The Urban Chicken Podcast - The Urbanite's Podcast Resource for Keeping Backyard Chickens

The Urban Chicken Podcast is a weekly resource for the suburban/urban dweller who wants to enjoy all of the benefits of living in the city while carving out a small slice of bucolic bliss in their own backyards with a small flock of hens. Jen Pitino, the host, will discuss topics pertinent to the backyard chicken-keeper and also feature regular guests on the show who are experts in various areas of raising chickens. The show is a balance of practical information for the hobbyist dealing with the day-to-day issues of owning chickens (e.g. coop building, brooding chicks, predators, illnesses/injuries, feed, eggs, etc.) and fun and interesting poultry facts providing plenty of intrigue to entertain all chicken enthusiasts. If you love owning chickens (or at least love the idea of someday owning some backyard hens) then listen to The Urban Chicken Podcast every Wednesday to revel in your interest as a chicken fancier!

UCP Episode 061: Should you get Fall/Winter Chicks? A Discussion with Tyler Danke of Purely Poultry

Springtime is the season most usually associated with getting started with baby chicks. However, autumn (and even winter) can be viable seasons for you to get a jump start on next year’s flock.  There are a few marked advantages to … Continue reading →

09-25
39:54

UCP Episode 060: Listener Q & A Session #6

On this episode of the Urban Chicken Podcast, I answer a new set of listener questions on a variety of topics.  How long after your husband treats your lawn with a chemical weed and feed can you safely put a … Continue reading →

09-01
40:45

UCP Episode 059: The Livestock Conservancy – Saving Heritage Our Breeds (Discussion with Jeannette Beranger)

How many grizzly bears are in the United States? 1,800. How many grey wolves in America?  5,443 in the lower 48 states (there is an estimated additional 7,700 -11,000 in Alaska.)  How many Redcap breed chickens in the States? Fewer … Continue reading →

06-10
01:24:13

UCP Episode 058: Listener Q & A Session #5

It is time again for another session of Urban Chicken Podcast Listeners’ questions and answers.  This Q and A session we consider and discuss ISA Brown chickens, a rooster who is acting like a hen, issues with spilt feed in … Continue reading →

05-04
31:21

UCP Episode 057: Understanding Chicken Molting with Meredith Chilson

Backyard chickens molt every year to replace broken, frayed and old feathers.  Though conventionally, chickens molt in late summer/early fall, a bird can molt anytime of year that suits.  Molting is both a physically and emotionally stressful time for the … Continue reading →

02-23
41:32

UCP EPISODE 056: Winning the Chicken Legal Fight (a Conversation with Kathy Shea Mormino)

In 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) studied urban chicken keeping in four major cities (Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City) and discovered that less than 1% of households had backyard chickens.  The study however further … Continue reading →

01-28
58:09

UCP Episode 055: Listeners Q and A Session #4 – Understanding Sex-Links, Bad Broodies & Plants Toxic to the Flock

Today on the Urban Chicken Podcast, I answer more chicken questions posed by listeners in Session #4 of Listeners’ Q & A series.  The chicken issues being discussed and considered in this session are: 1) understanding “sex-link” chickens; 2) dealing … Continue reading →

11-22
27:06

UCP Episode 054 – Chickens a Survivalist Tool? – A Conversation with Aaron Frankel of the In the Rabbit Hole-Urban Survival Podcast

Burgeoning U.S. national debt Islamic fundamentalist terrorism Continuous spewing of Fukushima radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean Instability in the dollar’s position as the world’s reserve currency Ebola outbreaks Growing tensions edging towards a new world war Unfettered immigration Peak Oil … Continue reading →

10-08
01:19:26

UCP Episode 053 – How to Primp Your Chickens for Show

Earlier this month, my sister and I dipped our toes into the pool of competitive chicken shows by entering several birds at our local county fair.  When I first started down the backyard chicken trail, I would have never considered … Continue reading →

09-01
31:44

UCP Episode 052 – Spying on Hens with Terry Golson of Hencam.com

What is really happening inside of your chicken coop?  Who is the naughty feather pulling hen?  Is there mischief occurring in your flock that you’re simply unaware of? For the average chicken keeper, it is impossible to know the answers … Continue reading →

08-18
56:37

UCP Episode 051 – Herbs for the Hens: a Conversation with Tina Hickman of Luv Nest

Across all continents and cultures, man has been using herbs for their medicinal and beneficial properties for thousands of years.  Even today it is estimated that 80% of the world’s population relies on herbal medicines as part of their primary … Continue reading →

07-30
47:38

UCP Episode 050 – The Incredible, Edible Egg: Nutrition Expert Liz Wolfe Explains Why Eggs are a Perfect Food

If you have backyard chickens then you probably abound in your birds’ gift of eggs, eggs and more eggs.  Your backyard bounty is delicious, nutritious and delightful, right? Conventional medical “wisdom” over the past few decades would say, “Nay!”  Current … Continue reading →

07-04
01:08:06

UCP Episode 049: Michigan’s Right to Farm Act – No Longer Progressive Protection for Urban Chickens & Farms

Are backyard chickens, beehives, gardens a “farm” is the owner sells part or all of the bounty of the eggs, honey and vegetables from his/her yard? Until recently in Michigan, the answer was “Yes” urban, suburban and other micro-farming set-ups … Continue reading →

06-11
49:37

UCP Episode 048 – Fermenting Chicken Feeds the Right Way!

Fermenting certain foods is a very traditional method of food preservation and also enhancing nutrition.  When it comes to feeding our backyard flock, fermentation is an excellent method to improve the diet and health of our flock through improving … Continue reading →

05-27
01:24:01

UCP Episode 047 – Langshan Chickens: Matt Stillman Discusses this Ancient Chinese Secret?

Question: How do you make the most strikingly beautiful, large, feather-legged, dark brown egg-laying chickens?  Answer:  Ancient Chinese Secret! Langshan, Cochin and Brahma are the three breeds that comprise the entire Asiatic Class of chickens recognized by the American … Continue reading →

05-12
01:06:42

UCP Episode 046: The Good Egg – Cookbook Author Marie Simmons Teaches Egg Cookery

It started off as a match made in heaven.  You got some backyard chickens and they started laying you delicious eggs.  It seemed perfect at first.  That handful of hens though, turn out to be fruitful birds… I mean, REALLY … Continue reading →

04-16
56:33

UCP Episode 045: “The Chicken and the Dog” – An Urban Chicken Tale for Children

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade – so the old saying goes.  Amanda Maxwell and her husband Andre followed the wisdom of that age old advice when tragedy struck their small backyard flock.  The Maxwells met over a … Continue reading →

03-30
35:32

UCP Episode 044: Pending Arizona “Chicken Bill” (Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Chickens!)

Currently, there is an important property rights bill being considered in Arizona, Senate Bill 1151, also known as the Homegrown Freedom Act.   This piece of legislation, which some glibly call the “Chicken Bill,” will have significant ramifications for … Continue reading →

03-16
58:25

UCP Episode 043 – Listeners Q & A Session #3 – Squawking Hens & Using Sand in Your Coop

Today on the Urban Chicken Podcast I answer more chicken questions posed by listeners in Session III of Listeners’ Q & A series.  The chicken issues being discussed and considered in this session are how to break your backyard hens … Continue reading →

03-07
28:26

UCP Episode 042: City Farmers Nursery – An Urbanite’s Source for Inspiration and Assistance

What separates the average from the extraordinary? Perhaps you think it depends on the context or subject matter that is being considered.  I disagree.  In all things and all people the extraordinary distinguish themselves by seeing what can be … Continue reading →

02-26
01:13:12

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