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

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , we break down the celadon gene , explain how true blue eggs are formed, and clear up common myths surrounding celadon quail breeding. From genetics and egg shell pigmentation to breeding mistakes and record-keeping challenges, this episode delivers real education without the fluff...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , we’re joined by Brie—agricultural engineering student, software developer, and creator of the Poultry Pro app—to explore how data, genetics, and technology are transforming modern poultry breeding. Brie shares how her background in agricultural engineering and livestock systems le...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Happy New Year and welcome to Year 3 of the Poultry Nerds Podcast! 🎉 We just crossed 50,000 downloads , and in this episode we’re celebrating by looking back at 2025 , looking ahead to 2026 , and breaking down why quail are becoming one of the smartest poultry choices today . We officially announce Quail Mania 2 , a free, two...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Merry Christmas from the hosts of the Poultry Nerds Podcast ! In this special Christmas Day episode, Carrie and Jennifer take a moment to say thank you to the incredible listeners around the world who have supported the show over the past two years. What started as a simple weekly conversation about chickens, quail, turkeys, a...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! What really happens to the rest of the bird after processing? In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , Carey and Jennifer dive deep into nose-to-tail poultry utilization—breaking down how quail, chickens, turkeys, and even manure can be used with little to no waste . From feeding pigs and dogs, making dehydrated pet trea...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Christian from QuailOS joins Jennifer this week in a discussion about tracking chicken and quail expenses.  In the next episode of our Business Episodes, Christian has been making quail a profession for 5 years!  Now he is here to share his latest product that can help you move from backyard chicken keeper to business.  From c...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of Poultry Nerds , we sit down with Dr. M — our resident poultry vet — to get real about worms in backyard flocks.  From the most common culprits (roundworms, tapeworms, cecal worms) to why a fecal float test matters, Dr. M breaks down: ✅ What types of worms chickens typically get — and how common each is.  🔬...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Join Carey , Jennifer , and guest breeder Aaron Guidroz of Guidroz Family Farm as they dive into the genetics behind the Progressive Pied coturnix quail , how to breed for color and size, tips for brooding success , and upcoming Black Friday farm deals from ShowPro, Brian’s Roost, and Guidroz Family Farm. Perfect for poultry a...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Welcome back, Poultry Nerds! In this jam-packed episode, Carey and Jennifer dive deep into chicken coop design , comparing fixed coops vs. chicken tractors , winter preparation, predator management, bird density, and how chicken math ALWAYS wins. Whether you’re designing your first backyard coop or upgrading your serious breed...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Welcome back, Poultry Nerds! In this packed episode, Jennifer finally gets Carey to spill all the juicy details about his trip to the 2025 Ohio National Poultry Show — one of the largest, loudest, and most legendary poultry events in the country. Carey shares his full unfiltered experience:  • Meeting fans and podcast listener...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Have you ever wondered what chicken breed would be best for yourself?  Or even considered ducks instead?  Then how to find a breeder and what to ask them?  We have you covered this week on the podcast.  We created a checklist for you and then go thru it on some possible answers and the reasons why.  We  also published this one...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Running a farm isn’t easy — especially when you’re balancing hundreds (or thousands) of birds, a full-time job, and family life. In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , Carey and the crew get real about how to manage your time, stay organized, and build systems that make poultry farming sustainable . From feeding routin...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this Poultry Nerds Podcast episode, we dive deep into auto-sexing vs sex-linked breeding in quail and chickens . Learn the genetic differences , why auto-sexing doesn’t apply to quail, how sex-linking can boost hatchery efficiency , and why Egyptian × Pharaoh crosses make one of the best-selling sex-linked quail lines. We a...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode, co-hosts Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon take a deep dive into how a backyard poultry hobby can evolve into a profitable venture. They share their own stories of transitioning from keeping a few birds “for fun” to managing a business built on eggs, quality genetics, specialty supplies, and savvy marketing....

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Today we talk about water quality and how it affects chickens plus ways to set up a water system to reduce labor.  Carey is much more innovative than Jennifer and her buckets. Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com Support the show Feel Free to email us at - PoultryNerds@gmail.com...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Veterinarian Dr. M joins the Poultry Nerds Podcast to unpack chicken genetics and practical care: what vaulted skulls mean in crested breeds (Silkies, Polish), how to safely trim spurs (and what not to do), the real role of combs and wattles in heat regulation, why Vaseline doesn’t prevent frostbite , and humane tips for beak/...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Meet the real people behind the Poultry Nerds Podcast! In this candid, behind-the-scenes episode, Carey and Jennifer interview each other—how Show Pro Farm Supply started, how Bryant’s Roost grew from six dozen quail eggs, what it takes to run a poultry brand and a podcast, and why evidence-based nutrition and incubation matte...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Join us on the Poultry Nerds Podcast as we sit down with Craig Hansen, one of the most respected names in the Cochin world. From his start in 4-H projects to breeding award-winning varieties like Silver Laced and Buff Columbians, Craig shares his journey, breeding strategies, and passion for preserving poultry genetics. We div...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we celebrate a big milestone—earning an American, Oriental, and Spanish Gamefowl Judging Certificate —and dive into essential farm wisdom every chicken keeper needs. From choosing the right judging regalia (coat, apron, or vest?) to keeping your flock safe from common hazards, we c...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , we sit down with Brittany from Knights Poultry and Lab in Mississippi to explore the fascinating world of chicken DNA testing . From sexing Silkies and Ameraucanas to identifying the blue egg gene, recessive white, chocolate, lavender, and even duck or emu testing, Brittany shares...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , we dive deep into how to assess your chicken’s health —from daily live observations to hands-on necropsy techniques. Carey and Jennifer share detailed notes from their flocks, including Orpington grow-out observations, line breeding practices, and surprising behavior differences w...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! We’re back with another Next Level Nerds episode, and this one’s packed with real-world farming grit and laughs. 🐓🌱 Meet Bernadine & Ray from Redmond Hills Farm in Oregon. They’ve turned retirement into full-time farming—raising pasture-raised Cornish chickens, quail for eggs & meat, and even working with Longhorn ca...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Ever wondered which chicken, duck, or quail breed is best for your self-sufficient lifestyle? In this fun and informative episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast , Carey and Jennifer compare their two very different homesteads—one on multiple acres, one on a small plot—to show how anyone can start raising poultry, no matter the s...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! Thinking about raising chickens but overwhelmed by fancy coops and expensive setups? In this down-to-earth episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we go back to basics with practical, budget-friendly tips for beginners. From cardboard box brooders to free pallet coops, we share our first chicken stories, starter equipment, preda...

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond! In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Whitney from Bissonnette Acres to talk about the Indio Gigante , a massive chicken breed developed in Brazil for meat production and now turning heads in the U.S. for its size, docility, and dinosaur-like appearance. Whitney shares her experience raising these bird...