McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other PoultryChicks 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...
Quick Transitions by Hunter Kemper
Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio are 6 weeks old now and they are no longer looking like baby chicks, but much more like little chickens. It has been amazing to see how fast our girls have grown. The chick’s first home was a brooder in our basement. ...
2014 Winter Photo Contest Winners
Congratulations to our winners of the 2014 Winter Photo Contest! ...
Olympic Triathlete Hunter Kemper Visits Murray McMurray Hatchery
Four Time Olympic Triathlete, Hunter Kemper, visited with us at the hatchery this past week and we gave him the grand tour! Hunter is helping us spread the message that fresh eggs from your backyard Murray McMurray Hatchery chickens are the ideal source of natural...
Naming our baby chicks and HOW we decided on the names for each Breed by Hunter Kemper
We received 5 different breeds of chicks. Before they arrived, we learned a little about each type of chick and named them according to the things we learned. The 5 names we chose for our 5 different breeds of chicks represent the 4 Olympic Games cities I’ve...
Marek’s Disease by Dr. Darrell W. Trampel, D.V.M., PhD.
Marek’s disease (MD) is a highly contagious disease of chickens characterized by a) varying degrees of paralysis of wings and legs and/or b) development of lymphoid tumors. Marek’s disease is found in broiler chickens raised for meat and in laying hens maintained for...
4 Time Olympic Triathlete teams up with Murray McMurray Hatchery
Four Time Olympic Triathlete and Seven Time U.S. Elite National Champion, Hunter Kemper, has joined with Murray McMurray Hatchery to promote backyard chickens and fresh, backyard eggs. Hunter and his family recently received newly hatched chicks from Murray McMurray...
Shop Day-Old Baby Chicks
Day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry now available for the 2026 season!