Poultry Nerds: Backyard Chickens, Quail & Hatching Eggs
Want healthier birds, better hatches, and fewer costly mistakes? Poultry Nerds gives backyard flock keepers and breeders practical, science-informed answers about chickens, Coturnix quail, hatching eggs, incubation, breeding, nutrition, brooding, biosecurity, housing, and flock health.
Jennifer Bryant of Bryant’s Roost and Carey Blackmon of Show Pro Farm Supply bring real-world poultry experience to honest conversations with breeders, researchers, poultry professionals, and other people who truly know birds. We explain not only what to do, but why it works, so you can make better decisions for your own flock.
Whether you are setting your first incubator, raising breeding stock, shipping hatching eggs, or managing an established farm, every episode gives you useful information you can put to work.
Learn more: https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com
Build your incubation skills: https://www.incubationmasterclass.com
Coturnix quail education: https://www.quailmania.com
Find hatching-egg breeders: https://www.hatchingeggdirectory.com
Hatching-egg and live-bird shipping supplies: https://www.eggfoam.com
Valley Hatchery is a proud partner of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, providing hard-working birds for hard-working people: https://www.valleyhatchery.com
Episodes
136 episodes
Poultry Nutrition Just Changed: The First Major Update Since 1994
For the first time since 1994, the National Academies has released a major revision of the nutrient requirements for poultry. What does that mean for the feed in your barn—and should you change anything?Jennifer and Carey break down why...
Buying and Selling Hatching Eggs
How do you choose a reputable poultry breeder—and what should you ask before buying birds or hatching eggs?In this video, we cover 10 important questions every buyer should ask before placing an order. You’ll learn how to evaluate a bree...
Summer Chicken Feeding Myths: Do Chickens Need Electrolytes? | Poultry Nerds Podcast
Every summer, backyard chicken owners hear the same advice—but how much of it is actually true?In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we separate fact from fiction as we tackle common summer feeding myths, including:
Keeping Chickens Cool in Summer Heat
Are frozen treats really dangerous? Should you close the coop to keep hot air out? Does ice water hurt chickens?Summer is full of advice about keeping poultry cool—but not all of it is accurate. In this episode of Poultry Nerds, J...
Backyard Chickens and Apple Cider Vinegar
Episode DescriptionCan apple cider vinegar prevent disease? Is bleach water ever safe for chickens? Are homemade remedies helping your flock—or creating new problems?In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey Bla...
How to Build a Poultry Business Without Burning Out
Quick LookIn this episode, we discuss:Why so many poultry keepers and homesteaders experience burnout.The difference between working in your business and working on it.Why social media shou...
Flies in the Coop: Causes, Prevention, and Control
What Flies Are Really Telling You About Your Chicken CoopFlies are more than just an annoyance—they're often an indicator of what's happening in your coop and run. In this Poultry Nerds Podcast clip, we discuss why flies are attra...
Poultry With Purpose: Harrison's Hatchery and Carolina Rooster Solution
What happens when a simple incubator turns into a mission?In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we visit with Laurie Pineda of Harrison's Hatchery to hear the inspiring story of how her family's poultry journey began with one y...
Coturnix Quail Selection Points
What makes a quality coturnix quail breeder? In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant of Bryant's Roost and Carey Blackmon discuss practical quail selection methods that breeders can use to improve their flocks generation a...
Broody Chickens : Care, feed and breaking them
Broody hens are a natural part of chicken keeping, but they can be confusing and frustrating if you don't understand what's happening.In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon take a deep dive into ...
Feed, supplements and Carey's BIG announcement!
What should you feed your chickens, quail, and other poultry? Does protein really matter? Are expensive feeds worth the cost? And how much does nutrition impact hatchability, chick quality, and flock performance?In this episode of the Po...
What to feed my chickens, dry incubating/hatching, and more listener questions answered
From hobby chickens to homesteading chickens, we all have questions. In this episode we discuss feeding chickens to dry hatching and more! Hatching MaransDry hatchingwashing hatching eggsExploding eggs
Coffee Eggers, Homesteading & Hatching with Little Willow Homestead
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon sits down with Jessica from Little Willow Homestead to talk about chickens, homesteading, hatching, and building a recognizable brand in the poultry world.T...
Heritage Chicken vs Hybrid Broilers: Flavor, Cost, Health & Reality Explained
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Carey and Jennifer break down the real-world differences between heritage chickens, hybrid broilers, and the Cornish Cross birds used in commercial ...
Silkies Aren’t “Just Cute”—Here’s What You’re Missing
Silkie chickens are one of the most misunderstood breeds in poultry—and most people are getting it wrong.In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with veterinarian Dr. Nicole to break down what actually matters when it c...
How to Start a Poultry Breeding Program: What Every New Breeder Needs to Know
How do you actually start a poultry breeding program? Carey and Jennifer break down the realities of building a breeding program from the ground up — from picking the right breed and finding a reputable source, to understanding culls, genetics,...
Splash, Ermine & Modeled: Decoding Americana Color Genetics with Gina Wrather
Gina Wrather of Wrather Farms in Columbia, Tennessee returns to break down three of the most visually stunning — and most misunderstood — color varieties in Americana chickens. We dig into the genetics behind Splash, Ermine, and Modeled, explai...
Not All Eggs Are Created Equal — Egg Selection for Hatching
Think you can just toss any egg in the incubator? Think again. In this episode of Poultry Nerds, we go nest box to incubator — sorting real eggs by weight, shape, shell quality, and cleanliness to show you exactly what to set and what to skip. ...
10 Things You Don't Wanna Mess Up With Your Chickens (But You Will) | Chicken Care for Beginners
Whether you've already impulse-bought chicks at Tractor Supply or you're planning your first flock, this episode is your roadmap to avoiding the most common beginner chicken-keeping mistakes. We answer real listener questions from a first-time ...
Shipping Hatching Eggs, Buying Better Birds & Incubation Mistakes to Avoid | Poultry Nerds Podcast
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we get into the real-world side of shipping hatching eggs, buying from breeders, hatch rate expectations, incubation mistakes, poultry medications, NPIP misconceptions, and how to find qua...
Pasture Poultry, Feed Freedom, Duckweed & Natural Flock Health with Blaze of Bad Baxter Farm
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Blaze from Bad Baxter Farm in Wynnewood, Oklahoma to talk about raising poultry and livestock in a more natural, practical, and self-sustaining way.Blaze shares...
Bresse Chickens Explained | Breeding, Processing, Selection & Why We Prefer Them Over Cornish
Today we’re talking all about Bresse chickens and why they’ve become one of our favorite breeds for a self-sustaining flock.In this episode, we cover:Why we prefer Bresse over Cornish in many situationsMeat qu...
Frozen Quail Feeders Explained | Falconry, Reptiles, Culling & Shipping Tips
On this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Brent from Zero G Quail Farm to talk all about frozen quail feeders, who buys them, how they are sized, packaged, processed, and shipped, and why they can be a valuable outlet for q...
Thinking About Raising Quail? What You MUST Know Before You Start
Thinking about raising quail but not sure how to get started?In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we walk through the real decisions every beginner faces when starting with quail. Should you buy hatching eggs, c...
The Incredible Edible Egg Hatching | Incubation Science, Air Cells, Shipped Eggs & Hatch Rate Secrets
Is the egg just a shell with a chick inside?Not even close.In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we break down the real science behind egg incubation and hatching — and clear up some of the biggest myths spreading t...