Poultry Nerds: Backyard Chickens, Quail & Hatching Eggs

By Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon

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

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How many episodes does Poultry Nerds: Backyard Chickens, Quail & Hatching Eggs have?

The podcast currently has 142 episodes available.

Best of Poultry Nerds: Backyard Chickens, Quail & Hatching Eggs

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: Chicken Coop Design: Ventilation & Deep Litter with Matt DuBois of Carolina Coops
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 - [email protected] 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 Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R Farms Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. [email protected]
September 10, 20261h
Number 2: Chicken Labels Explained: What Are You Actually Paying For?
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 - [email protected] 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 Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R Farms Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. [email protected]
September 03, 202642min
Number 3: The Molt: Why Are My Chickens Naked?
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 - [email protected] 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 Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R Farms Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. [email protected]
August 27, 202626min
Number 4: American Bresse vs. Orpingtons: Which Makes the Better Meat Bird?
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 - [email protected] 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 Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R Farms Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. [email protected]
August 21, 202623min
Number 5: Poultry Nutrition Just Changed: The First Major Update Since 1994
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 - [email protected] 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 Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R Farms Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. [email protected]
August 13, 202646min