Poultry Nerds: Backyard Chickens, Quail & Hatching Eggs

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Missing feathers? Before you change the whole pen—or blame the feed—watch what your birds are actually doing.

Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon talk through feather picking in quail and poultry, from crowded grow-outs and boredom to feed labels, dust baths and the breeding decisions that shape a flock. Jennifer shares what she noticed in her turkey pens and quail setup, while Carey explains why the protein number is only part of the feed conversation.

In this episode:
• Crowding, boredom and the layout around the pen
• Dust baths and Jennifer’s observations with quail
• Feed labels, amino acids and feather quality
• Finding the bird that starts the trouble
• Territorial aggression versus feather picking
• Selecting breeders you can handle

A useful starting point: sit down, watch the group and record who does what, where and when. The hosts share their experiences across different species and setups; the conversation is not a single stocking-density or feeding formula for every flock.

Hosts: Jennifer Bryant & Carey Blackmon

Explore more Poultry Nerds resources:Management & Welfare guides

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

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Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 episode:
• Standard Cornish versus Cornish Cross
• Body shape, leg placement, and clamshell wing carriage
• Maturity, natural breeding, and longevity
• Feeding decisions and seasonal fertility in Blake’s flock
• Preparing white Cornish for a poultry show

WATCH THE VIDEOhttps://youtu.be/Oujdkqx_wp0

EXPLORE POULTRY NERDShttps://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/

Guest: Blake Phillips • 4 Hill Acres, Cookeville, Tennessee
Hosts: Jennifer Bryant & Carey Blackmon

WEIGHT CORRECTION
The 8½ lb and 6½ lb weights discussed early in the episode are for large-fowl Cornish cockerels and pullets, respectively—not bantams.
Reference: https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chicken-breeds-varieties-a2880/

Blake’s growth, maturity, and fertility observations describe his own birds and breeding program; results vary between flocks.

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 Healthy Home Flock.

In this conversation:
• Designing a setup around your flock, climate, and daily routine
• Learning from other chicken keepers while questioning questionable advice
• Choosing products thoughtfully instead of following every promotion
• Preparing for the health, injury, and predator problems that can come with keeping chickens
• Nikki’s new book, A Healthy Home Flock, scheduled for release November 3, 2026

READ THE COMPANION ARTICLE & FIND RESOURCEShttps://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/2026-episodes/how-to-choose-a-chicken-coop
Our website brings together the coop-planning checklist, related episodes, and Nikki’s book link.

Educational discussion, not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or care.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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-dipping, and the mess around duck waterers
• Preening, feather condition, and safe water access for ducklings
• Cold-weather questions and how ducks conserve heat
• Avian influenza, duck viral enteritis, botulism, and Salmonella
• Why dead birds and contaminated water need prompt attention
• Niacin, brewer’s yeast, balanced feed, and medicated-feed questions
• Handling ducks carefully and protecting their feet

This episode is educational and is not a diagnosis or treatment plan for an individual bird. If birds are sick, injured, or dying unexpectedly, contact a poultry veterinarian or your state animal-health office.

Read the companion duck-care guide and find the research links:https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/2026-episodes/duck-care-myths

Explore poultry health and biosecurity:https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/poultry-health

About our guest:
Dr. Teresa Y. Morishita, DVM, PhD, DACPV, is a professor of poultry medicine and food safety at Western University of Health Sciences and a Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.

Subscribe to Poultry Nerds for more practical poultry conversations, and send your questions to PoultryNerds@gmail.com.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 in the water are a poor plan.

We also get into soil health and feed quality, what to ask a hatching-egg seller about their feed, whether roosters can eat layer feed, feeding through the seasons, and the concrete block grit and shell feeder. Our free vaccine and disease masterclass is coming to poultrynerdspodcast.com.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OnH4uyFxio

Blog with sources and studies: https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/2026-episodes/how-thin-shells-affect-incubation

Studies and resources mentioned:
Alabama Extension, Feeding the Laying Hen: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/backyard-small-poultry-flock-management-series-feeding-the-laying-hen/
Oregon State Extension, How to Feed Your Laying Hens: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-477-how-feed-your-laying-hens

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 brooder is sitting on the floor), how to set a heat plate so chicks can pick their own temperature, and why food, water and heat all belong in one pile in the middle.

We also cover the 95°F-and-down rule and when it doesn't apply, how to tell cold chicks from hot ones from a draft, bedding that keeps them dry and off slick plastic, and brooding button quail, turkeys and ducks, including a cake pan waterer that saves your sanity.

Also in this episode: the new Poultry Nerds news email, with updates on Georgia's egg candler license, Oklahoma loosening restrictions, and the EU treating HPAI as a year-round wild bird risk.

🎥 Watch the video: https://youtu.be/9OnZeK07V5I

📬 Get the Poultry Nerds news email every Monday: https://poultrynerdspodcast.com

📖 Read the brooding blog: https://poultrynerdspodcast.com

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How spilled feed can attract mice and rats—and what may follow them
• Why raccoons can be dangerous even when they cannot enter the coop
• Hawks, snakes, and the realities of free-ranging poultry
• Practical ways to protect birds without trying to eliminate every wild animal
• How habitat and natural prey influence predator activity
• Carpenter bees and other misunderstood wildlife around the farm
• Why making poultry harder to access is often more effective than constantly reacting

David Mizejewski is a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation, where he has spent more than 25 years helping people understand wildlife and create healthier habitats. He has appeared across national television and hosts the Wild Critters USA podcast.

If you raise chickens, quail, ducks, or other poultry, this conversation will change how you look at the wildlife—and the food chain—around your coop.

Follow Poultry Nerds for practical poultry conversations grounded in experience, science, and the people doing the work.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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, including cold-weather considerations
• How stocking density affects litter and outdoor runs
• Matt’s three coop priorities: safety, ventilation, and space
• Duck tubs, working animals, and “bullseye gardening”
• How Carolina Coops grew from a small Craigslist sale into a custom coop business
• The story behind building Mike Tyson’s pigeon coop

Whether you’re buying your first coop or improving your current setup, this conversation offers plenty of questions to ask before you spend.

Explore Carolina Coops: https://carolinacoops.com/
Find poultry education, research, and more episodes: https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/

Subscribe to Poultry Nerds for new conversations every Thursday.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 natural and organic actually mean
• Free-range, cage-free, and the difference between outdoor access and active foraging
• Why “no hormones added” is not a special poultry-production achievement
• What raised without antibiotics does—and does not—tell you
• Air-chilled versus water-chilled poultry
• Retained water versus an added solution
• How genetics, age, activity, rigor, resting, and cooking affect flavor and texture
• Why buying locally or raising your own provides traceability—not an automatic guarantee

Chicken labels are not useless. They simply answer specific questions. The smartest approach is to decide what difference matters to you before paying more for the words on the package.

Read the companion article:
https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/2026-episodes/chicken-labels-explained

Explore the Poultry Nerds Research Library:
https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/research-library

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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, uncomfortable, and sensitive to handling
• When to separate roosters from hens
• Feed, treats, supplements, and why more protein is not always the simple answer
• Why cat food and dog food are not a shortcut for chicken nutrition
• How lighting affects laying—and why extending the morning is often easier on the flock
• When switching from layer feed to an all-flock feed can make sense
• What feather-eating can tell you about your flock’s diet

Whether you are seeing your first molt or managing breeders through the season, this episode will help you know what is normal, what deserves attention, and how to keep your birds comfortable while they grow their new feathers.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Poultry Nerds Research Library: https://www.PoultryNerdsPodcast.com/research-library
• First Peck Chick Start Supplement: https://showprofarmsupply.com/showpro/p/first-peck-chick-start-supplement
• HBN Outdoor Waterproof Mechanical Timer: https://amzn.to/4gT1LN3
• 100-Foot Outdoor LED Rope Lights, White: https://amzn.to/4zBxKbU

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 weeks
• The value of a meat bird that can reproduce naturally
• Why older, active birds develop deeper flavor and firmer texture
• Which chickens work best for frying, baking, barbecue, soups, stews, and broth
• Why proper resting after processing matters before cooking a fresh chicken

This is not about declaring one breed “best.” It is about understanding what each bird was bred to do—and choosing the right chicken for your breeding program, freezer, and dinner table.

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 2026 Nutrient Requirements of Poultry report is
• Why the feed tag is a starting point, not the whole answer
• Digestible amino acids, energy and mineral availability
• Nutrition for breeders, growing birds and molting flocks
• How feed changes, water quality and environment affect birds
• Why supplements and high-protein treats cannot repair an unbalanced diet
• How to use new research without abruptly changing your flock’s feed

Read Nutrient Requirements of Poultry: Tenth Revised Edition online:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/read/25395

Explore the official publication:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DELS-BANR-15-01/publication/25395

Learn more from the Poultry Nerds:
https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com

Need help with incubation?
https://www.incubationmasterclass.com

This episode discusses poultry nutrition research alongside practical experience. Nutrient needs vary by species, age, genetics, environment and production stage. Confirm health concerns through appropriate testing and veterinary guidance.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 guarantee breeding quality.

Whether you’re choosing a chicken breeder, looking for a quail breeder, or buying hatching eggs online, this guide will help you compare breeders fairly and set realistic expectations.

🐣 Read the complete guide:
www.PoultryNerdsPodcast.com/how-to-choose-a-poultry-breeder

🥚 Browse the HatchingEggDirectory.com

🌾 Learn more about Show Pro:
ShowProFarmSupply.com

Price should never be the only question. Instead, ask: Does this breeder inspire confidence?

Subscribe to Poultry Nerds for practical information about poultry breeding, nutrition, incubation, and flock management.

#PoultryBreeder #HatchingEggs #ChickenBreeder #QuailBreeder #PoultryNerds

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 balanced feed matters more when birds eat less.

Along the way, we share real-world experiences, practical feeding advice, and explain the science behind what chickens actually need during periods of heat stress.

Whether you raise backyard chickens, homestead poultry, or manage a larger flock, this episode will help you make better feeding decisions and avoid common nutrition mistakes.

Topics covered: summer chicken care, chicken nutrition, scratch grain, treats for chickens, layer feed, protein requirements, heat stress, backyard chickens, poultry nutrition, egg production.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 experience raising poultry, they discuss ventilation, shade, cool drinking water, fans, broody hens, obesity, breed differences, and why simply "giving them shade" isn't always enough. Jennifer also shares what has worked on her own farm during extreme heat and why understanding your environment is just as important as understanding your birds.

Whether you raise backyard chickens, Coturnix quail, or other poultry, this episode will help you separate fact from fiction and better prepare your flock for the hottest days of the year.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Common heat stress myths and what the research says
• Whether ice water and frozen treats are actually harmful
• Why ventilation is often more important than shade alone
• Practical cooling methods that have worked on Jennifer's farm
• Why broody hens are at greater risk during hot weather
• The relationship between obesity and heat stress
• Signs your birds are coping—and signs they need immediate attention

Supporting Partner

This episode of Poultry Nerds is brought to you by Show Pro Feed. Their support helps make free, research-backed poultry education possible while allowing us to continue sharing practical information for backyard poultry keepers.

Learn more about Poultry Nerds, browse our Research Library, and explore additional educational resources at https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com/.

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

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send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 management from internet folklore.

You'll learn:

• Why some popular remedies contain a small grain of truth—but don't tell the whole story.
• When apple cider vinegar may have a limited role—and when it can create problems.
• Why clean, cool water is one of the most important tools for keeping chickens healthy.
• The dangers of mixing household chemicals around your flock.
• How to evaluate poultry advice before trying it on your birds.

Whether you're new to backyard chickens or have years of experience, this episode will help you make more informed decisions based on research, practical experience, and good flock management.

Resources Mentioned

• Dangerous Homemade Chicken Remedies: When Good Intentions Can Harm Your Flock
• Apple Cider Vinegar for Chickens Research Library
• Assessing Your Chickens for Health
• How Birds Stay Cool: The Science Behind Heat Stress

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Poultry Nerds Podcast, leave a review, and share it with another poultry keeper who appreciates science over speculation.

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 repeating the same customer service conversations.

In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer shares the philosophy behind Beyond the Egg, a new educational membership designed to help poultry breeders and small farm businesses build smarter systems instead of simply working longer hours.

Carey and Jennifer discuss what they've learned about growing a poultry business, setting boundaries, using automation wisely, and creating assets you actually own—like websites, blogs, and email lists—instead of relying entirely on social media.

Whether you're selling hatching eggs, breeding stock, farm products, or simply dreaming about turning your hobby into a business, this episode offers practical insights into building a business that supports your homesteading lifestyle instead of taking it over.

Mentioned in this episode

• Beyond the Egg
• Bryant's Roost
• Homestead burnout
• Email marketing
• Farm websites
• Automation
• Customer service
• Small farm business
• Poultry marketing

If this episode resonated with you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another poultry keeper or homesteader who's trying to grow their business without losing the joy that started it all.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 can help you create a healthier environment for your birds while making your coop a more enjoyable place to work.

This episode covers:

• Why flies are attracted to chicken coops
• Common causes of fly infestations
• Management practices that reduce fly breeding
• Practical tips for long-term fly control

If you enjoy this discussion, be sure to listen to the full Poultry Nerds Podcast for more science-based conversations on poultry health, management, and husbandry.

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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 independence.We also discuss Laurie's vision for "Poultry With a Purpose," including her Carolina Rooster Solution, a program that rehomes unwanted roosters—including placing some with veterans experiencing loneliness and depression—and her goal of helping more neurodivergent individuals discover the value of caring for poultry.Along the way, we also nerd out about:

• Starting and growing a hatchery
• Scaling from one incubator to over 1,000 eggs
• Choosing the right poultry business model
• NPIP guidance for beginners
• Hy-Line Brown ready-to-lay pullets
• Developing new breeding projects
• And, of course... why naked neck chickens are so controversial!

Whether you're interested in poultry, entrepreneurship, or the unexpected ways chickens can change lives, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

SEO Keywords

• autism and chickens
• poultry with a purpose
• Harrison's Hatchery
• backyard chickens
• incubating chicken eggs
• neurodiversity
• backyard poultry
• hatchery business
• NPIP
• Hy-Line Brown
• Carolina Rooster Solution
• poultry entrepreneurship

Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!

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:

• How to select breeding quail for long-term flock improvement
• Evaluating body structure and conformation in coturnix quail
• Selecting for egg production and egg size
• Choosing meat-type quail and growth traits
• Fertility and hatchability considerations
• Temperament and behavior in breeding stock
• Common mistakes quail breeders make when selecting birds
• Genetic considerations for coturnix breeding programs
• How to identify birds that should be retained versus culled
• Selection strategies for homesteaders and commercial breeders

If you've ever wondered how experienced breeders evaluate coturnix quail, this episode provides practical insights that can help improve productivity, consistency, and overall flock quality.

Whether you raise jumbo coturnix quail, celadon quail, feather-sexable quail, meat quail, egg-laying quail, or mixed breeding projects, the principles discussed in this episode can help you make more informed breeding decisions.

Learn how proper quail selection affects:

✔ Egg production
✔ Fertility rates
✔ Hatchability
✔ Growth rate
✔ Feed efficiency
✔ Carcass quality
✔ Bird health and vigor
✔ Genetic progress
✔ Long-term flock performance

Resources Mentioned:

🌐 Bryant's Roost: Bryant's Roost

🌐 Poultry Nerds Podcast: Poultry Nerds Podcast

🌐 Beyond the Egg: Beyond the Egg

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Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com

Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

https://www.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 Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Suppliesfrom Double R Farms

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com