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

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What Flies Are Really Telling You About Your Chicken Coop
Flies are more than just an annoyance—they're often an indicator of what's happening in your coop and run. In this Poultry Nerds Podcast clip, we discuss why flies are attracted to chickens, the environmental conditions that encourage them, and practical management strategies to reduce fly populations.
Whether you keep a small backyard flock or manage a larger operation, understanding the root causes of fly problems can help you create a healthier environment for your birds while making your coop a more enjoyable place to work.
This episode covers:
Why flies are attracted to chicken coops
Common causes of fly infestations
Management practices that reduce fly breeding
Practical tips for long-term fly control
If you enjoy this discussion, be sure to listen to the full Poultry Nerds Podcast for more science-based conversations on poultry health, management, and husbandry.
Valley Hatchery is a proud sponsor of Poultry Nerds, find more at ValleyHatchery.com
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EggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping!
ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients.

Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Supplies from Double R Farms

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What happens when a simple incubator turns into a mission?In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we visit with Laurie Pineda of Harrison's Hatchery to hear the inspiring story of how her family's poultry journey began with one young man's fascination with hatching chicks.Harrison, who is on the autism spectrum, discovered an incredible passion for incubating eggs. That passion eventually grew into Harrison's Hatchery, where the family now hatches thousands of chicks while creating meaningful opportunities for learning, responsibility, and independence.We also discuss Laurie's vision for "Poultry With a Purpose," including her Carolina Rooster Solution, a program that rehomes unwanted roosters—including placing some with veterans experiencing loneliness and depression—and her goal of helping more neurodivergent individuals discover the value of caring for poultry.Along the way, we also nerd out about:Starting and growing a hatchery
Scaling from one incubator to over 1,000 eggs
Choosing the right poultry business model
NPIP guidance for beginners
Hy-Line Brown ready-to-lay pullets
Developing new breeding projects
And, of course... why naked neck chickens are so controversial!
Whether you're interested in poultry, entrepreneurship, or the unexpected ways chickens can change lives, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.SEO Keywords
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poultry entrepreneurship

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
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EggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping!
ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients.

Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Supplies 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

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!
What makes a quality coturnix quail breeder? In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant of Bryant's Roost and Carey Blackmon discuss practical quail selection methods that breeders can use to improve their flocks generation after generation.
Whether you are raising coturnix quail for eggs, meat production, hatching eggs, homesteading, or developing your own breeding program, understanding how to properly evaluate birds is one of the most important skills you can learn.
Topics covered include:
• How to select breeding quail for long-term flock improvement
• Evaluating body structure and conformation in coturnix quail
• Selecting for egg production and egg size
• Choosing meat-type quail and growth traits
• Fertility and hatchability considerations
• Temperament and behavior in breeding stock
• Common mistakes quail breeders make when selecting birds
• Genetic considerations for coturnix breeding programs
• How to identify birds that should be retained versus culled
• Selection strategies for homesteaders and commercial breeders
If you've ever wondered how experienced breeders evaluate coturnix quail, this episode provides practical insights that can help improve productivity, consistency, and overall flock quality.
Whether you raise jumbo coturnix quail, celadon quail, feather-sexable quail, meat quail, egg-laying quail, or mixed breeding projects, the principles discussed in this episode can help you make more informed breeding decisions.
Learn how proper quail selection affects:
✔ Egg production
✔ Fertility rates
✔ Hatchability
✔ Growth rate
✔ Feed efficiency
✔ Carcass quality
✔ Bird health and vigor
✔ Genetic progress
✔ Long-term flock performance
Resources Mentioned:
🌐 Bryant's Roost: Bryant's Roost
🌐 Poultry Nerds Podcast: Poultry Nerds Podcast
🌐 Beyond the Egg: Beyond the Egg
Keywords: coturnix quail, quail breeding, quail selection, selecting breeding quail, quail genetics, coturnix breeder, jumbo coturnix quail, quail egg production, meat quail, quail hatchability, quail fertility, quail farming, backyard quail, homestead quail, raising quail, quail breeder tips, quail conformation, poultry breeding, poultry genetics, celadon quail, feather sexable quail, quail husbandry, quail management, quail flock improvement, poultry nerds podcast, Bryant's Roost.
#CoturnixQuail #QuailBreeding #QuailSelection #RaisingQuail #Homesteading #BackyardPoultry #PoultryNerdsPodcast #BryantsRoost #QuailEggs #MeatQuail #QuailFarm #PoultryBreeding #QuailGenetics #CeladonQuail #JumboCoturnixQuail
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
Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

EggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping!
ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients.

Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Supplies 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

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Broody hens are a natural part of chicken keeping, but they can be confusing and frustrating if you don't understand what's happening.
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon take a deep dive into broodiness—what causes it, how to recognize it, and what poultry keepers should do when a hen decides it's time to hatch chicks.
You'll learn about the hormonal changes that drive broody behavior, why some breeds are more likely to go broody than others, and how broodiness affects feed intake, body condition, egg production, and flock management. The discussion also covers practical strategies for managing broody hens, including when to encourage natural incubation, when to intervene, and science-based methods for breaking broodiness when necessary.
Whether you're dealing with your first broody hen or managing a flock of dedicated mothers, this episode will help you understand the biology behind the behavior and make informed decisions for your birds.
In this episode:
• Signs that a hen has gone broody
• The role of prolactin and reproductive hormones
• Breeds known for strong broodiness
• Natural incubation versus artificial incubation
• Health considerations during broodiness
• How to break a broody hen safely and effectively
• Managing broody hens in breeding and production flocks
• Common myths and misconceptions about broodiness
Join us as we explore one of the most fascinating instincts in poultry and discuss how to work with—or against—nature when a hen decides she wants to become a mother.
For more poultry education, visit PoultryNerdsPodcast.com.
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
Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

EggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping!
ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients.

Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Supplies 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

send us an email and be sure to include your address so we can respond!
What should you feed your chickens, quail, and other poultry? Does protein really matter? Are expensive feeds worth the cost? And how much does nutrition impact hatchability, chick quality, and flock performance?
In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, Jennifer Bryant and Carey Blackmon tackle listener questions about poultry feed and nutrition. They discuss feed formulations, protein levels, breeder nutrition, common feeding mistakes, and how proper nutrition affects everything from egg production to hatch rates.
Whether you're raising a backyard flock, breeding exhibition birds, or trying to improve your hatch results, this episode is packed with practical information to help you make better feeding decisions.
Plus, congratulations to Carey and the Show Pro Feed team on the launch of their new storefront! Be sure to visit ShowProFarmSupply.com to learn more about their products and support a growing small business serving poultry keepers.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
• Download Carey's Poultry Feed Requirements Guide
• Learn more at PoultryNerdsPodcast.com
• Visit ShowProFarmSupply.com
Have a question for a future episode? Submit it through the Poultry Nerds website and it may be featured on an upcoming show.
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
Join us on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/PoultryNerds

Sign up for News at PoultryNerds.com

EggFoam.com get your egg shippers and live shipping boxes and always get free shipping!
ShowPro feed supplement for all your feathered friends! Grow them bigger and healthier with the best ingredients.

Coturnix Quail hatching eggs from Bryant's Roost, including jumbo celadons!

Quail cartons and Supplies 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