The Coop with Meyer Hatchery
The Coop with Meyer Hatchery is a place where we talk all things poultry, in hopes of inspiring crazy chicken keepers and educating future flock owners. Together we'll take a more in-depth look at poultry-related care and the questions we commonly hear. The Coop also offers a new view on behind-the-scenes with Meyer Hatchery and features minisode interviews with industry leaders.
New to The Coop with Meyer Hatchery?
Listen to some of our favorite episodes!
12
Aug. 14, 2026
Poultry Shows, Judging, and Breed Standards with APA President Jeff Halbach
Ever wondered what judges look for at poultry shows? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, Phil and Lauren sit down with American Poultry Association (APA) President and Ohio National judge Jeff Halbach to discuss poultry judging, breed standards, and the world of exhibition poultry. Whether you're interested in showing chickens, improving your breeding program, or simply learning more about poultry breed standards, Jeff shares valuable insights into how birds are evaluated and what makes a q...
11
July 17, 2026
Beyond Chickens: Raising Ducks, Geese, Guineas, and Turkeys
Thinking about adding ducks, geese, guineas, or turkeys to your flock? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, Phil and Lauren are joined by Meyer Hatchery Customer Service team member Lynsey to discuss what it's really like to raise different types of poultry. From muddy ducks and friendly geese to noisy guineas and curious turkeys, Lindsay shares her firsthand experiences raising a mixed flock and offers practical tips for housing, feeding, flock management, and introducing different poultry spe
10
June 26, 2026
Can You Keep Ducks and Chickens Together? Beginner Duck Care Tips from Gail Damerow
Thinking about adding ducks to your backyard flock? 🦆🐔 In this interview with poultry expert Gail Damerow, we talk all about raising ducks for beginners, including whether ducks and chickens can live together, what management actually looks like, and the biggest mistakes new duck keepers make. We cover: ✔️ Can ducks and chickens be kept together? ✔️ Beginner duck care basics ✔️ Water management (this one surprises everyone 👀) ✔️ Housing differences between ducks and chickens ✔️ What to know...
9
June 12, 2026
Chicken Coop Cleaning and Biosecurity Made Simple
Are you doing enough to protect your backyard flock from disease? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, Phil and Lauren break down the essentials of chicken biosecurity and explain how simple daily habits can help prevent illness in backyard chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and mixed flocks. Learn why quarantining new birds, maintaining a closed flock, practicing proper chicken coop cleaning, controlling rodents and pests, and following good hygiene habits are some of the most effective ways t...
8
May 22, 2026
Gardening and Backyard Chickens with Special Guest Lisa Steele
In this episode, we talk with backyard chicken expert and author Lisa Steele about her 10th Anniversary Edition of Gardening with Chickens and how chickens and gardens can work together in a practical, sustainable way. Lisa shares her journey from growing up near a chicken farm in New England to becoming a leading voice in backyard poultry and homesteading. She breaks down how to use chickens in the garden for natural pest control, soil aeration, and fertilization, plus how timing their acces
May 8, 2026
Baby Chicks vs. Started Pullets: Which Is Right for Your Flock?
Are day-old chicks or started pullets the better fit for your flock? 🐣 In this episode of The Coop Podcast, we break down the pros and cons of starting with day-old chicks versus started pullets so you can decide which option makes the most sense for your homestead. We cover everything from cost and breed availability to brooder setup, bonding, vaccinations, and how quickly you can expect eggs. Plus, we talk through the biggest differences in care, commitment, and what to expect whether...
6
April 17, 2026
Raising Turkeys 101 with Special Guest Stacy Benjamin
Are you thinking about raising turkeys but don’t know where to start? 🦃 In this special guest episode of The Coop Podcast, we sit down with author Stacey Benjamin to talk all things turkey keeping, from getting started with poults to raising a happy, healthy flock. We cover the key differences between heritage and broad-breasted turkeys, brooder temperature and high-protein feeding, housing setups, and how turkey behavior compares to chickens (spoiler: they’ve got BIG personalities). Plus, we...
5
March 20, 2026
Hatching and Raising Chicks: Incubation and Brooder Tips for Success
Are you ready to hatch your own chicks or grow your flock the easy way? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, we compare incubating eggs with raising day‑old chicks so you can choose what’s best for you. We’ll walk through selecting quality hatching eggs, setting up your incubator, managing temperature, humidity, turning, and the 21-day timeline—including what happens during lockdown and hatch day. You’ll also get brooder setup tips, chick feeding basics, and common mistakes to avoid when brin
Recent Episodes
12
Aug. 14, 2026
Poultry Shows, Judging, and Breed Standards with APA President Jeff Halbach
Ever wondered what judges look for at poultry shows? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, Phil and Lauren sit down with American Poultry Association (APA) President and Ohio National judge Jeff Halbach to discuss poultry judging, breed standards, and the world of exhibition poultry. Whether you're interested in showing chickens, improving your breeding program, or simply learning more about poultry breed standards, Jeff shares valuable insights into how birds are evaluated and what makes a q...
11
July 17, 2026
Beyond Chickens: Raising Ducks, Geese, Guineas, and Turkeys
Thinking about adding ducks, geese, guineas, or turkeys to your flock? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, Phil and Lauren are joined by Meyer Hatchery Customer Service team member Lynsey to discuss what it's really like to raise different types of poultry. From muddy ducks and friendly geese to noisy guineas and curious turkeys, Lindsay shares her firsthand experiences raising a mixed flock and offers practical tips for housing, feeding, flock management, and introducing different poultry spe
10
June 26, 2026
Can You Keep Ducks and Chickens Together? Beginner Duck Care Tips from Gail Damerow
Thinking about adding ducks to your backyard flock? 🦆🐔 In this interview with poultry expert Gail Damerow, we talk all about raising ducks for beginners, including whether ducks and chickens can live together, what management actually looks like, and the biggest mistakes new duck keepers make. We cover: ✔️ Can ducks and chickens be kept together? ✔️ Beginner duck care basics ✔️ Water management (this one surprises everyone 👀) ✔️ Housing differences between ducks and chickens ✔️ What to know...
9
June 12, 2026
Chicken Coop Cleaning and Biosecurity Made Simple
Are you doing enough to protect your backyard flock from disease? In this episode of The Coop Podcast, Phil and Lauren break down the essentials of chicken biosecurity and explain how simple daily habits can help prevent illness in backyard chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and mixed flocks. Learn why quarantining new birds, maintaining a closed flock, practicing proper chicken coop cleaning, controlling rodents and pests, and following good hygiene habits are some of the most effective ways t...
8
May 22, 2026
Gardening and Backyard Chickens with Special Guest Lisa Steele
In this episode, we talk with backyard chicken expert and author Lisa Steele about her 10th Anniversary Edition of Gardening with Chickens and how chickens and gardens can work together in a practical, sustainable way. Lisa shares her journey from growing up near a chicken farm in New England to becoming a leading voice in backyard poultry and homesteading. She breaks down how to use chickens in the garden for natural pest control, soil aeration, and fertilization, plus how timing their acces
May 8, 2026
Baby Chicks vs. Started Pullets: Which Is Right for Your Flock?
Are day-old chicks or started pullets the better fit for your flock? 🐣 In this episode of The Coop Podcast, we break down the pros and cons of starting with day-old chicks versus started pullets so you can decide which option makes the most sense for your homestead. We cover everything from cost and breed availability to brooder setup, bonding, vaccinations, and how quickly you can expect eggs. Plus, we talk through the biggest differences in care, commitment, and what to expect whether...
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