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 protection that actually work.

You’ll also get hands-on insights from real setups:

• How to size pumps and manage water pressure correctly.
• Cup and nipple system pros, cons, and maintenance tips.
• Gravity flow vs. recirculating setups — which is best for your flock?
• Winter freeze protection using heat lamps, pipe heaters, and low-voltage systems.
• How poor water access stops hens from laying — and what to do about it.

Whether you raise backyard layers, breeders, or show birds, this episode is packed with real-world advice from trusted experts who’ve built systems that last.

Listen now: www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com
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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 protection, pH balance, and choosing the right equipment for chicks, layers, and turkeys.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How water quality affects feed intake and production.
• The difference between chick, layer, and turkey nipple drinkers.
• Safe ways to reduce algae and keep systems clean.
• How temperature and light affect water consumption.
• Smart hacks to cool water in summer and prevent freezing in winter.
• Why system design matters for consistent flock health.

This episode is packed with proven tips, real-world experiences, and Jeff Mattocks’ professional insight into water quality and system setup.

🎧 Listen now at  : www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com  Then get ready for Part 2 of Poultry Water Systems next week!

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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 disease
• Recognizing Botulism and how Clostridium bacteria cause “limber-neck” in chickens
• Identifying Gout in poultry and how protein and calcium imbalance trigger joint pain
• The difference between Bumblefoot and Gout—and what causes each
• Roundworms, tapeworms, and cecal worms: how they spread and how to prevent reinfection
• Coccidiosis: how it develops, the role of soil management, and how balance builds natural immunity
• Why overusing medications like Corid can actually harm gut health
• Practical prevention through nutrition, sanitation, and observation

If you want to improve your flock’s long-term health and understand the “why” behind poultry problems, this session is for you.

Listen, learn, and take notes—because a healthy flock starts with informed management.

To listen now go to: www.thepoultrykeeperspordcast.com

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryHealthMasterClass #BackyardChickens #PoultryCare #PoultryHealth #ChickenDiseases #FlockManagement  #HealthyFlocks #Mycoplasma #Botulism #Coccidiosis #ChickenWorms

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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 spread
• Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) and what signs to watch for
• CRD (Mycoplasma) and other respiratory illnesses: prevention and biosecurity
• Fowl Cholera and other look-alike respiratory conditions
• The right use of natural remedies like garlic tincture, oregano, and CEG (Cayenne + Echinacea + Garlic)
• Smart management tips for small-flock health, mosquito control, and maintaining strong immune systems

This is the must-hear foundation for anyone who wants to raise healthier birds without relying heavily on antibiotics. Tune in as Carey and Jeff share real-world insights, field-tested remedies, and practical prevention strategies every small-flock keeper can use.

Don’t miss Part 2 next Tuesday as the Poultry Health Master Class continues!
 
 

Visit www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com to listen now and for more episodes, guides, and free resources.

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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 birds
• The role of water systems and continuous flow setups in maintaining flock health
• Why nutrition—especially amino acids like lysine, methionine, and threonine—directly impacts egg quality and chick vigor
• Ideal egg sizes for hatching strong, healthy chicks
• Housing and nest box designs that reduce stress and encourage reliable laying
• The importance of fresh greens, sprouts, and even alfalfa in boosting vitamin A and embryo development

Whether you’re raising heritage breeds, managing a small backyard flock, or preparing birds for show, this discussion provides actionable steps to elevate your breeding program.

To listen to this episode, visit www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com 

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #PoultryBreedersNutrition #ShowProFarmSupply #PoultryBreeding #ChickenBreeding #BackyardChickens #PoultryNutrition #HeritagePoultry #BreedingSeason

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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 breeding vs. inbreeding, and how to avoid common mistakes that new breeders make. Whether you want to hatch ten chicks or one thousand, this episode will give you the tools to get started the right way.

Don’t miss Part 2 of this conversation next week, where we continue exploring strategies to take your breeding program even further.

Listen to this episode here: www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #BackyardChickens #PoultryBreeding #ChickenBreeding #HomesteadChickens #PoultryManagement #BreedingSeason

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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 before you build, know your state/federal rules, budget for testing and processing, and price realistically.

Frank contrasts heritage strains with modern industrial hybrids (and why extreme selection for only meat or only eggs harms longevity and fertility), then gets delightfully hands-on about how to cook heritage birds—why older cookbooks (pre-1950) and pressure-frying/low-and-slow methods matter for flavor and tenderness. If you’re sourcing stock, he highlights Good Shepherd partners (NJ/PA, NE) and offers timeless advice: pick a breed you love, study the APA Standard, and learn from dedicated breed clubs so you can breed forward without “chasing crosses.” 

You can listen to this episode at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #PoultryBreedersNutrition #ShowProFarmSupply #HeritagePoultry #StandardBred #FlockManagement #BreedingForward #GeneticDiversity #BarredRock #NewHampshire #DelawareChicken #Wyandotte #RhodeIslandWhite #JerseyGiant #GoodShepherdConservancy #PasturedPoultry #PoultryEconomics #APA #PoultryHistory #CookingHeritageBirds #TrapNesting #UtilitySelection #SmallFlock

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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 the real-world economics of selling eggs, processing birds, and staying solvent. 

You’ll hear practical guidance on breed/line selection (New Hampshires, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Delawares, Wyandottes, Buckeyes, Jersey Giants, Brahmas), realistic timelines and dress weights for frying vs. roasting birds, why roosters drive egg-production genetics in their daughters, and how to source from local breeders who select for utility—not just feathers. We also dig into maintaining a line without “chasing crosses,” culling with purpose, and building a small, sustainable program that pays its own way.

Key takeaways
• Define & defend “standard-bred/heritage” using APA standards and accepted definitions
• Start with outcomes: eggs to offset feed vs. meat sales vs. both
• Dual-purpose classics that still perform—and what to ask breeders about their selection goals
• Processing economics 101: when small-scale works (and when to pivot)
• Linebreeding, selection, and culling: how to actually improve year over year
• Part 2 drops next Tuesday—subscribe so you don’t miss the conclusion

Listen to this episode at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #PoultryBreedersNutrition #ShowProFarmSupply #HeritagePoultry #StandardBred #DualPurpose #BackyardChickens #HomesteadPoultry #PoultryBreeding #APA #GoodShepherdConservancy #BarredRock #NewHampshire #DelawareChicken #Wyandotte #Buckeye #JerseyGiant #Brahma #FlockManagement

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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 considerations
• Option 1: Grow out and harvest yourself — reliable, data for dual-purpose evaluation; skills, time, and costs required
• Option 2: Outsource — establish relationships with families raising for their tables or approved wildlife/raptor programs; how to make it consistent
• Option 3: Rehoming/private sales — screening, limited demand, and why you can’t control outcomes after sale
• Option 4: Livestock auctions — volume potential vs. zero control
• “Bachelor pad” roosters — where it can work and common limits
• Ethics & responsibility — don’t abandon birds; how to handle aggression (and why not to rehome aggressive males)
• A simple, repeatable plan for next season: identify outlets, set thresholds by age/weight, calendar your decisions, and communicate clearly

Have a listen to this episode at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com 

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #BackyardChickens #Roosters #Cockerels #ChickenKeeping #PoultryEthics #DualPurpose #HeritagePoultry #Homesteading #FlockManagement #PoultryHusbandry #ChickenAdvice #SmallFlock #PoultryEducation #BreedingDecisions #HumaneProcessing #RaptorPrograms

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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 she uses peat moss bedding, feed enhancements, and careful breeding strategies to strengthen her flock and improve both egg quality and body type. Whether you’re new to poultry or a seasoned breeder, you’ll love Mia’s dedication and the lessons she’s learned through five years of hard work.

Listen in and learn how thoughtful breeding and management practices can transform your flock and help you succeed with rare and project poultry varieties.

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #PoultryBreedersNutrition #ShowProFarmSupply #MaransBreeding #BackyardChickens #HeritageBreeds #DualPurposePoultry #PoultryManagement #PoultryCommunity

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