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 Blaze from Bad Baxter Farm in Wynnewood, Oklahoma to talk about raising poultry and livestock in a more natural, practical, and self-sustaining way.

Blaze shares how her health journey led her deeper into nutrition, homesteading, growing her own food, and building a farm focused on stronger animals, better management, and less dependence on bagged feed and constant medications. We talk about what it really looks like to raise birds on pasture, why ducks are underrated, how closed flocks can help build stronger birds, and why so many health problems in poultry come back to management, environment, and nutrition.

We also get into:

• pasture-raised chickens, ducks, quail, rabbits, and turkeys
• feed freedom and reducing dependence on commercial feed
• duckweed as a low-cost, high-protein livestock supplement
• natural flock health and disease prevention
• coccidiosis prevention, probiotics, whey, and yogurt
• why ducks may outperform chickens on some homesteads
• breed choices, breeding goals, and raising what actually works
• how strong animals are built through better systems, not just more medication

This is a real conversation about learning the hard way, building healthier flocks, and creating a farm system that works in the real world—not just on paper.

If you care about poultry nutrition, pasture poultry, natural flock management, homesteading, feed alternatives, and raising healthier birds, this episode is for you.

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

Today we’re talking all about Bresse chickens and why they’ve become one of our favorite breeds for a self-sustaining flock.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why we prefer Bresse over Cornish in many situations
• Meat quality, tenderness, and ideal processing age
• How to select breeder birds for width, body shape, and table quality
• Egg size, egg selection, and incubation tips
• How to build a breeding program around your goals
• The difference between breeding for production versus breeding for show
• Why Bresse may be one of the best chickens for homesteaders who want both meat and eggs

If you’ve been wondering whether Bresse chickens are worth the hype, or you want a better long-term option for meat production on your farm, this episode is for you.

Bresse chickens, Bresse chicken breeding, Bresse meat birds, best meat chicken breed, Cornish vs Bresse, self sufficient chickens, dual purpose chickens, homestead poultry, backyard chickens, poultry breeding, meat bird selection, chicken processing, incubation, hatching eggs, sustainable poultry

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

On this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we sit down with Brent from Zero G Quail Farm to talk all about frozen quail feeders, who buys them, how they are sized, packaged, processed, and shipped, and why they can be a valuable outlet for quail breeders.

We also go down some fun rabbit holes, including the history of quail hatched in space, the strange legal gray areas around keeping quail, and the surprising demand from the falconry community, reptile owners, raw feeders, and more.

In this episode, we cover:

What frozen feeder quail are and why people buy them

Falconry birds, reptiles, zoos, rescues, and raw feeding markets

How breeders use feeders as an outlet for culls

Sizing birds by weight for customers

Packaging and freezing tips that make birds look better and store better

Cervical dislocation vs. CO2 dispatch

Handling breeder birds vs. younger birds

Shipping challenges, dry ice, delivery logistics, and customer expectations

Using more of the bird for added value

Why setting boundaries matters if you want to turn quail into a business

If you raise quail, breed coturnix, sell feeders, or want to understand another side of the poultry world, this episode is packed with practical insight and real-world experience.

Guest: Brent of Zero G Quail Farm
Website: Zero G Quail Farms
Community Mentioned: Incubation Masterclass Facebook Group

Subscribe for more episodes on:
quail farming, poultry breeding, incubation, gamebirds, nutrition, business strategy, and practical poultry management.

#PoultryNerdsPodcast #QuailFarming #FrozenFeeders #CoturnixQuail #Falconry #ReptileFeeders #QuailBreeding #BackyardPoultry #Homesteading #PoultryPodcast #RawFeeding #Gamebirds #Incubation #QuailBusiness

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

Thinking about raising quail but not sure how to get started?

In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we walk through the real decisions every beginner faces when starting with quail. Should you buy hatching eggs, chicks, or adult birds? What equipment do you really need? And what housing systems work best for backyard quail keepers?

We also explain the true costs of starting a quail flock, the pros and cons of different setups, and how experienced breeders plan their operations before buying their first birds.

Whether you're interested in quail for eggs, meat, breeding, or homesteading, this episode will help you build a clear plan before investing money in birds or equipment.

In this episode we discuss

• Starting quail with eggs vs chicks vs mature birds
• The real cost of incubators, brooders, and equipment
• How shipping live birds through USPS actually works
• Different housing options: cages, hutches, aviaries, and barns
• Why planning your quail goals saves money and frustration
• How quail compare to chickens for eggs, meat, and breeding

Quail are one of the fastest growing poultry species, reaching maturity in just a few weeks, making them ideal for backyard farmers, breeders, and homesteaders.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to start raising quail the right way.

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

Is the egg just a shell with a chick inside?

Not even close.

In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we break down the real science behind egg incubation and hatching — and clear up some of the biggest myths spreading through backyard chicken groups.

If you're incubating chicken eggs, quail eggs, duck eggs, or shipped hatching eggs this season, this episode will help you improve your hatch rate and produce stronger, healthier chicks.

We discuss:

• How breeder nutrition affects egg quality and chick vigor
• The real structure of the egg (yolk, albumen, membranes, air cell, bloom)
• Why you should NOT wash hatching eggs
• Hydrogen peroxide and egg sanitation myths
• Vertical incubators vs. horizontal turners
• Why vibration kills embryos
• Broken air cells from shipped eggs (and how to fix them)
• Why egg turning during the first third of incubation is critical
• Humidity mistakes at lockdown that drown chicks
• Why pullet eggs and misshapen eggs shouldn’t be set

The egg isn’t just a container — it’s a complete biological life-support system designed to grow a chick.

If you want better hatch rates, fewer weak chicks, and less frustration during hatching season, this episode is for you.

Join the conversation inside our Incubation Masterclass Facebook group and hatch smarter this year.

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

Quail Mania 2 is officially in the books — and the turnout was huge. In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we debrief the event results, what improved from last year, and what’s already being planned for Quail Mania 3 (including a Kids Corner and the possibility of expanding to three days).

Event highlights discussed:

• 15 speakers, 16 sponsors, and 1,363 participants
• Over 4,800 live chat messages
• All-Access Pass availability through May 31 (so you can learn through breeding season)

Then we shift into a topic that directly impacts hatch rates and breeder success: rooster (cock bird) health and fertility.

You’ll learn:

• Layer feed vs all-flock feed: what’s best during breeding season
• The truth about calcium and roosters (and why it’s usually a long-term management issue)
• How fat roosters reduce fertility and performance
• Molt management and why weight cycling matters
• Foot health, roost height, and preventing injuries
• Spur management and protecting hens
• Easy ways to check fertility before setting a full batch
• Why aggression shouldn’t be tolerated in a breeding program

If you’re trying to improve fertility, hatchability, and chick quality — this is a must-listen.

Sponsors mentioned: Valley Hatchery (coupon code: QuailMania), Hatching Time, ParcelPath

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

This week on the podcast we talk about some questions we see asked in our new Facebook group, Incubation Masterclass about incubating and general chicken keeping. We answer general questions and correct some misinformation we have seen discussed. Get more confident with your chicken skills after this episode

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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!

In this episode of the Poultry Nerds Podcast, we break poultry husbandry down into something simple, practical, and proven: the rule of threes.

Every bird goes through three critical stages of life — incubation, brooding, and grow-out — and in each stage, there are three things that matter most. Miss them, and problems follow. Get them right, and everything gets easier.

We dive into:

• Egg selection for better hatches (size, shape, shell quality, and why pullet eggs are a hard no)
• Why constant candling hurts more than it helps — and when checking eggs actually makes sense
• Turning, tilting, airflow, and avoiding incubator disasters
• Brooding basics done right: heat, dryness, airflow, and why floors matter more than people think
• Heat lamps vs brooder plates and how different species really behave
• Grow-out fundamentals: feeder space, moisture control, and consistent growth
• Why we don’t medicate, how natural selection strengthens flocks, and what ethical culling really means
• Common myths, bad habits, and hard truths most breeders won’t say out loud

This episode is equal parts education, experience, and straight talk — no gimmicks, no hype, just what actually works in real barns with real birds.

Whether you raise chickens, quail, turkeys, or gamefowl, this episode will help you hatch stronger chicks, brood them cleaner, and grow them out healthier.

👉 Like, subscribe, and share — and if this helped even one bird do better, it was worth it.

Join Carey of Show Pro Farm Supply and Jennifer of Bryant's Roost as we delve into chickens and quail (mostly) to help you enjoy your birds more and worry less. Backyard chicken keeping shouldnt be stressfull, let's get back to the simple days

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