Egg Genetics 101: Breeding Olive Eggers, Marans & More with Mojo Homestead

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this egg-citing episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey and Jennifer are joined by Nolie from Mojo Homestead Official to crack open the colorful world of rainbow egg genetics. From breeding true blue egg layers like Ameraucanas to creating Olive Eggers with rich, speckled shells, this episode dives deep into the science, myths, and breeding strategies behind green, pink, mauve, and even “dirty river water” eggs. Wh...

07-03
47:11

Hatching Shipped Eggs

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Support the show Feel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com EggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping! ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients. Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's ...

06-26
37:46

Marek’s Disease Exposed: The Truth About Vaccines, Symptoms, and Prevention with Dr. Morishita

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this deep-dive episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we're joined once again by our resident poultry veterinarian, Dr. Morishita, to tackle one of the most misunderstood and hotly debated topics in the poultry world—Marek’s Disease. We break down the science behind this deadly herpesvirus, how it spreads through feather dander, and why vaccination is the only real defense. Dr. Morishita explains the four main sym...

06-19
55:52

Molting Matters: How to Support Your Flock Through the Molt with Nutrition & Care

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Wondering why your chickens look half-naked and stopped laying? In this Poultry Nerds Q&A episode, we answer the top 20 questions about molting in poultry—what it is, when it happens, how to support birds with proper nutrition, and the best housing tips to reduce stress. Whether you're raising layers, show birds, or backyard chickens, you'll learn how to help your flock thrive during this natural but stressful season....

06-12
31:52

Next Level Nerds: From Backyard Birds to Full-Blown Farm Biz

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! What starts with a few backyard chickens can spiral into a full-scale farming operation before you even know what hit you. In this kickoff episode of Next Level Nerds: From Hobby to Hustle, hosts Jennifer and Carey get real about how they each went from “just a few birds” to running multi-layered ag businesses — from breeding, shipping, and selling hatching eggs to creating feed brands, running delivery routes, and launch...

06-05
36:55

Predator-Proofing Your Chicken Coop with the Chicken Coop Company | Backyard Flock Safety Tips

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we’re joined by Danny from the Chicken Coop Company to talk all things predator prevention for backyard chickens. Whether you're battling raccoons, foxes, coyotes, or the real danger—your neighbor’s dog—this episode breaks down practical, real-world solutions to protect your flock. We discuss coop design features that work, the best materials to use (like hardware cloth vs. ch...

05-29
41:26

Chicken Math & Show Secrets with The Gypsy Hen – Behind the Scenes of Poultry Exhibition

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we're joined by Jessica from The Gypsy Hen, a passionate poultry breeder with over 300 birds, including Americanas, Silkies, Morans, Cochins, and more! We dive into what it’s like managing over 30 breeding pens, navigating poultry shows, using incubators like the GQF Sportsman 1502, and preparing for exhibition season. Jessica shares real talk about chicken math, double mating...

05-22
27:52

Summertime Hatching Hacks: Mastering Humidity & Avoiding Incubator Fails

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Join Carey and Jennifer in this lively episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast as they crack open the secrets to successful summertime hatching! Discover essential tips on humidity control, preventing common incubator mistakes, and the hilarious realities of poultry parenting. From handling incubator maintenance (without breaking the bank) to navigating humidity spikes, this episode equips you with practical solutions to imp...

05-15
41:10

Welsh Harlequins Uncovered: Breeding, Color Phases, and Mentorship with Tyrel

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we're diving deep into the world of Welsh Harlequin ducks with returning guest Tyrel, a seasoned breeder and duck enthusiast. 🦆 From the breed's unique Tennessee import history to the auto-sexing traits, color phase differences (silver vs. gold), and the nuances of eclipse vs. nuptial plumage, this episode is packed with insight for both beginners and serious waterfowl br...

05-08
31:54

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