McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry
Winterize Your Chicken Coop With Janet Garman
While some of you are already in the thick of cold weather, many of us are just hitting the point of closing the coop windows and fluffing up the straw for winter in the coop. Keeping chickens comfortable during winter weather is a top concern for new chicken owners,...
McMurray Hatchery Profile: Wise Acre Farm
Sonoma County, California is known for its famous vineyards and rolling hills. Just north of Santa Rosa lies Tiffany Holbrook’s urban 15-acre pastured egg farm. Aptly named Wise Acre Farm, Farmher Tiffany is wise beyond her years. She is a powerhouse: a wife, mother,...
Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Orpington
The Orpington is one of the best known breeds amongst chicken keepers both old and new. They’re a Heritage breed success story, and a very good option for brand new chicken ladies and men. The Orpington spent some time on the Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation...
Tips for Moving With Chickens
Over the summer, my husband I took a huge leap. We sold our house and moved our family to a new property. Though we are still very much in backyard suburbia, our new house sits on an acre, complete with several outbuildings and a garden. We had been dreaming of moving...
Musings from the Road
I’ve been gone for work. That’s what my kids know. This was the busiest year we have had for traveling. This is both exciting and terrifying as well. I am a homebody. I want to be home with my family and dogs and chickens and cows. I want to do my chores and...
Gail Damerow Discusses How to Prevent Worms in Chickens
A familiar issue for flock owners is the possibility that their chickens have worms. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her how chickens get worms and how to prevent worms in chickens. How commonly do...
Coffee With the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Andalusian
The Andalusian is a bird for the true chicken connoisseur. They are stunningly beautiful, outgoing and intelligent, curious and energetic, and zesty enough to keep you on your toes. This hardy Heritage breed is very good at several different jobs. They’re excellent...
Build Your Farm and Future: Raising a Sustainable Meat Flock
This article first appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of Homestead Living magazine. Whether you are a backyard hobbyist or a full scale homesteader, my guess is that you have at least flirted with the idea of raising your own meat chickens. Perhaps you are still in the...
Identifying Common Snakes in Chicken Coops
There are a variety of snakes you may come across in your chicken coop, though some species may be more welcome than others. There are thousands of different species of snakes, each with unique adaptations. Learning more about them can be a rewarding endeavor for you...
Gail Damerow Discusses External Parasites in Chickens – Mites and Lice
When chickens scratch and peck at themselves excessively, you can be pretty sure they are being irritated by external parasites. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her for tips on dealing with external...
Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Delaware
What are you looking for in a chicken? Are you looking for a friendly breed that is an excellent layer? A hardy, dual purpose homestead chicken? Pretty enough to be a show bird, and fancy enough for a chicken lady’s back yard? A good forager who will turn over your...
Our Favorite Duck Breeds
In the fall as our chick season begins to slowly wind down, but duckling season is still in full swing! Next to chicks, ducklings are the next favorite among our customers and a common next step on the road to owning more birds and/or livestock. Ducks lay highly...
Brooding Backyard Chicks in the Summer
I raised my first batch of chicks in the dead of winter, and looking back, it was not one of my best ideas. I’m sure that early season chicks are a phenomenal option for those living in more temperate climates, but in eastern Washington, we get a lot of snow for far...
From the Experts: Chick Tips for New Chicken Owners
Are you thinking about keeping chickens? Is this your first time ordering day-old baby chicks? While baby chicks are cute and fluffy, it can also be stressful for first-timers. To help alleviate any fears or stress, we asked five experts for their top chick tips for...
Gail Damerow Discusses Egg Eating in Chickens
A common but frustrating issue faced by many chicken flock owners is hens that eat their own eggs. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we ask her for tips on how to prevent or stop hens from eating their own eggs....
Shop Day-Old Baby Chicks
Day-old baby chicks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry now available for the 2026 season!