McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other PoultryResponsibility by Hunter Kemper
RESPONSIBILITY by Hunter Kemper For the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the Exercise Your Character Event in Des Moines, IA, organized by Hy-Vee Inc. This is an event I look forward to every year as 7,000 4th and 5th graders gather...
Chickens – A lot like my Kids by Hunter Kemper
I hope you've all had a wonderful Summer on "the farm." I've been a chicken owner since the end of January and it has been a fun adventure. We've gotten to watch our baby chicks grow into pullets that lay beautiful white, brown, and blue eggs (like the kind you see on...
PolyFace Farms Field Day
Late last year I received an invitation from Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms to exhibit at their Field Day. The Field Day I would learn consisted of Joel and his team opening up his farm to approximately 1,800 interested current future farmers, homesteaders, gardeners...
Pheasants Update – Wings of Flight
We went out of town for a couple of days so I had a relative care for my various flocks. All was going well until the one day I checked in with him. "Well, everything is good except you had a pheasant die," he said. While one pheasant in the grand scheme of things...
A new chirping – Pheasants
As I walked slowly through the cut corn and brush, our detectives worked furiously to find our deceptive prey. The harder the detectives sniffed for clues and ran furiously around the landscape the more intently I focused on the cover ahead anticipating a startling...
2014 School’s Out Photo Contest Winners
...
Chicks of the Trade (show)
I like trade shows. Trade shows offer you a place to see, feel, smell and experience new products, new ideas and allow you to meet many new people. Granted, some people would ask, "Why do you need a tradeshow when you can just go to the company's website?" The...
Bad, Bad Mr. Fox
I remember my mother reading me many stories when I was little. In a lot of the stories that included a fox, the fox is the bad guy. The fox has been included in many stories, cultures, songs and more from Jimmy Hendrix' "Foxy Lady" to Dr. Seuss' "Fox in Socks". ...
2014 Easter Photo Contest Winners
...
Why Easter Eggs by Hunter Kemper
Since we are now the proud owners of chickens, I did a little investigating into the significance of “the egg” this Easter celebration. When did eggs first become associated with Easter? The egg is an ancient symbol of new life and it has been linked with the...
Brooding My Chicks
As I drove the moving truck out of the neighborhood, Rosie and Winston sat shotgun quietly. I could see the look on their face. They couldn't believe what we just packed up in this bohemith of a truck. Quite frankly, I couldn't either. They didn't say a word -...
The Siouxland Garden Show & Murray McMurray Hatchery
I had the pleasure of showcasing some of our Murray McMurray Hatchery chickens and speaking at this past weekend's Siouxland Garden Show in Sioux City, Iowa. This was our first time to the show so I didn't know exactly what to expect. As I pulled into town with the...
It’s All About the Chickens by Hunter Kemper
The past couple months have been a fun adventure with our chicks. They’re beginning to look a lot more like chickens than the fluffy little chicks that arrived on our doorstep just 9 weeks ago. The weather has gotten warmer and they’re now enjoying living in their...
Taking Care of Your Flock in the Winter by Kim
You have invested a lot of time raising your chickens and by now they could be producing fresh eggs for you every day. With the winter season, you need to make a few special arrangements to ensure your hens continue to lay. A few minutes of attention to housing,...
The Cold Hard Truth – Chickens in the Winter
Winter can be tough on everyone. The bitter cold bites at your lungs while the howling wind cracks your hands. Frozen tears cry for warmer weather while layers and layers of bundling limit your mobility to a stay puft marshmallow man. I am not a fan of winter. The...
Shop Day-Old Baby Chicks
Day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry now available for the 2026 season!