The Coop with Meyer Hatchery

On The Coop today, you’ll hear how heritage breed conservation and your backyard flock play an important role in agricultural biodiversity with Senior Program Manager, Jeannette Beranger of the Livestock Conservancy.  Now, “heritage” has become a popular word so we further explore how the Livestock Conservancy defines heritage, as well as some of the criteria they use to rank breeds on their conse...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about your aggressive rooster. Roosters were born to protect your flock. They are fearless when it comes to predators, but this can be intimidating to us humans. Getting flogged in the back of the legs while tending to your flock, takes the fun out of chicken keeping and can cause serious harm. So how do you handle an aggressive rooster and can they be tamed? 

Hey everyone! Welcome back to The Coop with Meyer Hatchery - where we talk all things poultry in hopes of inspiring crazy chicken keepers and educating future flock owners. Each week we like to take a Meyer Moment to cover relevant happenings. Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about National Chicken Month!  Over two decades ago, the National Chicken Council, came together with major chicken produc...

Today we’re discussing flying the coop as part of our A Year With Chickens Series. We dedicate one episode per month to this series, covering what to expect when raising a chicken in that particular month. For the month of September, we’re taking a look at all things outside of the coop now that your chicks have matured. We’ll discuss everything from how to free-range, to preparing for molt and ho...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about your hen’s egg-eating habit! Chickens enjoy eating eggs just as much as we do. If you are finding broken or half-eaten eggs in your nesting boxes, it can be incredibly frustrating. Left unstopped, the destructive behavior of egg-eating can become harder to correct. So how do you break this bad habit? We’ll provide tips on preventing the habit from forming, a...

Hey everyone! Welcome back to The Coop with Meyer Hatchery - where we talk all things poultry in hopes of educating crazy chicken keepers and inspiring future flock owners. I’m your host Kendra and today we have a special news alert.  Recently, the United States Postal Service has been making headlines. Meyer Hatchery has released our official statement stemming from political and pandemic frustra...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about yellow egg yolks! Many people believe that eggs with dark yellow or sunset orange yolks, taste richer and are healthier for you. While there isn’t much scientific research available, that supports this theory, most of us can’t deny the fact that “fresh is best” when it comes to our eggs. Do you know, what it takes, to get those darker yolks?

Previously we covered poultry abnormalities and now it’s time to talk about eggshells. Have you ever wandered out to the coop for your daily collection, only to find a misshapen, soft, or just strange-looking egg? We’ll cover 16 of the most common eggshell abnormalities you may find from your backyard flock. In this episode you'll:  Learn How An Eggshell is Produced Discover 16 Of The Most Co...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about your nesting boxes! With your hens laying regularly now and egg collection part of your routine, there are a few additions you can make to your nesting boxes to benefit you and your chickens!

On The Coop today, you’ll hear how an education in design and engineering, love of poultry, and an entrepreneurial spirit lead Hanns Paul and his Co-Founders to launch Omlet. Growing from coops to chicken keeping accessories and other pet supplies, Omlet products are now available in Europe, America, Australia, and New Zealand.  So what happens when you take an age-old concept and totally re-imagi...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment, to talk about how to break a broody hen. Broodiness is great if you’re wanting to hatch eggs. But if you’ve hit your chick limit, you may be faced with breaking your hen, of her broody behavior. Today we’re going to cover what broodiness looks like and how to stop it. 

Today we’re taking a look at laying eggs, as part of our A Year With Chickens Series. We dedicate one episode per month to this series, covering what to expect when raising a chicken in that particular month. For the month of August, we're taking a look at how to prepare for when your flock begins laying eggs. We’ll discuss everything from how to tell your chicken is going to begin laying, to...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about the moment you and your chickens have been waiting for….the annual Meyer Hatchery Catalog Cover Contest! Enter your best photos now to land the front cover of the Meyer Hatchery 2021 Poultry Catalog. Did you know Kendra not only is a podcast host but designed last year’s catalog? She’s back at it again this year and has a few insider tips for you! 

Today we’re discussing ducks! We thought we would cover some of the basics about raising ducklings from brooding to the coop. Do you currently have ducks in your flock, or plan on adding them? In this episode you'll:  Hear Kendra + Jeff's Duck Raising Experience Learn The Basics Of Raising Ducks Get Answers To Our Most Common Duckling Questions Important Links: Duck Breeds  Waterfowl Bro...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about how to help your flock beat the heat! Across the country, we’re feeling the summer heat, and your birds are feeling it too. Today we’re going to cover how to keep your poultry safe while staying cool this summer season. 

This minisode is a little bit different than traditional episodes, as we cover relevant happenings in and around Meyer Hatchery. Sometimes we also interview industry leaders, and today I’m excited to be joined by author Gail Damerow.  Gail has been raising poultry for nearly five decades and writing about chickens since her first book came out in 1976. You may recognize the name from her well-love...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about poultry first aid must-haves! Feed and supplements are your first line of defense, but what happens when you have an injury in your flock? We’ve curated a list of poultry first aid must-haves to keep stocked for the moment you need it most.

The summer season is in full swing and typically the time of year folks are planning weekend getaways or annual multi-week vacations. The planning is complete, bags are packed but who is going to care for your flock while you’re away? I will say having a farm and traveling can be tough, however, it’s not impossible. We’ve gathered some considerations and tips to help you care for your flock while...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about Salmonella! With your new chicks arriving it is hard to resist cuddling with them, but did you know, improper poultry handling can lead to a Salmonella infection? The CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Hadar infections, linked to contact with backyard poultry such as chicks and ducklings.  

Today we’re taking a look at Abnormalities, as part of our A Year With Chickens Series. We dedicate one episode per month to this series, covering what to expect when raising a chicken in that particular month. For the month of July, we're going to cover common abnormalities you may experience with your poultry from crooked toes to cross beak.  In this episode you'll:  Hear About Common...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about the Meyer Hatchery Virtual Poultry Show!  With local fairs being altered or completely canceled this year, we want to encourage our youth to continue to learn and grow in their poultry keeping. So we decided to hold a virtual poultry show for the months of July, August, and September.

This minisode is a little bit shorter than our traditional episodes, as we cover relevant happenings in and around Meyer Hatchery. Sometimes we also interview industry leaders, and today we’re excited to be joined by Amanda from Meyer Hatchery. You may remember Amanda from Episode 9 when we discussed Chicken Tractors. Today, she has returned to discuss 4-H as she provides some insight into those l...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about kitchen scraps. As the warmer season continues, you’ll often find yourself with an abundance of fresh produce, from your garden, local farmers market, or grocery store. Instead of tossing your leftover scraps or taking them to the compost bin, consider treating your poultry! 

Today we're talking Turkey! Talking about turkeys that is. With customers ordering turkeys for 4-H and Thanksgiving, we thought we would cover some of the basics about the different turkey breeds, raising turkeys, and some commonly asked questions we received from our listeners! In this episode you'll:  Hear Kendra + Jeff's Turkey Raising Experience Understand The Difference Between...

Let’s take a Meyer Moment to talk about poultry feed.  As you begin your poultry journey, you may find yourself in the feed aisle overwhelmed by the endless options. Let’s take a moment to breakdown some of the common feed terminology, along with the different stages of feed, throughout the lifespan of your poultry.