Poultry Nerds Podcast: A conversation about chicken, quail and turkeys with a side of humor

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!Join us on the Poultry Nerds Podcast as we sit down with Craig Hansen, one of the most respected names in the Cochin world. From his start in 4-H projects to breeding award-winning varieties like Silver Laced and Buff Columbians, Craig shares his journey, breeding strategies, and passion for preserving poultry genetics. We dive into show preparation, artificial insemination for fertility, predator challenges, and what it really takes to raise high-quality exhibition chickens.Whether you’re a seasoned breeder or backyard poultry keeper, this episode is packed with insights on chicken breeding, poultry shows, and the dedication behind raising top-quality flocks.Keywords: bantam Cochin chickens, poultry breeding, chicken shows, exhibition poultry, artificial insemination in chickens, poultry genetics, raising bantam chickens, Craig Hansen Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

Dive into the world of poultry care as the hosts share their journey to becoming certified judges for Gamefowl. Discover essential tips for keeping chickens safe from common farm hazards and the importance of proper feed storage to prevent health issues. Amusing anecdotes about farm interactions highlight the cleverness of poultry. Learn about the significance of ventilation, suitable roosting setups, and how to educate the next generation of poultry enthusiasts while keeping your flock thriving with laughter and practical advice.

Discover the exciting realm of chicken DNA testing and how it’s revolutionizing poultry genetics. Learn about the art of sexing Silkies and Ameraucanas while uncovering what the blue egg gene and other traits reveal. Brittany shares insights on urban chicken ownership, practical sampling techniques, and the emotional journey of breeding. Dive into unique chicken colors, creative breeding methods, and how DNA testing can save you time and effort in your poultry endeavors!

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we dive deep into how to assess your chicken’s health—from daily live observations to hands-on necropsy techniques. Carey and Jennifer share detailed notes from their flocks, including Orpington grow-out observations, line breeding practices, and surprising behavior differences when young cockerels are raised with mature roosters.We also cover:What to look for in combs, wattles, eyes, and feathersHow to check chickens for mites, lice, and scaly leg mitesThe importance of vigor, temperament, and survivability in breeding selectionSimple tools and methods for performing a home necropsyWhy observing chickens in natural flocks teaches valuable lessonsWhether you’re showing chickens, running a homestead, or raising poultry for meat and eggs, this episode gives you practical tools to keep your flock healthy and thriving.🔗 Visit PoultryNerdsPodcast.com for reference materials, necropsy guides, and bonus resources.Keywords: assessing chicken health, chicken necropsy, poultry care, backyard chickens, chicken mites, chicken breeding, Orpington chickens, poultry nutrition, homestead chickens Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease 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!We’re back with another Next Level Nerds episode, and this one’s packed with real-world farming grit and laughs. 🐓🌱Meet Bernadine & Ray from Redmond Hills Farm in Oregon. They’ve turned retirement into full-time farming—raising pasture-raised Cornish chickens, quail for eggs & meat, and even working with Longhorn cattle. But their journey is far from simple…🔥 In this episode: ✔️ Navigating farm-use tax laws & building permits in Oregon ✔️ Expanding from chickens to quail (and now selling chicks to farm stores) ✔️ Dealing with cougars, bears & owls raiding the flock 🦉🐾 ✔️ How HOAs tried to ban their “live eggs” 🤯 ✔️ The struggle (and fun) of turning a hobby into a profitable farm businessIf you’ve ever thought about taking your backyard flock to the next level, or just want to hear some wild farm stories, this episode is for you! Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease 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!Ever wondered which chicken, duck, or quail breed is best for your self-sufficient lifestyle? In this fun and informative episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey and Jennifer compare their two very different homesteads—one on multiple acres, one on a small plot—to show how anyone can start raising poultry, no matter the space.We dive into heritage breeds like Orpingtons and American Bresse, fast-growing Cornish Cross, ducks for natural pest control, and quail for small-space egg and meat production. You’ll learn about feed costs, flavor differences, processing tips (hello, Instant Pot magic!), and how each bird can play a unique role on your homestead.Whether you’re on half an acre in the city or 20 acres in the country, this episode will inspire you to take the first step toward raising your own food—and give you the confidence to figure out what works for you.Key topics covered:Heritage vs. commercial poultry breeds for meat and eggsDucks as natural mosquito and fly controlQuail for small spaces and urban homesteadsCost, feed conversion, and flavor profilesTips for processing and cooking older birdsThe importance of adapting advice to your land, climate, and lifestyleKeywordspoultry podcast, poultry breeds, heritage chicken breeds, Cornish Cross, American Bresse chicken, Orpington chickens, ducks for pest control, quail for meat and eggs, small space farming, self-sufficient living, homestead poultry, raising poultry, backyard chickens, poultry self sufficiency, homesteading podcast Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease 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!Thinking about raising chickens but overwhelmed by fancy coops and expensive setups? In this down-to-earth episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we go back to basics with practical, budget-friendly tips for beginners. From cardboard box brooders to free pallet coops, we share our first chicken stories, starter equipment, predator protection advice, and what you actually need—vs what social media says you should buy. Whether you're raising chicks for the first time or looking to simplify your setup, this episode will give you confidence, clarity, and a few laughs along the way.how to start raising chickensraising backyard chickens on a budgetchicken coop setup for beginnerscheap chicken brooder ideasbeginner chicken keeping tipsbackyard chicken essentialspoultry starter guidelow-cost chicken coop ideashow to brood chicks at homepredator protection for chickenschicken math explainedwhat you need to raise chicks Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease 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!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 Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease 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!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 careRaising button quailBrooding button quail chicksButton quail feedBest feed for button quailButton quail breeding tipsCustom quail nutritionIndoor button quail petsTiny quail speciesButton quail hatching guideButton quail housing setupHow to sex button quailButton quail for reptile showsButton quail aviary ideasQuail as indoor petsButton quail behaviorQuail egg productionHigh hatch rate button quailButton quail brooder setupGame bird nutrition Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease 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!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 traitsWhy they’re critically endangeredHistorical role in American agricultureThe importance of slow-growing, dual-purpose breedsChallenges in breeding and show standardsConservation efforts and how to get involvedBlack 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! Support the showFeel Free to email us at - info@poultrynerdspodcast.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerdsSign up for News at PoultryNerds.comEggFoam.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 FarmsPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave a review, we appreciate you. And if you have a subject request, email us. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com