Poultry Keepers Podcast

In this episode of Poultry Keepers 360, we kick off Part 1 of an in-depth conversation with poultry breeder Jason, who shares his hands-on experience and strategies for restoring production qualities in the Barred Plymouth Rock. From his early setbacks with show birds to discovering the secrets of line breeding, nutrition, and evaluating skeletal structure, Jason walks us through his journey of breeding for dual-purpose excellence.Discover how historical context, purposeful selection, and proper feeding programs (including Project MAD) are helping him reestablish pre-war standards of productivity, including egg laying, fleshing, and bird temperament. Learn what traits Jason prioritizes, how he tracks progress, and why he's focused on adapting his flock to his unique climate in Ontario.This is a must-listen for poultry keepers working with heritage or dual-purpose breeds—and especially for those looking to improve the utility value of their birds without sacrificing long-term sustainability.Subscribe to follow Part 2 and other episodes focused on poultry breeding, nutrition, and management.#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #BarredRockBreeding #DualPurposeChickens #HeritageBreeds #PoultrySelection #BackyardChickens #EggProduction #PoultryBreeding You can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

Dive into the emotional and ethical landscape of humane culling in poultry breeding. Discover techniques that emphasize compassion while navigating the challenges of managing straight run chicks. Learn how dual-purpose breeds enhance sustainability and reduce waste. Explore the balance between perfectionism and genetic diversity, emphasizing the importance of record-keeping and mentorship. This discussion champions open conversation about culling, inviting poultry keepers to share experiences and foster growth in their breeding practices.

Dive into the world of poultry with a nuanced view on culling! It’s all about strategic decision-making—finding the right birds for your flock's future and refining breeding goals. Explore performance culling, and learn how visual defects can impact your success. Unpack the ethics behind tough choices and the importance of maintaining your reputation. Hear real-life stories that emphasize thoughtful selection and address the complexities of managing underperforming birds while prioritizing their well-being.

Summer heat can be brutal—but your poultry don’t have to suffer through it. In this episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey shares real-world, down-home strategies to help your flock stay cool, safe, and productive during the hottest months of the year. From water and shade solutions to ventilation tricks, frozen treats, low-sodium electrolytes, and breed choices that beat the heat—this episode is packed with practical advice tailored for backyard and small flock poultry keepers. Whether you're just starting out or you've been raising chickens for decades, you'll come away with tools and tips that could save lives, eggs, and peace of mind.Visit www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com to listen now, full podcast episodes and for more bonus content, and lot’s more small flock education. #PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #BackyardChickens #ChickenHeatStress #SummerFlockCare #PoultryManagement #ShowProFarmSupply #CoolYourCoop #ChickenKeepingTips #FlockHydration #RaisingChickensRight #HomesteadPoultry #HotWeatherPoultryCareYou can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

In this deep-dive bonus episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey explores one of the most misunderstood components of poultry nutrition: fats. Whether you’re raising layers, broilers, breeders, or show birds, fat plays a crucial role in energy, feather quality, fertility, and even immunity.Host Rip Stalvey explains how dietary fats impact vitamin absorption, hormone production, feed palatability, and overall flock health. You'll learn the differences between animal- and plant-based fats, how omega-3s affect egg and feather quality, and ideal fat levels by bird type—from chicks to mature breeders.You'll also get practical strategies for using fats to condition birds for cold weather, molting, or show season—and tips to avoid common pitfalls like obesity or rancid oils.Discover why the right kind—and amount—of fat may be the missing link in your flock’s performance.Listen now at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com #PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryNutrition #BackyardPoultry #ChickenFeedingTips #PoultryBreedersNutrition #ShowProFarmSupply #FatsInPoultry #ChickenHealth #Omega3ForChickens #DualPurposeChickens #ConditioningChickens #HomesteadPoultry #SmartPoultryFeeding #FeedingShowBirds  You can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

In this powerful continuation of our Smart Selection series, we dig deeper into how to make informed, effective breeding decisions for your poultry flock. Whether you're selecting for meat, eggs, show quality, or broodiness, this episode is packed with real-life examples, practical tips, and honest conversations about how to assess and improve your birds.We cover the importance of early environment, tracking maturity rates, identifying “early bloomers” vs. late-developers, the power of journaling your observations, and the tools and techniques serious poultry keepers use to evaluate birds objectively and efficiently.You’ll hear about managing emotional bias, selecting from the middle of the bell curve, using calipers, color-coded bands, and even lighting tips to enhance bird evaluation. Plus, we discuss trap nesting, pedigree mating, and creating sustainable, well-balanced flocks that meet your goals—whether you’re breeding for the table, the egg basket, or the showroom.#PoultryKeepersPodcast #SmartPoultrySelection #BackyardBreeders #PoultryBreedersNutrition #FlockManagement #ShowProFarmSupply #ChickenBreeding #DualPurposeChickens #PoultryKeepers360 #HomesteadPoultry #PoultryPodcast #EggLayers #MeatBirds #PedigreeMating #TrapNestSystemYou can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

In this bonus episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey takes a deep dive into a topic every breeder and exhibitor should understand: how feather development affects poultry type. Drawing insights from a timeless 1915 article by renowned poultry judge and illustrator Arthur O. Schilling, this episode explores how feathers influence our perception of conformation, structure, and maturity—and why learning to judge beyond the feathers is crucial.Discover the difference between soft-feathered and hard-feathered breeds, why early feathering can be misleading, how cockerels and pullets develop differently, and what molting reveals about your birds. Whether you're evaluating show birds or selecting future breeders, this episode gives you the tools to train both your eye and your hand for better results in the coop and the showroom.Visit us at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com for more expert content, breeding tips, and bonus episodes. Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with a fellow poultry keeper, and keep breeding with purpose!#PoultryKeepersPodcast #FeatherDevelopment #PoultryType #ChickenBreeding #ExhibitionPoultry #ShowBirdEvaluation #SelectiveBreeding #CockerelDevelopment #PulletsAndFeathers #MoltingInPoultry #BackyardChickens #HeritageBreeds You can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

In this bonus episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey dives into one of the most critical yet overlooked components of poultry nutrition—amino acids. Whether you're raising layers, broilers, breeders, or show birds, understanding the role of amino acids can dramatically improve your flock’s health, productivity, behavior, and appearance.Learn how amino acids like methionine, lysine, and threonine affect feather development, muscle growth, egg production, immunity, and even temperament. Discover why crude protein percentages don’t tell the whole story, and what to look for in a well-formulated poultry feed. If you’ve ever wondered why your birds aren't performing at their best despite having “enough protein,” this episode is for you.Tune in for practical tips on identifying amino acid deficiencies, interpreting feed labels, and balancing your poultry’s diet for optimal results.Listen, subscribe and explore more resources at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #PoultryBreedersNutrition #ShowProFarmSupply #AminoAcidsForChickens #ChickenFeedTips #PoultryNutritionMatters #BetterBirdsThroughNutrition #BackyardFlockCare #HealthyChickensGrowBetterYou can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

In this insightful episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey is joined by Mandelyn Royal and John Gunterman to explore one of the most powerful yet misunderstood aspects of poultry breeding: Smart Selection. Whether you're raising birds for eggs, meat, show, or heritage preservation, this conversation breaks down how purposeful culling and intentional selection can make or break your flock's future. Discover when and how to begin selecting birds, how to use records and daily observations to evaluate progress, and why even small decisions during brooding can have long-term impacts on flock quality. From choosing which chicks to keep, to identifying hidden structural flaws, to weighing birds for growth tracking, this episode is packed with practical, proven strategies. If you're ready to move beyond maintenance and toward meaningful flock improvement, this is a must-listen.#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #SmartSelection #BackyardChickens #HeritageBreeds #FlockImprovement #PoultryBreeding #ShowProFarmSupply #ChickenGenetics #PurposefulCulling #BetterBirdsBetterFlocks #FlockManagementYou can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured

In this bonus episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey breaks down what it really takes to feed your quail for success at every life stage. From the high-protein, high-fat needs of newly hatched chicks to the adjusted calcium and vitamin requirements of breeders, this episode covers the full nutritional roadmap for small flock quail keepers. Based on insights from Jeff Mattocks’ “Quail Nutrition 101” presentation and his book Niche Poultry: Feeding and Management, you'll get practical, science-backed advice on how to feed quail for optimal growth, egg production, and chick viability. Learn what to feed, when to make diet changes, and how to avoid common mistakes that can waste feed, hurt performance, or reduce hatch rates. Whether you're raising Coturnix quail for meat, eggs, or hatching stock, this episode is your complete feeding guide.To listen to this content or subscribe for more poultry nutrition tips and visit us at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com for bonus content and resources.#FeedingQuail #QuailNutrition #CoturnixQuail #PoultryNutrition #BackyardQuail #QuailBreeders #FertrellFeed #JeffMattocks #QuailEggs #SmallFlockPoultry #PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #ShowProFarmSupply #PoultryBreedersNutritionYou can email us at - poultrykeeperspodcast@gmail.comJoin our Facebook Groups:Poultry Keepers Podcast - https://www.facebook.com/groups/907679597724837Poultry Keepers 360 - - https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973Check out the Poultry Kepers Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@PoultryKeepersPodcast/featured