McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry
On-Farm Poultry Processing Workshop Featuring McMurray Hatchery
This month the McMurray Hatchery team was honored to be invited to present at the Iowa Organic Association’s On-Farm Poultry Processing workshop. The event brought together poultry owners from across the state to learn about everything from regulations on selling...
Best Breeds When Raising Pastured Poultry
The continued rise in the popularity of homesteading and sustainable living has led to an increase in awareness for raising pastured poultry. Pastured poultry is a sustainable technique where flocks are raised on pastures, as opposed to indoor confinement, for humane...
Tinted Egg Layer Photo Contest Winner Announced
Congratulations to our February contest winner, Jessica Szachury. Her Whiting True Blue photo is the winner in our February 2018 Tinted Egg Layers photo contest. Jessica will receive a $50 gift certificate to McMurray Hatchery. Click here to see all the entries in...
Getting Started With Your New Chicks
If you’re like us, raising chickens is a rewarding experience. For over a century we’ve been shipping boxes of fluffy day-old chicks to farms, homesteads, and even urban homes across the country. Our team carefully hand-packs each order carefully in our...
The Benefits of Roosters
Are you ordering new baby chicks this year? Whether you’re wanting fresh eggs, showing birds, or just expanding your flock, you should consider adding a rooster to your flock if your local ordinances allow. Roosters, also called cockerels, are often overlooked or...
These Breeds Topped the Charts at McMurray Hatchery in 2017
It’s 2018. After a very busy 100th anniversary year, and some much-deserved time off over the holidays, the McMurray Hatchery team is back to work and has started prepping for the first hatch of the season — cleaning, readying the boxes, monitoring the incubators,...
Chicken Boredom Busters
Chickens are entertaining. They are full of personality and after just one look through Facebook or Instagram’s #ChickensofInstagram, it’s no surprise that their endearing antics are cause for their increasing popularity. It doesn’t take long for a new chicken owner...
CDC: Salmonella Alert
Whether it’s backyard chickens, or a small farm with a variety of chickens and other poultry or fowl, owning poultry can be a great experience. More and more people are looking for options for healthy, sustainable lifestyle solutions including homesteading and keeping...
Photo Contest Winners Announced
The 2018 Murray McMurray catalog will be landing in mailboxes late December / early January. Our sincerest thanks to all who have participated in our photo contests this year, and in previous years. We are thrilled to be able to feature so many great photos submitted...
Top 10 Tools for Cold-Weather Coops
[nextpage title="Top 10 Tools for Cold-Weather Coops"] As cold weather sets in across much of the U.S., the leaves are falling, days are shorter, and the nights are longer and colder. The National Weather Service is predicting a colder than normal winter for the upper...
Understanding the Molting Process
Molting is a natural process that chickens go through annually so they can replenish and replace their feathers. Chickens need to grow new feathers to allow them to effectively regulate their body temperature especially those in colder environments. Chickens will molt...
2017 Best of Breeds Photo Contest: White Egg Layers
During the two weeks we are looking for images of your ideal white egg-laying birds to be featured in our upcoming catalog and/or website.
Raising Poultry for Fall Family and Holiday Meals
September is an ideal time to start chicks for Fall family and holiday meals. Here are a few of our favorite breeds for meat production.
What is a “Broody Hen” and How to Deal With It
It is normal for hens to go broody and some breeds are more prone to it than others. We thought we’d share some general information with you. For those contemplating raising chickens or for the newbies, let’s start off with what broody means — it means that a hen...
Getting Your Poultry Ready for Show Season
Show season is right around the corner and we wanted to share some simple tips to help you maximize your experience and hopefully assist you with bringing home a few ribbons. We’ve found basic preparation is critical to getting your birds to look their best. BATHING...
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!