
Poultry Keepers Podcast
Welcome to The Poultry Keepers PodcastCluck, Chat, and Rule the Roost! One Egg-cellent Episode at a Time!At The Poultry Keepers Podcast, we’re building a friendly, informative, and inspiring space for today’s small-flock poultry keepers. Whether you're a seasoned pro with decades of experience or just beginning your backyard chicken journey, you’ve found your community. Here, poultry isn’t just a hobby—it’s a way of life.Each episode is packed with practical, science-based information to help you care for your flock with confidence. From hatching eggs and breeding strategies to flock health, nutrition, housing, and show prep—we cover it all with insight and heart.Hosted by Rip Stalvey, Mandelyn Royal, and John Gunterman, our show brings together over 70 years of combined poultry experience. We believe in the power of shared knowledge and the importance of accuracy, offering trusted content for poultry keepers who want to do right by their birds.So pull up a perch and join us each week as we cluck, chat, and rule the roost—one egg-cellent episode at a time.Visit our website at www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com
Latest episodes

Mar 25, 2025 • 29min
Practical Poultry Genetics Part 1
Dive into the fascinating world of poultry genetics! Discover the difference between genotype and phenotype, and how these concepts can enhance your flock. The hosts tackle the complexities of dominant and recessive traits, alongside the nuances of test mating for optimal breeding. Learn about breed distinctions, the challenges of genetic mutations, and the ethical considerations surrounding poultry harvesting. Packed with personal insights, this discussion is a must-listen for anyone passionate about poultry!

Mar 18, 2025 • 28min
Turkey Talk 101: Raising Happy, Healthy Turkeys for Beginners-Part 2
Welcome to Poultry Keepers, the podcast where today we're talking turkeys. Whether you're new to raising turkeys or looking to improve your flock, we’ve got everything you need to know. From brooding delicate poults to choosing between heritage and commercial breeds, setting up the perfect turkey housing, feeding for optimal health, and even processing your own birds—we’ve got expert tips to help you raise happy, healthy turkeys. Stick around, because we’re about to talk turkey!#RaisingTurkeys #TurkeyFarming #BackyardPoultry #HomesteadLife #HeritageTurkeys #SustainableFarming #FreeRangeTurkeys #PoultryCare #HealthyFlock #SelfSufficiencyYou 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

Mar 11, 2025 • 29min
Turkey Talk 101: Raising Happy, Healthy Turkeys for Beginners-Part 1
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

Mar 4, 2025 • 21min
WaterfowlWisdom: Tips and Tales from the Poultry Keepers
Thinking of Raising Ducks and Geese? Here’s What You Need to Know! In this episode of The Intentional Poultry Keeper, we dive into the wisdom of waterfowl care—from feeding and housing to breeding and health management. Whether you're a backyard keeper, amateur breeder, or experienced poultry enthusiast, this episode is packed with practical tips and fascinating tales about ducks, geese, and mixed flocks!What You’ll Learn in This Episode:· The key differences between ducks, geese, and chickens· Best feed and nutrition practices for healthy waterfowl· How to keep duck bedding dry and coops clean· The truth about water sources—how much do ducks and geese really need?· Breeding behaviors and how to prevent common waterfowl health issuesAre Ducks or Geese Right for Your Flock? Let’s find out!What’s your biggest challenge with raising ducks or geese? Drop us a comment! Know a fellow poultry keeper who needs this info? Share this episode with them!Timestamps0:00 - Welcome to The Poultry Keepers Podcast 2:15 - Why waterfowl require different care than chickens 6:30 - The best feed and nutrition tips for ducks and geese 12:45 - Managing wet bedding and water access 18:00 - Understanding breeding behaviors in ducks and geese 23:30 - Common health issues and how to prevent them 30:00 - Final thoughtsHashtags:#WaterfowlWisdom #RaisingDucks #BackyardWaterfowl #PoultryKeepers #DucksAndGeese #WaterfowlBreeding #HomesteadPoultry #HealthyWaterfowlYou 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

Feb 25, 2025 • 19min
Introductiopn to Waterfowl-Part 1
In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts John Gunterman, Mandelyn Royal, and Rip Stalvey discuss the fundamentals of keeping waterfowl such as ducks and geese. They cover the growing popularity of waterfowl for benefits like eggs, meat, pest control, and entertainment. The conversation addresses the key considerations for beginners, including choosing the right breeds based on goals (e.g., meat or egg production), ethical down harvesting, and special uses of specific breeds. They highlight practical aspects like waterfowl’s need for water, differences between breeds, incubation processes, and common challenges. The episode also covers interesting breed features and historical insights, offering a comprehensive guide for new waterfowl keepers.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

Feb 18, 2025 • 27min
The Importance of Vitamins and Minerals-Part 2
In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip, Jeff, and Carey conclude their discussion on the importance of vitamins and minerals in poultry nutrition. They address how to maintain vitamin potency, identify and prevent deficiencies, and the roles of various minerals. The hosts also discuss the significance of metabolizable energy and field questions from the audience about nutritional additives, quality feed sources, and specific diet recommendations for poultry. They mention the support from their sponsor, The Fertrell Company, and highlight useful resources such as Jeff Mattocks' book and Mulder's mineral interaction wheel.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

Feb 11, 2025 • 28min
The Importance of Vitamins & Minerals Part-1
In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Jeff Mattacks, Carey Blackmon, and Rip Stalvey discuss the significance of vitamins and minerals in poultry diets. They delve into the roles of vitamins A, E, D, and B, explain their impact on health and development, and highlight the difference between minimum and optimum levels for poultry nutrition. The discussion includes practical advice on ensuring proper vitamin levels, the limitations of current research, and the importance of maintaining higher nutritional standards. The episode also touches on optimal feed storage practices to maintain vitamin efficacy and concludes with a preview of the next episode, which will continue the discussion.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

Feb 4, 2025 • 27min
Protein, Fats, and Fiber in Poultry Nutrition
In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, and Carey Blackmon dive into the critical role that proteins, fats, and fibers play in poultry nutrition. They emphasize the differences between vegetable-based and animal-based protein sources, detail the importance of specific amino acids like lysine and methionine, and discuss the use of fish meal and its sustainability. The hosts also cover age-specific protein requirements for poultry, from chicks to layers, and the importance of balanced amino acid levels for optimal growth and egg production. They touch on the issues of overfeeding protein and the unique protein needs of breeding stock. The episode concludes with a nod to their sponsors, the Fertrell Company, and a teaser for next week’s conclusion of proteins, fats and fibers.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

Jan 29, 2025 • 28min
The Role of Proteins, Fats, and Fibers in Poultry Nutrition-Part 1
In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Rip Stalvey explore the complexities of proteins, fats, and fibers in poultry nutrition. They delve into protein sources, comparing vegetable-based (mostly soybean and canola meal) and animal-based (fish meal and meat meals) proteins, and discuss essential amino acids like lysine and methionine. The conversation covers the importance of sustainable fishing for fishmeal, concerns over overfeeding protein, and specific nutritional needs during different growth stages of poultry, including chicks, growers, developers, layers, and breeding stock. The hosts emphasize the need for balanced amino acid profiles and adequate vitamins for healthy poultry development and productivity.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

Jan 21, 2025 • 21min
Bantams-Part 2
This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast features hosts Mandelyn, John, and Rip discussing the care and feeding practices for bantam chickens. They delve into the history of poultry feed components, emphasizing the importance of amino acids over protein, and the role of nutritional density. Discussions include comparisons between bantams and large fowl, highlighting bantams' resilience in cold climates, efficiency in feed conversion, and lesser need for space. They also explore breed preservation, predator vulnerabilities, and practical tips on feeding and managing both bantams and large fowl chickens. The episode concludes with a nod to the growing popularity of bantams in poultry shows and a reminder of the importance of breed preservation.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