McMurray Hatchery Blog

Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry

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...

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,...

Five Reasons I Love Keeping Ducks

My love of ducks started with my stomach. As a young girl, I vividly remember my dad, grandpa, and uncles coming home with colorful mallards hanging upside down in their hands. We’d fry up the hearts and livers in butter right away, and a few days later, we’d enjoy a...

When and Why Would You Need to Replace Your Poultry Flock

Raising poultry, whether a backyard flock or free-range birds on a homestead or farm, does come with the fact that the flock will need to be freshened at some point. Of course, when new hens are brought on is determined based on your needs. As a small family farm that...

Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Cochins

Cochins are the OG fancy chicken. They originated in China and were further developed in the UK and US, gradually becoming the gorgeous, super fluffy, feather-footed beauties that we know and love today. They’re foundation breeds for so many chicken breeds and color...

Ringing in Our 107th Hatching Season

One of my favorite book series is coming out with a new title. It has been quite some time since I’ve read these books, so I get to re-read them now and catch back up. These days, I find that I’m re-reading more books than I’m reading new ones. I might know the...

Gail Damerow Discusses Winter Health Considerations for Chickens

Cold stress in winter can affect a flock’s health. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author, we query her regarding winter health considerations for chickens. What is cold stress? "Cold stress occurs when a chicken...
How to Brood and Raise Turkey Poults

How to Brood and Raise Turkey Poults

Are you interested in knowing more about how to brood and raise turkey poults? If you are interested in raising turkeys on your homestead or farm, you will want to know the best tips for raising strong, healthy poults. Turkeys can be both a sustainable meat solution...

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Comparing Heritage and Production Turkeys

Comparing Heritage and Production Turkeys

Now that you know a bit more about the differences between Heritage and production turkey varieties, the fun part begins! Whether you are working on a small backyard parcel or a large homestead with acreage, deciding which types of animals to raise is always an...

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Gail Damerow Discusses Poultry Predator Prevention

Gail Damerow Discusses Poultry Predator Prevention

Anyone who keeps chickens or other poultry quickly discovers that all kinds of predators are intent on having their birds for dinner. Continuing our interview series with Gail Damerow, poultry expert and best-selling author of What’s Killing My Chickens?, we ask for...

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Heritage vs. Production Turkeys

Heritage vs. Production Turkeys

Homesteading often includes one decision after another, and one choice that many people find themselves pondering is deciding between Heritage and production turkeys. What is the difference between the two? Are Heritage turkeys better in regards to nutrition? What...

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10 Tips for Brooding Chicks Off-Grid

10 Tips for Brooding Chicks Off-Grid

Off-grid living is on the rise, and so is chicken keeping! However, chicks purchased online or in a feed store need supplemental heat to keep them warm. So, how do off-gridders provide the necessary heat for keeping chicks warm? Here are my top 10 tips for brooding...

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How to Integrate New Chickens into Your Flock

How to Integrate New Chickens into Your Flock

Incorporating new chickens is bound to happen at some point or another when you are raising poultry. Whether you keep chickens in town or out in the country, it is essential to know how to safely integrate new chickens into your flock. Taking the correct steps during...

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Raising Guinea Fowl

Raising Guinea Fowl

There are many benefits to raising guinea fowl, and these crazy looking birds are ideal for almost every homestead with acreage. However, one must first learn how to properly care for guinea fowl before bringing them home. Raising Guinea Fowl Six years ago, I brought...

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Gail Damerow Discusses Treating a Wounded Chicken

Gail Damerow Discusses Treating a Wounded Chicken

No matter how careful you are about providing your chickens with a safe environment, sooner or later, you’ll discover one with a wound requiring treatment. Continuing our interview series with poultry expert and best-selling author, Gail Damerow, we ask her about...

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Brooding Fall Chicks

Brooding Fall Chicks

Our thoughts on brooding Fall chicks have changed over our years of chicken keeping experience. We were strongly in the Spring chicks camp for most of our chicken tending days, until the last two years, when we tried bringing chicks in later in the Summer. When the...

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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!