McMurray Hatchery Blog
Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry
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...
Raising Geese for Meat and as a Sustainable Protein
The concept of raising geese for meat is not a new one. However, it is one which has gone to the wayside, especially in the United States. Geese are an incredible breed of waterfowl and one every homestead should consider incorporating. Prior to beginning one must...
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...
Baby Chicks, Children, New and Old Friends, and Great Conversations
Looking back at our recent trip to the Homesteaders of America conference in Front Royal, Virginia.
Gail Damerow Discusses How to Tell When a Chicken Is Sick
As prey animals, chickens avoid any appearance of vulnerability by attempting to hide signs of illness. Continuing our interview series with poultry expert and best-selling author, Gail Damerow, we ask her how to tell when a chicken is sick. So, how can you tell when...
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...
2022 Customer Photo Winners, Round One
Customer Photos to Appear in 2022 McMurray Hatchery Marketing Congratulations to photo contest winners Anna Christian and Teddi Yaeger! Their photos have been selected to be used in our 2022 marketing materials — premiering in our full page ad on the back cover of the...
Composting Chicken Manure Fertilizer
After raising chickens for a short while, you will understand the importance of composting chicken manure fertilizer. Even a small flock will produce an admirable amount of chicken manure. Some gardeners refer to this as garden gold. Once composted, chicken manure...
The Easiest Animals to Raise on the Homestead
Five of easiest animals to raise on the homestead or small acreage will depend on the layout of your property and the amount of land owned. The decision to homestead means you have decided to live a more sustainable life. Gardening and preserving the harvest is a...
How To Keep Snakes Away From Your Poultry
A frequent question about predator control that we receive from new chicken keepers is how to keep snakes away from poultry. While the method may vary, the answer is always the same ... snakes have to be kept out of your chicken coop at all costs. Not only can snakes...
Chick Days Photo Contest Winners
2021 Chick Days Photo Contest Winners Congratulations to these entrants in the 2021 Chick Days photo contest! These winning photos received the highest number of votes by our customers and will be used on our website and in our marketing materials. The following...
Gail Damerow Discusses Coccidiosis in Chicks and Turkey Poults
Coccidiosis is the most common disease in baby chicks and turkey poults, and also the most common cause of death. Continuing our interview series with poultry expert and best-selling author, Gail Damerow, we ask her what causes coccidiosis and what can be done about...
The Beauty of Bantam Chickens
Choosing Bantam chickens for your backyard flock can be an excellent choice for urban and suburban neighborhoods. In fact, anyone who wants a hardy, small chicken with a good disposition will be pleased with the Bantam chicken’s good temperament. Among the many...
Gail Damerow Discusses Broody Hens
Snuggling down on a nest of eggs until they hatch is a hen’s way of making more chickens. A hen that has decided to become a mother is called a broody hen. Continuing our interview series with poultry expert and best-selling author, Gail Damerow, we ask her about...
Incorporate These Guard Geese Breeds on Your Homestead — Protect Your Flocks
I couldn’t wait to open the box when I got it from the post office. Guard geese — these are what I had been waiting to add to our homestead for quite some time. But because guardian geese might not be a welcome wake up call for my neighbors in my subdivision, I had to...
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!