McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry
Why Do Chickens Need a Dust Bath? We Ask Gail Damerow
Chickens always find a way to take a dust bath, whether indoors in the coop bedding or outdoors in dry soil. Even baby chicks instinctively dust bathe in the brooder. Here, we continue our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we...
Nutritional Needs of Cornish Cross Meat Chickens with Gail Damerow
Cornish-cross meat chickens eat almost constantly and they grow fast, resulting in unique nutritional requirements. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her to offer tips for meeting the nutritional needs of...
When and Why Would You Need to Replace Your Poultry Flock
Raising poultry, whether a backyard flock or free-range birds on a homestead or farm, does come with the fact that the flock will need to be freshened at some point. Of course, when new hens are brought on is determined based on your needs. As a small family farm that...
Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying, Explained by Gail Damerow
Once your hens start laying eggs, it’s easy to get used to gathering fresh eggs every morning. Then gradually, or suddenly, the eggs stop coming. What happened? Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her to...
Coffee With the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Rhode Island Reds
The Rhode Island Red is the quintessential American chicken, and is arguably one of the most famous breeds in the world. A true dual purpose bird, they were a mainstay of homesteads and small farms throughout most of the twentieth century. Rhode Island Reds are...
Raising Backyard Meat Birds
Last Thanksgiving, we had our first pasture raised turkey … and it was life-changing. My husband said it was the most delicious Thanksgiving meal he had ever eaten. And thus, a dream was born. Because we had moved to our small suburban homestead just a few months...
Poultry Red Mites
Poultry red mites are a type of external parasite that infests chickens. Learn how to prevent and treat poultry red mite infestations.
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...
Shop Day-Old Baby Chicks
Day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry now available for the 2025 season — always with FREE SHIPPING on all full orders of baby birds!