McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other PoultryJoin Us This Summer for Murray Fest Midwest — Buy Tickets Now!
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Breed Spotlight: Murray’s Midget White Turkey
The Midget White turkey breed was new to me last season. I had never heard of them at all before spying them in Murray McMurray’s annual catalog last year. In fact, I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to try raising turkeys again after the first time. Years ago, when we...
Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Cochins
Cochins are the OG fancy chicken. They originated in China and were further developed in the UK and US, gradually becoming the gorgeous, super fluffy, feather-footed beauties that we know and love today. They’re foundation breeds for so many chicken breeds and color...
Ringing in Our 107th Hatching Season
One of my favorite book series is coming out with a new title. It has been quite some time since I’ve read these books, so I get to re-read them now and catch back up. These days, I find that I’m re-reading more books than I’m reading new ones. I might know the...
Gail Damerow Discusses Winter Health Considerations for Chickens
Cold stress in winter can affect a flock’s health. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we query her regarding winter health considerations for chickens. What is cold stress? "Cold stress occurs when a chicken...
2024 Catalog Photo Winners
The 2024 Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog will start landing in mailboxes across the U.S. and Canada over the holidays. Each year's catalog features photos submitted by our customers. Our 2024 catalog is our most comprehensive issue to date, featuring 132 pages of...
4-H and Fair Champions Flock to McMurray Hatchery
Since our inception, McMurray Hatchery has supported 4-H and FFA members and clubs, as well as a host of other agricultural organizations, across the U.S.A. — from shows highlighting rare breeds to broiler projects, automatic feeder inventions, and even livestock...
2023 Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority List Updates
Murray McMurray Hatchery® is dedicated to preserving rare and endangered Heritage poultry breeds. Today, several of our flocks stand as the only viable established lines left in the United States for a number of rare and critically endangered breeds. It is our honor...
Gail Damerow Discusses Her Top Three Favorite Chicken Breeds
How long have you been keeping chickens? "I started keeping chickens in 1970. While looking for my first house, I wanted a place that was zoned for chickens. As luck would have it, the place I bought came with chickens already installed," she explains. "There was such...
Black Flies (Buffalo Gnats), Protecting Your Flock and Livestock
As a poultry owner, it's important to understand how insects can pose a risk of danger or disease to your flock. While spring is an exciting time for many, seasonal rains and warm, humid weather across states, including those in Central, Northern, and even...
Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Salmon Faverolles
This month’s breed is a chicken lady’s (or gent’s) dream come true! They’re ridiculously adorable, friendly and chatty, gentle with other breeds, super cold hardy, and an all around excellent companion. They make great show birds, and they’re pretty decent layers,...
Raising American Bresse with Erik Gordon
The American Bresse (pronounced “bress”) is one of the most sought-after meat breeds on the market today. The Bresse is a unique dual-purpose chicken breed that originated in France, where they are raised under strict protocols in order to achieve the tender, marbled...
Three DIY Chicken Projects With Janet Garman
Chicken tending naturally lends itself to DIY projects. From the time your brand new chicks walk into your heart, you will be providing for their needs. Though chickens are hardy and self-reliant, when keeping them for egg production, you will want to provide a...
Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Leghorns
The tiny Leghorn is arguably the breed with the biggest impact on modern chicken farming. They are one of the best known chicken breeds in the world, especially of the Mediterranean class. As a group, Mediterraneans are relatively light bodied chickens known for their...
Raising Backyard Ducklings
When we moved to our new house, I knew that I wanted to bring home some baby ducklings as soon as we were set up for them. I have always loved ducks. As an avid baker who prizes their eggs, I've dreamed of having my own small flock of layers for years. Because I am...
5 Reasons to Raise Waterfowl
I have been known to swim against the current, do things my way, and voice my reasons loudly. Not in a bossy way, but in a way that makes you wonder if you should have taken my advice. This rings true for my beliefs on intentional gardening, how and what I choose to...
Shop Day-Old Baby Chicks
Day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry now available for the 2024 season — always with FREE SHIPPING on all full orders of baby birds!