Shows
Poultry Keepers PodcastCulling With Clarity Part 2In Part 2 of “Culling With Clarity,” join Mandelyn, John, and Rip as they continue their honest and thought-provoking conversation about the art and responsibility of culling within a poultry breeding program. This episode digs deeper into the emotional challenges, humane techniques, and practical considerations that all poultry keepers face when selecting and removing birds from their flocks.You’ll hear personal experiences about predator recovery, humane euthanasia options, what makes dual-purpose breeds more sustainable, and the real-world challenges of over-culling and narrow gene pools. We also discuss deferred culling, stress-based selection, record-keeping, and how better birds improve your s...
2025-07-0828 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastCulling With Clarity-Part 1In this insightful episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey, Mandelyn Royal, and John Gunterman have a deep and honest discussion on one of the most challenging but essential parts of poultry keeping: culling.But wait—culling isn’t just about processing birds. It’s about decision-making. It’s about your flock’s future. It’s about refining your breeding goals, making tough calls, and protecting your reputation as a poultry keeper. Whether you raise birds for meat, eggs, show, or dual purpose, you’ll walk away from this episode with fresh insight into what culling really means—a...
2025-07-0127 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastSmart Selection-Part 1In this insightful episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, host Rip Stalvey is joined by Mandelyn Royal and John Gunterman to explore one of the most powerful yet misunderstood aspects of poultry breeding: Smart Selection. Whether you're raising birds for eggs, meat, show, or heritage preservation, this conversation breaks down how purposeful culling and intentional selection can make or break your flock's future. Discover when and how to begin selecting birds, how to use records and daily observations to evaluate progress, and why even small decisions during brooding can have long-term impacts on flock quality. Fr...
2025-06-1731 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastGrow Out Secrets: What Your Young Flock Is Telling You-Part 2In this episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, we continue our deep dive into the fascinating world of grow outs. Hosts John, Mandelyn, and Rip explore the subtle and not-so-subtle messages your young flock sends you every day—if you know how to look.From activity levels and social behavior to the impact of nutrition, grit, and space on development, this conversation is packed with real-world insights for backyard poultry keepers. You’ll learn how to spot early signs of issues, make smart culling decisions, adjust feed strategies, and improve your record-keeping for long-term success.We a...
2025-06-1029 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastGrow Out Secrets: What Your Young Flock Is Telling You-Part 1Discover the secrets hidden in your young flock’s development! In this episode of The Poultry Keepers Podcast, we dive deep into the overlooked but crucial grow-out phase—the time between brooding and maturity. Learn how to observe, track, and interpret the subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages your birds are giving you.Join Rip, John and Mandelyn as they share proven tips on:Early growth indicators and what they meanChoosing future breeders through observationManaging nutrition, housing, and temperamentUnderstanding the role of genetics, feed, and environmentRecordkeeping tips that help guide breeding and culling deci...
2025-06-0329 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastGrow Out Secrets-Part 2In Part 2 of the Grow Out Secrets series on The Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey, Mandelyn Royal, and John Gunterman return to the conversation on raising and evaluating young poultry during the critical grow-out phase. This episode dives into the real-world decisions poultry keepers must make when selecting future breeders and culling out the rest.Learn how to spot activity levels, how nutrition impacts development, when to expect certain traits to appear, and how to manage your grow-outs for optimal health and performance. The team also discusses:The importance of space and gender separationWhy...
2025-05-2728 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastGrow Out Secrets-Part 1In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, we dive deep into the often-overlooked grow-out phase of poultry keeping—the critical time between brooding and maturity. Join Rip and guests John and Mandelyn as they explore the importance of observing your chickens’ behavior, tracking growth milestones, and making informed decisions about nutrition, genetics, and flock management. Learn how daily observation, record-keeping, and hands-on evaluation can reveal future breeder potential, uncover nutritional needs, and ensure your birds reach their full potential—whether they’re destined for the laying flock, the freezer, or the show pen. This episode is packed wi...
2025-05-2029 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastSelecting Dual Purpose Chickens: Hands-On Traits That Matter for Meat and Eggs (Part 1)In this information-packed episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, we dive deep into how to evaluate and select true dual-purpose poultry breeds for both meat and egg production. Join Rip, Jeff, Carey, and Mandelyn as they discuss hands-on selection techniques, key body traits, breed standards, carcass evaluation, and how to use real production data to make better breeding decisions.Whether you’re breeding American Bresse, Rhode Island Reds, or other traditional dual-purpose breeds, this episode will help you understand what to look for in males and females at different ages, how to balance traits, and why the be...
2025-04-2226 minPoultry Keepers PodcastSpring Fever Is Real - Part 2In Part 2 of “Spring Fever Is Real,” the Poultry Keepers Podcast team dives deep into the realities of spring chick season, feed shortages, overstocked coops, and the consequences of poor planning. Hosts Rip Stalvey, Mandelyn Royal, and John Gunterman share personal insights on how chicken math can spiral out of control and offer real-world advice on incubator capacity, grow-out planning, feed availability, and breeder burnout. Whether you're new to poultry or rethinking your hatching goals, this episode is filled with practical wisdom to help you raise strong, sustainable flocks without losing your sanity—or your space.Join...
2025-04-1523 min
Poultry Keepers PodcastPractical Poultry Genetics-Part 2In this episode of the Poultry Keepers podcast, hosts Mandelyn, John, and Rip discuss the importance of genetic knowledge for backyard poultry keepers. They explain key genetic concepts like genotype versus phenotype, dominant versus recessive traits, and test mating. The hosts delve into practical applications, such as identifying faults, selecting quality birds, and ensuring strong structure and even growth. They also highlight the challenges of breeding, the importance of record-keeping, and how to prevent unwanted traits. The episode underscores the significance of observing birds closely, maintaining genetic consistency, and learning from breeding experiences.#Poul...
2025-04-0129 minPoultry Keepers PodcastPractical Poultry Genetics Part 1In this episode of the Poultry Keepers podcast, your hosts—Mandelyn, John, and Rip discuss the essentials of poultry genetics. They explore key concepts such as genotype vs. phenotype, dominant vs. recessive traits, and test mating. The conversation emphasizes the importance of practical genetic knowledge for improving flocks, selecting quality birds, and making informed decisions, whether for breeding, showing, or backyard sustainability. Throughout the episode, the hosts share personal insights and experiences on topics including disqualifications, faults, and polygenetic traits, and how environmental factors affect genetic expression.#PoultryGenetics #BackyardChickens #ChickenBreeding #HeritageChickens #RaisingPoultry #GenotypeVsPhenotype #DominantAndRecessive #TestMating #SelectiveBreeding #ChickenTraits...
2025-03-2528 minPoultry Keepers PodcastIntroductiopn to Waterfowl-Part 1In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts John Gunterman, Mandelyn Royal, and Rip Stalvey discuss the fundamentals of keeping waterfowl such as ducks and geese. They cover the growing popularity of waterfowl for benefits like eggs, meat, pest control, and entertainment. The conversation addresses the key considerations for beginners, including choosing the right breeds based on goals (e.g., meat or egg production), ethical down harvesting, and special uses of specific breeds. They highlight practical aspects like waterfowl’s need for water, differences between breeds, incubation processes, and common challenges. The episode also cove...
2025-02-2519 minPoultry Keepers PodcastThe Importance of Vitamins & Minerals Part-1In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Jeff Mattacks, Carey Blackmon, and Rip Stalvey discuss the significance of vitamins and minerals in poultry diets. They delve into the roles of vitamins A, E, D, and B, explain their impact on health and development, and highlight the difference between minimum and optimum levels for poultry nutrition. The discussion includes practical advice on ensuring proper vitamin levels, the limitations of current research, and the importance of maintaining higher nutritional standards. The episode also touches on optimal feed storage practices to maintain vitamin efficacy and concludes wi...
2025-02-1128 minPoultry Keepers PodcastProtein, Fats, and Fiber in Poultry NutritionIn this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, and Carey Blackmon dive into the critical role that proteins, fats, and fibers play in poultry nutrition. They emphasize the differences between vegetable-based and animal-based protein sources, detail the importance of specific amino acids like lysine and methionine, and discuss the use of fish meal and its sustainability. The hosts also cover age-specific protein requirements for poultry, from chicks to layers, and the importance of balanced amino acid levels for optimal growth and egg production. They touch on the issues of overfeeding protein an...
2025-02-0427 minPoultry Keepers PodcastThe Role of Proteins, Fats, and Fibers in Poultry Nutrition-Part 1In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Rip Stalvey explore the complexities of proteins, fats, and fibers in poultry nutrition. They delve into protein sources, comparing vegetable-based (mostly soybean and canola meal) and animal-based (fish meal and meat meals) proteins, and discuss essential amino acids like lysine and methionine. The conversation covers the importance of sustainable fishing for fishmeal, concerns over overfeeding protein, and specific nutritional needs during different growth stages of poultry, including chicks, growers, developers, layers, and breeding stock. The hosts emphasize the need for balanced amino ac...
2025-01-2927 minPoultry Keepers PodcastBantams-Part 2This episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast features hosts Mandelyn, John, and Rip discussing the care and feeding practices for bantam chickens. They delve into the history of poultry feed components, emphasizing the importance of amino acids over protein, and the role of nutritional density. Discussions include comparisons between bantams and large fowl, highlighting bantams' resilience in cold climates, efficiency in feed conversion, and lesser need for space. They also explore breed preservation, predator vulnerabilities, and practical tips on feeding and managing both bantams and large fowl chickens. The episode concludes with a nod to th...
2025-01-2121 minPoultry Keepers PodcastBantams-Part 1In this episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, hosts Mandelyn, John, and Rip delve into the miniature but giant world of Bantam chickens. They discuss the origins, types, and physical characteristics of Bantams, emphasizing that they are mostly smaller versions of large fowl. The discussion covers advantages of raising Bantams in urban settings, their loudness, and their ability to fly and brood effectively. They also explore egg production, dual-purpose possibilities, temperament, and nutrition, debunking the myth that Bantams require different feed than large fowl. Plus, there are anecdotes about Bantams' predator awareness and interactions. You can...
2025-01-1421 minPoultry Keepers PodcastClassification of Poultry-Part 1In 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 touch on various Bantam classifications and the categorization of waterfowl, emphasizing the complexity and diversity within poultry breeding standards.You can email us at...
2025-01-0720 minPoultry Keepers PodcastBlake Bell Talks Brahmas--Part 2In 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. They also address feeding strategies, emphasizing the use of consistent, high-protein mash feed, and discuss the pros and cons of ferm...
2024-12-3121 minPoultry Keepers PodcastBlake Bell Talks Brahmas-Part 1In 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 preference for hatching eggs over selling adult chickens, providing insights into breeding and judging standards for Brahmas. The episode includes detailed advice on breeding fo...
2024-12-2418 minPoultry Keepers PodcastWhy?....What?....Part 2In 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 supplies during winter and stress the importance of verifying information from trusted sources, concluding with insights on natural methods for enhancing the poultry's i...
2024-12-1720 minPoultry Keepers PodcastWhy?....What?....Part 1In 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 resistance. The hosts emphasize the importance of proper husbandry and responsible medication use. They also highlight the value of kn...
2024-12-1018 minPoultry Keepers PodcastWhere Are My Eggs?-Part 2This 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 hosts delve into winter care, including nutrition modifications, the pros and cons of supplemental heating, and managing humidity in coops. The episode concludes with ad...
2024-12-0326 minPoultry Keepers PodcastWhere Are My Eggs?-Part 1In 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-laying goals and delve into specific considerations for both production-focused and dual-purpose breeds.You can em...
2024-11-2624 minPoultry Keepers PodcastManure Management-Part 2In 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 the significance of protective gear. They also highlight the role of poultry manure in soil improvement and environmental benefits, encouraging listeners to adapt st...
2024-11-1624 minPoultry Keepers PodcastManure Management-Part 1In 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 appropriate temperatures to eliminate pests and pathogens. They discuss the benefits of using different bedding materials and best practices for maintaining a healthy coop environment. Prop...
2024-11-1221 min