Episodes

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 ...

This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast features discussions with Jeff Mattocks, Karen Johnston, and Rip Stalvey on essential practices for raising chicks from day old to egg-laying stage. They explore the importance of the first week in a chick's life for metabolic function establishment and discuss the use of products like dairy supplements to aid development. The conversation highlights how to properly transition chicks through different phases by adjusting their nutrition and environme...

In the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey interviews William Saunders, a Phoenix poultry breeder from Florida. William shares his journey, starting at age four, and his breeding experiences over 19 years focusing on Phoenix birds. He discusses the rewards and challenges of breeding Phoenix, including weather conditions in Florida and maintaining bird health. He outlines his breeding process, emphasizing the importance of selecting traits like leg length and feather condition, and discusses hi...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, co-hosts Rip Stalvey, Mandelyn Royal, Jeff Mattocks, and Carey Blackmon provide expert advice on maintaining a productive and healthy Bresse poultry flock. They discuss the importance of planting and maintaining a diverse pasture mix for free-ranging chickens, including grains and legumes like rye, wheat, and clover. The hosts also highlight methods like rotational grazing and suggest optimal space requirements per bird to keep pastures sustainabl...

This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, features Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackman, and Mandelyn Royal, discussing the American Bresse breed of chicken. Mandelyn provides an in-depth look at the history, varieties, and unique characteristics of the Bresse, which originates from France. The conversation covers breeding strategies, including traits to look for in dual-purpose qualities, the importance of growth rate and body structure, and the challenges of breeding for consistent q...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey discusses various techniques and practices for keeping and breeding Minorca chickens with his guest John Tinsley. The conversation covers hatching schedules, chick identification methods, and the process of selecting and grooming birds for shows. John shares his experiences in breeding different varieties of Minorcas, including efforts to revive the Rose Comb White Minorca and his new project with Buff Minorcas. Listeners are pro...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast hosted by Rip Stalvey, guest John Tinsley discusses his extensive experience raising Minorcas, a chicken breed known for its size, fertility, and egg production. Tinsley shares his journey into poultry, influenced by his father and grandfather, his transition to raising Minorcas for their desirable traits, and the challenges involved in giving them enough space. He details his coop and pen setups, feeding practices, and breeding methodology, highli...

In this special episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey uncovers a valuable conversation with poultry expert Danny Feathers. The episode dives deep into Danny's techniques for maintaining and breeding white leghorns, from identifying ideal bird traits to breeding strategies and maintaining line purity. Originally recorded for the American Poultry Association, this insightful interview was rediscovered from a forgotten computer, preserving Danny's wisdom and offering listeners practi...

In this special episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey presents a historic conversation with the late Danny Feathers, an expert on White Leghorns. Danny shares his deep passion for the breed, recounts his childhood attraction to White Leghorns, and offers detailed advice on breeding techniques, including selecting and pairing birds. Danny recalls revitalizing the characteristics and quality of Leghorns and discusses his methodology for breeding, focusing on various bird attrib...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast delves into managing Shamo chickens. We discuss their behavior, the challenges of different age groups in brooders, and the importance of enrichment to prevent aggression. We touch on breeding considerations, hatching ease, and differences in raising Shamo compared to other breeds. Jessica shares her experiences with nutritional needs, including the myth of glucosamine necessity and the importance of a proper diet. Showing Shamo, and training them ...

This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast is a replay of a previously rec0orded PK360 Live, Rip Stalvey, and Jeff Mattocks along with guest Jessica Watson, delve into the fascinating world of Shamos, a magnificent breed of poultry. Jessica shares insights on the breed’s origins, traits, and her personal journey with Shamos. They discuss the bird's unique physical features, their original purpose, and their suitability as pets. The episode also covers topics like breeding, housing requirements...

In this episode of the Poultry Keepers podcast, Mandelyn Royal and co-hosts John Gunterman and Rip Stalvey continue their in-depth discussion on poultry breeding and selection practices. The conversation covers techniques such as identifying which hens lay which eggs, the importance of shape and size in egg selection, and the role of natural selection in maintaining flock quality. The hosts share their personal experiences with different breeding methods, flock management challenges, and achievi...

This episode covers the journey and management of poultry during the grow-out season for dual-purpose flock goals, featuring insights from Mandy, Rip, and John. Mandy discusses her process, including the initial hatching in March, reaching a peak in June, and reducing numbers systematically until November. At peak, she manages around 200 birds, focusing on retaining 30 females and a few males by fall. John details his method of daily weighing chicks for the first three weeks to compare growth p...