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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 of proper nutrition, exercise, and selective breeding to avoid leg issues like perna bamba.

We discuss the origin story of this “government chicken,” how to spot a quality Indio Gigante, and ongoing efforts to develop a U.S. breed standard. Whether you’re curious about their blue eggs, their predator-deterring size, or why they need low protein diets and lots of space—this episode delivers all the poultry nerdy details.

🦖 Are these the chickens that prove dinosaurs are still among us? Tune in and decide for yourself.

🔑 Keywords:

Indio Gigante chickens, tallest chicken breed, Brazilian chicken breed, perna bamba, Indio Gigante care, raising giant chickens, Indio Gigante feed, Whitney Bissonnette Acres, Ayam Cemani, poultry breeding, exotic chicken breeds, backyard chicken podcast, meat chickens, SOP for Indio Gigante, poultry leg health, predator-proof chickens

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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]

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 successfully, avoid feed pitfalls, and why these micro quail are becoming trendy indoor companions. A must-listen for quail lovers and aspiring breeders!

Button quail care

Raising button quail

Brooding button quail chicks

Button quail feed

Best feed for button quail

Button quail breeding tips

Custom quail nutrition

Indoor button quail pets

Tiny quail species

Button quail hatching guide

Button quail housing setup

How to sex button quail

Button quail for reptile shows

Button quail aviary ideas

Quail as indoor pets

Button quail behavior

Quail egg production

High hatch rate button quail

Button quail brooder setup

Game bird nutrition

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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]

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 shares her firsthand experience raising Java chickens since 1999 and explains why they’re perfect for homesteaders. Jeanette offers expert insight into conservation efforts, census data, and the challenges of keeping this breed alive in the face of industrial agriculture trends.

If you've never heard of the Java chicken — or thought they were extinct — this episode is a must-listen! Discover where to find them, how to raise them, and how YOU can help preserve this incredible piece of poultry history.

📍 Topics include:

• Java chicken origins and unique traits
• Why they’re critically endangered
• Historical role in American agriculture
• The importance of slow-growing, dual-purpose breeds
• Challenges in breeding and show standards
• Conservation efforts and how to get involved

Black Java chicken, Java chicken history, endangered chicken breeds, heritage poultry, homesteading chickens, Livestock Conservancy, slow-growing chicken breed, dual-purpose chicken, Java rooster, poultry breed conservation, homestead farming, APA standard chicken breeds, black feathered chickens, American chicken breeds

🔗 Learn more or join the conservation movement: https://livestockconservancy.org

🎧 Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast platform!

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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]

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 Jennifer as they discuss the science behind light spectrums (blue vs red), setting the mood for fertility, and preventing light-related stress in poultry. Whether you're raising birds naturally or using artificial light to plan for early chick hatches, this episode gives practical insights backed by real-world experience.

Get answers to questions like:

• When should you add artificial light?
• How long should poultry get light per day?
• Can lighting affect molting or aggression?
• Does red or blue light make a difference in poultry care?

Perfect for backyard flock keepers, gamefowl breeders, and poultry nerds of all kinds.

lighting for chickens, egg production in winter, poultry molting, artificial lighting in poultry, daylight hours and egg laying, LED lights for chickens, quail egg production, chicken laying schedule, poultry lighting systems, molting season, rope lights for birds, best lighting for brooders, red vs blue light poultry, summer solstice chickens, chicken egg laying cycle, gamefowl lighting, poultry barn management

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]

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.

Whether you're just starting out or refining a multi-generational olive egger line, you'll learn how pigment layers, homozygous genes, and selective backcrossing play a role in egg color outcomes. Plus, hear real breeder stories, common mistakes to avoid, and how to choose quality stock for your rainbow flock.

 Topics Include:

• Homozygous blue egg genes explained
• F1 Olive Eggers vs. later generations
• Speckles, blooms, and egg "toner"
• Tips for managing Morans, Ameraucanas, and Olive Eggers
• Why breeding olive to olive isn’t as predictable as you think
• Real-world lessons from a Florida storm-surviving breeder

Perfect for beginner and advanced poultry breeders looking to master egg color genetics the right way!

Olive Eggers, rainbow egg chickens, egg color genetics, Ameraucana vs Easter Egger, how to breed Olive Eggers, Morans chickens, green egg layers, pink eggs, poultry genetics, backcrossing Olive Eggers, homestead chickens, Mojo Homestead

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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]

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

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]

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

Is it better to hatch chicks in the heat of summer or the chill of winter? In this episode, Carey and Jennifer dive deep into the real-world challenges of seasonal hatching—humidity swings, dry incubation, fan failures, and wild advice from online groups. Whether you're rolling with tabletop incubators or running full hatching room setups, this episode unpacks tips, tricks, and a few hard lessons (including one about drilling eggs 😬). Plus, we reveal our favorite humidity hacks and why Mother Nature still wins at hatching.

🪱 Topics include:

• Dry hatching vs. wet hatching
• Regulating humidity in high-heat climates
• Supplemental lighting and day length considerations
• Why air flow and clean incubators matter more than brand
• Social media misinformation and how to avoid tragic advice
• The truth about candling, broody hens, and crooked toes

🧪 Whether you're a beginner or running a hatchery, this one is packed with real poultry nerd gold!

• poultry hatching in summer
• dry hatching humidity
• winter vs summer incubation
• how to regulate incubator humidity
• incubator cleaning tips
• candling eggs safely
• best humidity for chicken eggs
• broody hen vs incubator
• poultry podcast for breeders
• poultry hatching tips and tricks

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - [email protected]

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

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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]

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 symptoms of Marek’s, how to identify them, and whether it's even possible to maintain a Marek’s-free flock.

Plus, we get answers to your biggest questions:

• Can vaccinated birds spread the virus?
• Is turkey dander protective?
• Do herbal remedies work?
• How can you safely necropsy your own birds?
• Can you test for Marek’s in a live bird?

🔬 Whether you're a backyard poultry keeper, gamefowl breeder, or raising exhibition chickens—this episode is packed with must-know facts that could save your flock.

🧬 Keywords: Marek’s disease in chickens, Marek’s vaccine, backyard poultry health, poultry vet advice, chicken tumors, gray eye disease, necropsy chickens, feather dander virus, poultry podcast

Support the show

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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]

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. We’ll talk molting rations, protein needs, lighting, housing, and common molt mistakes—so your birds bounce back with healthy new feathers and strong immune systems.

Support the show

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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]

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 launching podcasts.

If you’ve ever wondered how to offset your feed bill (or justify those extra goats), this episode is for you. Whether you’re looking to start selling eggs, launch a side hustle, or go full-time farmpreneur, this series is your crash course in turning passion into profit—without losing the joy in the process.

hobby farming, poultry business, homestead income, farm side hustle, backyard chickens, hatching eggs, selling chicks, farm entrepreneurship, gamefowl business, quail farming, small farm startup, farm podcast, farm business ideas, NPIP, breeding poultry, livestock business, homestead to business

Support the show

Feel Free to email us at - [email protected]

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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]