McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry
Translating Fowl Language – Gail Damerow Offers Tips
Chickens make a variety of different sounds while engaging in specific activities. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her for tips that might help us in translating this fowl language. Do the sounds...
Falling in Love With Backyard Geese
I grew up in a family of bird lovers. From hunting to bird watching, filling humming bird feeders and listening for birdsong over coffee, birds have always been a huge part of my life. Geese have long been a favorite of mine; I love listening to their calls and...
Turkey Housing Options
Turkeys instinctively want to roost up high with a good view of their surroundings. They often prefer to sleep out in the open and tend not to like sleeping in enclosed spaces. If you design a turkey shelter with their preferences in mind, you’ll have a better chance...
Top Tips for Brooding Quail
Whether you're a homesteader or an urban keeper, Coturnix quail are an excellent addition to any farm or backyard. They mature rapidly, providing meat or eggs in just 8 weeks. Additionally, they are extremely quiet and require very little space. When you order quail...
Pecking Order in Chickens with Gail Damerow
Many beginning flock keepers are surprised and dismayed when they discover that chickens peck each other while establishing their social hierarchy. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her to explain the...
What to Expect When Raising Turkeys
One of the most common reasons people raise turkeys is to provide a holiday centerpiece or a nutritious source of meat for the freezer, but there is so much more to turkeys than simply providing a meal. Turkeys are incredibly charismatic birds that are enjoyable to...
Using Broody Hens With Gail Damerow
One way to increase your backyard chicken flock is by using broody hens. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her about using broody hens to hatch and raise baby chicks. What are the advantages of using...
Top Tips for New Chicken Keepers with Gail Damerow
Every chicken keeper has a list of “things I wish I’d known” before getting those first chickens. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask for her top tips for new chicken keepers. What is your top tip for...
Raising Turkeys for Beginners
Raising baby turkeys, also called poults, can feel intimidating for beginners. There are a few important differences to be aware of when raising turkey poults as compared to raising chicks (baby chickens). Heritage turkeys are very healthy and hardy as adults, however...
The Pros and Cons of Keeping a Rooster With Gail Damerow
Whether or not to keep a rooster in the flock can be a challenging decision for first-time chicken owners. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her to discuss the pros and cons of keeping a rooster. What is...
Gail Damerow Offers Tips on How to Keep Guineas Home
Guinea fowl are notorious for wandering away from home and never coming back. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her for tips on how to keep guineas home. Why are guineas so difficult to keep home? Usually...
How to Brood Guinea Keets With Gail Damerow
Most poultry keepers know how to raise chicks in a brooder. But brooding guinea keets is a little different from brooding chicks. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her to explain how to brood guinea...
Coffee With The Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Houdans
The quirky and beautiful Houdan is the kind of bird that the Chicken Ladies love. From their exuberant crest to their striking mottled feathers, you don’t have to be Cruella DeVil to appreciate how gorgeous these black and white chickens are. And their personalities?...
Are Autosexing Chickens and Sex Link Chickens the Same? Gail Damerow Explains
The terms "autosex chickens" and "sex link chickens" are often used mistakenly used interchangeably. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her to explain the difference between autosex chickens and sex link...
2025 APA Certified Breeds
As part of our ongoing commitment to Standard bred poultry and preserving Heritage breeds, we are excited to share that we have expanded our number of APA Certified flocks for the third year in a row. This season, certification has been renewed for our Buff,...
Shop Day-Old Baby Chicks
Day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry now available for the 2026 season!