Episodes

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers podcast, hosts Mandelyn, John, and Rip discuss the importance of genetic knowledge for backyard poultry keepers. They explain key genetic concepts like genotype versus phenotype, dominant versus recessive traits, and test mating. The hosts delve into practical applications, such as identifying faults, selecting quality birds, and ensuring strong structure and even growth. They also highlight the challenges of breeding, the importance of record-keeping, and...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers podcast, your hosts—Mandelyn, John, and Rip discuss the essentials of poultry genetics. They explore key concepts such as genotype vs. phenotype, dominant vs. recessive traits, and test mating. The conversation emphasizes the importance of practical genetic knowledge for improving flocks, selecting quality birds, and making informed decisions, whether for breeding, showing, or backyard sustainability. Throughout the episode, the hosts share personal insight...

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...

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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 chick...

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 h...

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 suppo...

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 mainta...

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 th...

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 spec...

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 preserv...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Mandelyn, John, and Rip delve into the miniature but giant world of Bantam chickens. They discuss the origins, types, and physical characteristics of Bantams, emphasizing that they are mostly smaller versions of large fowl. The discussion covers advantages of raising Bantams in urban settings, their loudness, and their ability to fly and brood effectively. They also explore egg production, dual-purpose possibilities, temperament, and nutriti...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Mandelyn, Rip, and John discuss the classification of poultry by the American Poultry Association (APA) and the American Bantam Association (ABA). They explore different classes such as American, Asiatic, Continental, English, and Mediterranean, along with the unique attributes, history, and breeds within each class. The conversation covers body types, egg-laying capabilities, and the importance of body capacity and feather types. They also ...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey, Carey Blackmon, and Blake Bell discuss the nuances of brooding and raising Brahma chickens. They focus on effective practices like using wire-bottom pens to maintain foot feathering and avoiding ground dirt. The conversation touches on the differences between light and dark Brahmas in terms of hardiness and feather maintenance and provide insights into conditioning birds for shows, including washing light Brahmas to remove fly spots. ...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Rip Stalvey and Carey Blackmon interview poultry enthusiast Blake Bell about Brahmas, one of his favorite chicken breeds. Blake discusses the origin, characteristics, and temperament of Brahmas, emphasizing their bold, striking appearance and gentle nature. He also touches on the different color varieties recognized in the United States and the management of Brahmas, including hatching, feeding, and weather hardiness. Blake shares his prefe...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Rip, Mandelyn, and John continue their discussion on the challenges of shipping poultry eggs, contrasting it with the hand-to-hand model. They share experiences with postal delays and the use of improved packaging materials. The discussion also touches on the variable hatch rates of shipped eggs, the complexities of poultry behavioral science, and the prevalence of misinformation online. The hosts provide practical tips for maintaining water...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Rip, Mandelyn, and John discuss various aspects of poultry keeping that perplex and interest them. They question the effort and expense invested in poultry, reflecting on the joy and purpose behind raising birds. The conversation covers the emotional and practical challenges of harvesting birds for meat and addresses common misconceptions such as the need for grit in poultry diets and the importance of breeding for local environment resistan...

This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast features Mandelyn, John, and Rip discussing various aspects of egg production, particularly focusing on the discrepancies between hatchery claims and actual performance of heritage breeds. They stress the importance of sourcing birds from breeders who maintain the breed's standards. The conversation also covers the nuanced approaches to breeding, the decline in egg production with age, and specific care practices necessary for different seasons. The ...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Mandelyn, John, and Rip discuss various factors that affect egg production in hens. They explore the role of breed, daylight hours, weather stress, and artificial lighting in influencing the number of eggs laid. The hosts provide insights into managing and optimizing egg production, including the impact of early sexual maturity on lifespan egg yield and bird health. They also touch upon the importance of selecting the right breeds based on egg-la...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Mandelyn, John, and Rip discuss optimal protein levels for poultry diets, the benefits of different bedding materials for coops, and the importance of proper manure management. They emphasize the risks associated with using diatomaceous earth and recommend safer alternatives like agricultural lime. The hosts share personal experiences and methods for maintaining clean, safe environments for both poultry and humans, including pest control tips and ...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Mandelyn Royal, John Gunterman, and Rip Stalvey discuss effective strategies for managing poultry manure. They cover the impact of manure on the environment, including the risk of runoff contaminating local water sources and affecting wildlife. They highlight the importance of consulting local agencies for guidance on manure management and available state programs. The panel also emphasizes safe composting methods, focusing on achieving appropriat...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, the discussion centers around the management, breeding, and showing of Rhode Island Reds, a classic American poultry breed. The hosts provide recommendations on maintaining bloodlines, handling genetic setbacks, and the perils of introducing new blood into established lines. They share practical advice on conditioning show birds, managing breeding environments, and ensuring the health and quality of birds through ruthless culling and good husbandr...

This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast features experts discussing the history, breeding, raising, and showing of Rhode Island Red chickens. Topics include the breed's origin, contributions by notable figures like Lester Tompkins and Maurice Wallace, visual and breeding characteristics, and strategies for maintaining their iconic dark red color. The script emphasizes key breeding traits, such as tight feathering and proper comb characteristics, and how hens influence these attributes. It ...

From Day Old To First Egg-Part 2 In this informative episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Jeff Mattocks, Karen Johnston, and Rip Stalvey provide expert advice on raising poultry, covering essential topics such as feed transitions from starter to grower, vitamin B supplementation, and the pitfalls of medicated feeds. The discussion emphasizes the importance of separating male and female chicks early, optimal feeding practices, and utilizing good sanitation techniques, including high-calcium ...