Broody Chickens : Care, feed and breaking them

Broody Chickens : Care, feed and breaking them

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] 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 broodiness—what causes it, how to recognize it, and what poultry keepers should do when a hen decides it's time to hatch chicks. You'll learn about the hormonal changes that drive broody behavior, why some breeds are more likely to go broody than others, and how broodiness affects feed intake, body condition, egg production, and flock management. The discussion also covers practical strategies for managing broody hens, including when to encourage natural incubation, when to intervene, and science-based methods for breaking broodiness when necessary. Whether you're dealing with your first broody hen or managing a flock of dedicated mothers, this episode will help you understand the biology behind the behavior and make informed decisions for your birds. In this episode: • Signs that a hen has gone broody • The role of prolactin and reproductive hormones • Breeds known for strong broodiness • Natural incubation versus artificial incubation • Health considerations during broodiness • How to break a broody hen safely and effectively • Managing broody hens in breeding and production flocks • Common myths and misconceptions about broodiness Join us as we explore one of the most fascinating instincts in poultry and discuss how to work with—or against—nature when a hen decides she wants to become a mother. For more poultry education, visit PoultryNerdsPodcast.com. Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the show [https://paypal.me/PoultryNerds?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US] Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds [https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds] Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com [https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com] EggFoam.com [https://www.eggfoam.com] get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping! ShowPro [https://www.showprousa.com] feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients. Coturnix Quail [https://www.bryantsroost.com] hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies  [https://www.doublerfarmal.com]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. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

Feed, supplements and Carey's BIG announcement!

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] 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 Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon tackle listener questions about poultry feed and nutrition. They discuss feed formulations, protein levels, breeder nutrition, common feeding mistakes, and how proper nutrition affects everything from egg production to hatch rates. Whether you're raising a backyard flock, breeding exhibition birds, or trying to improve your hatch results, this episode is packed with practical information to help you make better feeding decisions. Plus, congratulations to Carey and the Show Pro Feed team on the launch of their new storefront! Be sure to visit ShowProFarmSupply.com to learn more about their products and support a growing small business serving poultry keepers. Resources mentioned in this episode: • Download Carey's Poultry Feed Requirements Guide • Learn more at PoultryNerdsPodcast.com • Visit ShowProFarmSupply.com Have a question for a future episode? Submit it through the Poultry Nerds website and it may be featured on an upcoming show. Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the show [https://paypal.me/PoultryNerds?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US] Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds [https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds] Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com [https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com] EggFoam.com [https://www.eggfoam.com] get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping! ShowPro [https://www.showprousa.com] feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients. Coturnix Quail [https://www.bryantsroost.com] hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies  [https://www.doublerfarmal.com]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. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

What to feed my chickens, dry incubating/hatching, and more listener questions answered

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] From hobby chickens to homesteading chickens, we all have questions.  In this episode we discuss feeding chickens to dry hatching and more!   Hatching Marans Dry hatching washing hatching eggs Exploding eggs Chick Electrolytes Hatching Upright Listen on your favorite platforms, youtube and on the www.PoultryNerdsPodcast.com  Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the show [https://paypal.me/PoultryNerds?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US] Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds [https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds] Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com [https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com] EggFoam.com [https://www.eggfoam.com] get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping! ShowPro [https://www.showprousa.com] feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients. Coturnix Quail [https://www.bryantsroost.com] hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies  [https://www.doublerfarmal.com]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. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

Coffee Eggers, Homesteading & Hatching with Little Willow Homestead

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] 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. The conversation covers the story behind the “Coffee Egger,”  connecting with fellow homesteaders, and the realities of growing a homestead-focused platform while balancing everyday farm life. Whether you’re a backyard chicken keeper, breeder, or simply love the homesteading lifestyle, this episode is full of relatable conversation and practical insight from someone actively building a community around poultry and rural living. Be sure to visit: Bryant’s Roost – https://bryantsroost.com [https://bryantsroost.com/] Carey Blackmon - https://CareyBlackmon.com Poultry Nerds Podcast – https://poultrynerdspodcast.com [https://poultrynerdspodcast.com/] Subscribe for more poultry education, breeder discussions, incubation tips, and homesteading conversations. Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the show [https://paypal.me/PoultryNerds?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US] Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds [https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds] Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com [https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com] EggFoam.com [https://www.eggfoam.com] get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping! ShowPro [https://www.showprousa.com] feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients. Coturnix Quail [https://www.bryantsroost.com] hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies  [https://www.doublerfarmal.com]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. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com

Heritage Chicken vs Hybrid Broilers: Flavor, Cost, Health & Reality Explained

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast [https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com], Carey and Jennifer break down the real-world differences between heritage chickens, hybrid broilers, and the Cornish Cross birds used in commercial meat production. If you’ve ever wondered why home-raised chicken tastes different than store-bought chicken — or whether raising your own meat birds is actually worth it — this episode dives deep into the truth most people never hear. From Orpingtons and dual-purpose heritage breeds to fast-growing commercial broilers like the Cobb and Ross lines, this conversation explores flavor, texture, nutrition, growth rates, feed management, processing timelines, bone broth quality, freezer space, bird welfare, and the realities of modern poultry production. Jennifer also shares firsthand experience raising large batches of Cornish Cross birds, including the smell, management challenges, leg problems, feed consumption, mortality issues, and why many homesteaders eventually transition toward slower-growing heritage breeds instead. You’ll also learn why older pasture-raised birds produce darker, richer, more nutrient-dense broth, how exercise and bone development affect flavor and texture, and why many traditional chicken breeds create a completely different eating experience than what most people buy at the grocery store. Whether you raise backyard chickens, homestead, process your own meat birds, or simply want healthier and better-tasting food for your family, this episode offers practical, honest insight without the fluff. Topics Covered: *  Heritage chickens vs Cornish Cross  *  Hybrid broiler chickens explained  *  Why grocery store chicken tastes different  *  Raising meat birds at home  *  Pasture-raised poultry management  *  Chicken flavor and texture differences  *  Bone broth from heritage birds  *  Feed costs and freezer planning  *  Broiler health and growth problems  *  Best chickens for self-sufficiency and homesteading  Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the show [https://paypal.me/PoultryNerds?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US] Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds [https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds] Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com [https://www.poultrynerdspodcast.com] EggFoam.com [https://www.eggfoam.com] get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping! ShowPro [https://www.showprousa.com] feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients. Coturnix Quail [https://www.bryantsroost.com] hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons! Quail cartons and Supplies  [https://www.doublerfarmal.com]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. PoultryNerds@Gmail.com