Backyard Chickens & Coturnix Quail: Incubating Hatching Eggs and Chicken Breeding

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

Silkies Aren’t “Just Cute”—Here’s What You’re Missing

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] 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 comes to breeding, raising, and selecting high-quality Silkies. From genetics and defects to breed standards and real-world care, this episode cuts through the fluff and gives you practical knowledge you can actually use. We cover everything from the truth behind Silkie traits like black skin and five toes, to common defects like crossbeak, duck toe, and poor crest structure—and how to identify and eliminate them from your breeding program. We also dive into incubation, egg selection, housing challenges, and why Silkies require a completely different level of care than most chickens. No guesswork. No gatekeeping. Just real poultry education. We believe poultry breeders deserve accurate information, proven methods, and real guidance—not opinions, trends, or bad advice from people who aren’t doing it. If you're serious about improving your birds, this episode is for you. 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

How to Start a Poultry Breeding Program: What Every New Breeder Needs to Know

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] 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, and the five-year timeline most beginners don’t expect. In this episode, you’ll learn how to evaluate breed traits, why visiting a poultry show beats scrolling Facebook, the difference between standard-bred, utility, and English-style birds, and how phenotype and genotype actually work. We share the resources that helped us most — including the APA Standard of Perfection, Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy, Brian Reeder’s color genetics work, and Sigrid Van Dort’s books — plus practical advice on housing, hatching numbers, mentorship etiquette, and keeping your own records. Whether you raise chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail, or gamefowl, this episode gives you the framework to build a real breeding program without making the costly mistakes most beginners make. Companion blog: poultrynerdspodcast.com/blog 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

Splash, Ermine & Modeled: Decoding Americana Color Genetics with Gina Wrather

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2296068/fan_mail/new] 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, explain why a recessive gene can hide for 20 years before showing up in your hatch, and talk about the breeder responsibility that comes with selling birds. If you've ever hatched a surprise chick and wondered where it came from, this episode is for you. Join the Poultry Nerds and Gina Wrather from Wrather Farms as we breakdown backyard and exhibition breeding tactics. 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