Online Chicken School Podcast

Online Chicken School Podcast

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Whether you have been keeping chickens for years or you are just thinking about getting started; have a big flock out in the country or just a few urban chickens in the city; chicken tenders Don & Suzy share their knowledge, experience and opinions to help you get the…

Don & Suzy: Backyard & Urban Chicken Tenders


    • Jul 18, 2017 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 74 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Online Chicken School Podcast

    Letting a Cat Sleep in the Chicken Coop – Will the State Disease Test Your Flock for Free? – Does NPIP Mean Birds Are Disease Free?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2017 40:41


    Don & Suzy share stories about extension cords and Dwayne caught in a net, discuss whether a cat could sleep in the coop with the chickens, and talk about getting the state to disease-test your birds for free, and discuss whether NPIP certification means birds are disease free.

    Using Pond Water to Ferment Feed – Big Salmonella Outbreak – What Causes Rubbery Eggs?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2017 37:18


    Don & Suzy talk about their recent efforts two merge to flocks, discuss whether you should use pond water to ferment feed, share news of a recent salmonella outbreak, and talk about what causes hens to lay rubbery eggs.

    Vegan Groups Try a New Strategy – Dealing with the Pains of Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2017 54:06


    Episode 73. Don & Suzy share a story of Della the Delaware becoming bold, discuss an article about a new strategy being used by vegan groups, and then share some strategies for helping your flock deal with gnats, flies, mosquitoes and the heat of summer.

    Keeping Your Flock in Your Yard – Can Baby Chicks Crow? – Can Chickens Get Salmonella from Dogs?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2017 47:01


    Episode 72. Don & Suzy each share a story about chickens in the dark and then talk about the oldest person in the world and how she ate three eggs every day. Then we answer listener questions about keeping your flock out of your neighbor's yard, whether baby chicks try to crow, and if it is possible for chickens to get salmonella from dogs.

    Why Do Hens Stop Laying Eggs? – Does Facebook’s Livestock Policy Promote Cruelty to Chickens?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2017 51:16


    Episode 71. Don & Suzy talk about reasons a hen stops laying eggs and then get on their soapbox to talk about how Facebook's livestock ban might not be the best thing for animals.

    Are Eggs Really Gluten Free? – Rise of the Chicken Concierge – Can Store Bought Eggs Become Baby Chicks?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2017 42:59


    Episode 70. Don & Suzy discover Don's love language, explore a new chicken business idea, and answer questions about whether store-bought eggs can become baby chicks, the medicated feed withdrawal time for meat birds, and whether eggs really are gluten free.

    Hi-Tech Chicken Nuggets – What’s the Best Bedding Option? – Can Chickens and Ducks Live Together?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2017 42:28


    Episode 69. Don & Suzy talk about acquiring new breeds and hanging an xylophone in a coop, then discuss hi-tech chicken nuggets in the news, and answer questions about bedding material for chickens and whether chickens and ducks can live together.

    Is Avian Influenza Back? – Did the FDA Make Medicated Feed Illegal?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2017 49:58


    Episode 68. Don & Suzy discuss Don's new chicken coop idea, talk about Avian influenza in Tennessee, try to figure out where all the medicated feed went, and answer a question about whether factory chickens lay three eggs a day.

    Can Chickens Raised on Medicated Feed Still Get Coccidiosis?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2017 54:59


    Suzy may be going broody, we share a story of family visiting from up north, and we dedicate the full episode to one of the most common and misunderstood poultry diseases: Coccidiosis.

    Reintegrating Sick Chickens with the Flock – When Can Chickens Start Free-Ranging?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2017 45:26


    In a special Valentine's Day episode, Don shares a story about love. Then Don & Suzy talk about a man sailing the world with his pet chicken, discuss the issue of allowing sick birds back into the flock, and talk about when you can start free-ranging your chickens.

    Integrating Mature Hens and Pullets – Choosing Which Eggs to Hatch

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2017 45:06


    Episode 65. In this episode, Don & Suzy share why they have been away from the microphones so long, talk about Brooke becoming helpful with the chickens, discuss whether KFC marketing people are crazy, get philosophical about hatching eggs, and talk about mixing mature hens with pullets.

    Hatching Eggs Without a Shell – Perdue Rethinks Meat Birds – Helping Hens Be Less Broody

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2016 46:20


    Episode 64. In this episode, Suzy tells a story about Gordo going after the chickens, we talk about a Japanese class who has cooler science projects than we did in school, we share the story of Perdue rethinking the use of the Cornish Cross, and we give some advice for helping a hen be less broody.

    Treats for Chicks – DE – Helping Chickens Deal with Heat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2016 53:56


    Episode 63: In this episode, Suzy shares her recipe for crepes, we talk about giving treats to baby chicks, discuss whether diatomaceous earth is a cure-all, and give some suggestions for helping your chickens deal with the heat of summer.

    A Hen Who Watches TV – Helping Dogs Get Along with Chickens

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2016 51:33


    Episode 62. In this episode, we talk about how shockingly stubborn Gordo is, share the story of a hen who watches TV, ponder an alternative to pine shavings, and discuss how to help dogs get along with chickens.

    Treating Scaly Leg Mites

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2016 51:51


    Episode 61. In this episode, we figure out why our Wyandottes go through water so fast, talk about a new law for chicken-killing dogs in Virginia, brainstorm Don's new idea for truck-driving chicken keepers, and share a few ideas for getting rid of scaly leg mites. Oh yeah... and there's bloopers.

    Coping with Scissor Beak – Should City Slickers Be Allowed to Raise Chickens?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2016 46:51


    Episode 60. In this episode, we share the story of a young Barred Rock rooster who had his life flash before his eyes, ponder coping with scissor beak, wonder of chicken nipples freeze in cold winters, and then discuss whether city slickers should be allowed to raise chickens.

    Do Backyard Chickens Have More Parasites? – Do Chickens Belong in School?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2016 57:00


    Episode 59. In this episode, we talk about Max the escape artist, share our thoughts about a new study that finds backyard chickens have more parasites, answer a listener's question about whether chickens are healthy and then discuss whether chickens belong in school.

    My Hens Won’t Use Nipple Drinkers – Can You Hatch Only Female Chickens?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2016 43:09


    Episode 58. In This episode, we help a listener figure out why her hens won't use nipple drinkers, and then discuss if it is possible to hatch only female chickens.

    Don & Suzy Learn a Costly Lesson

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2015 52:01


    Episode 57. In this episode, we talk about a new chicken restaurant concept in the UK and share a costly lesson we learned last weekend.

    Fake Chicken Meat – Exploring More Common Chicken Myths

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2015 46:40


    Episode 56. In this episode, we talk about sweaters for chickens, share a few ideas on the quest fake chicken meat, and explore a few more chicken myths.

    7 Tips for Buying Chickens Online

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2015 46:45


    In this episode, we talk about Gordo's recovery from getting spayed, giving first aid to General Tso, a new website that gives poultry brands an animal-welfare score, and we give seven tips for buying chickens from an online hatchery.

    Vaccinating for Coccidiosis – Is the Float Test Foolproof?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2015 50:03


    In this episode, we talk about Gordo getting ready to be fixed, share a recipe for chicken 'n' dumplings, talk about vaccinating for coccidiosis, and discuss what the float test really means about your eggs.

    Is It a Bad Idea to Buy Hatching Eggs? – Is Don a Biosecurity Hypocrite?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2015 57:13


    Episode 53 - We talk about Max's flea allergy, help a listener with a predator issue, discuss whether it is a bad idea to buy hatching eggs, and try to figure out if Don is a biosecurity hypocrite.

    Getting Rid of Unwanted Roosters in an Ethical Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2015 64:23


    Episode 52 - We talk about a possible new logo design, our young and crazy Delaware flock, and give some advice on how to get rid of an unwanted cockerel or rooster without them ending up in the hands of slimy cock-fighters.

    What if the Chickens Don’t Come Home to Roost? – Simplifying Our Chicken Ranch

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2015 50:38


    Episode 51. In this episode, we talk about what to do when your chickens won’t go to bed, answer whether you can ferment medicated feed, and look at simplifying their chicken ranch.  

    Prosthetic Legs for Chickens – Storing Eggs for Winter

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2015 56:01


    Episode 50. In this episode we share the story of a young hen who is getting a prosthetic leg and then talk about saving eggs for winter. A Wet Month The rain presents some interesting challenges for us in August and September every year. For one thing, it rains daily… sometimes several times daily. The […]

    Do Battery Hens Have a Place in Your Backyard Flock?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2015 66:27


    Episode 49. In this episode we?talk about the extra care required for rescued battery hens and whether they have a place in your backyard flock. New Hen Apron Pippa, one of our Barred Rock hens, has been sporting a standard hen saddle for a little while now, but we noticed that her rooster is still […]

    Why Should You Quarantine New Chickens? – How Do You Evaluate a Chicken Coop Before You Buy It?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2015 56:37


    Episode 48. In this episode we discuss why it is important to quarantine new chickens, and then talk about how you evaluate a chicken coop before you buy it. Duck Emergency! Last weekend, I was working in my workshop in the back of our property when Suzy called me on the radio, shouting “Get up […]

    What Happened to Shep? – Is It a Good Idea to Rent Chickens?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2015 71:08


    Episode 47. In this episode we talk about the passing of our Australian Shepherd, Shep, and discuss whether it is a good idea to rent chickens.  

    In Search of a Better Broiler – Celebrating One Year of Podcasting

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2015 44:05


    Episode 45 Show Notes Fermented Feed Update The fermented feed experiment is under way – at least partially. Our latest batch of baby chicks has been snacking on fermented feed for just over a week. We decided to delay the implementation with the adult birds, mostly out of my laziness. Fermenting the first batch was […]

    Is Fermenting Feed a Good Practice for Your Flock?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2015 42:11


    Episode 43 Show Notes Shortage of Chicken Sexers The poultry industry in the United Kingdom announced that it has a critical shortage of chickens sexers, the people who separate male and female chicks at chicken hatcheries. Apparently, this is not an occupation that young people are considering for a career despite a nice pay rate […]

    Hens Behaving Badly: Egg Eating and Bullying

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2015 47:07


    Episode 42 Show Notes Happy Eggs Benedict Day! Today is one of the most important, yet under-appreciated, holidays of the year. Yes my friends, it is Eggs Benedict Day. To celebrate, here is a link to the Eggs Benedict recipe Suzy uses. What Do You Do with an Egg Eater? Craig sent us a message […]

    Dealing With a Chicken’s Broken Leg – Introducing Your Dog to Chickens

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2015 52:54


    Episode 41 Show Notes Dealing With a Chicken’s Broken Leg One of our good hatchery customers had an incident last week when she was moving her chicken tractor. One of her hens got her leg caught under the tractor and her leg broke. A broken chicken leg can be reset and splinted, but he ability […]

    Inheriting a Chicken Coop – The Delaware Chicken Breed

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2015 36:46


    Episode 40 Show Notes Okay.. We Are Lazy We have been pretty well knocked out with allergies and the flu for many weeks, which turned us into two very lazy podcasters. Fortunately, we are both on the mend and back into our normal workflow. Lots of Work to Do Outside Now that the time change […]

    Natural Chicken Keeping with Lisa Steele from Fresh Eggs Daily – Are Bantams a Good Choice for Your Flock?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2015 41:24


    Episode 39 Show Notes Shep is Now One Year Old Our cute little Australian Shepherd / Catahoula mix, Shep (named for astronaut Alan Shepard), turned one year old the last weekend. We like talking about the dogs on the podcast because they are an important part of our predator protection plan. We just had an […]

    Which Hens Are Laying and Which Ones Are Slacking?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2015 48:49


    [hr] Episode 38 Show Notes Our Second Chicken Emergency in Two Weeks Cluck Norris, our Rhode Island Red rooster, has a favorite hen. Her name is Scarlett Crowhansson and being the object of Chuck’s obsession is not easy. Recently, she began developing bald spots on her back where Chuck stands to do his business. Normally, […]

    Dust Bathing – Best Coop for Broilers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2015 53:11


    [hr] Episode 37 Show Notes Welcome to the World, Brody! Suzy’s youngest sister had a cute little boy named Brody. This is our second nephew, and this one lives not too far down the street, so we are pretty excited to put him to work on the chicken farm! Foul Prank Two college students in […]

    Can You Mate Sibling Chickens? – Which Predator Killed My Chicken?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2015 44:00


    [hr] Episode 36 Show Notes The Giants Aren’t Too Bright Last week, we came home a little later than expected and it was already dark. Earlier, we have allowed the Jersey Giants some free time out in the yard while we were away. Normally, chickens will march themselves back inside the coop when the sun […]

    Tips for Buying a Chicken Coop Online – A Bunch of Questions About Eggs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2015 40:07


    [hr] Episode 35 Show Notes Lt. Tso to the Rescue! Suzy was attacked by George, our Barred Rock rooster with an attitude problem, and Lt Tso, who is one of our Golden Laced Wyandotte Roosters, came to her rescue…. twice! Tips for Buying a Chicken Coop Online Owen sent us? message and asked if we […]

    2014 Year in Review – Are Egg Prices Going to Rise?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2015 55:17


    [hr] Episode 34 Show Notes 2014 Year in Review Don & Suzy take a look back at what happened on the little chicken ranch in 2014.

    Saving Your Flock from a Neighbor’s Dog – A Hatching Chick in Distress

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2014 42:54


    [hr] Episode 33 Show Notes Next Week is Christmas! Next week is Christmas, which means we will be starting our yearly ‘staycation,’ where we take the week off and just be in holiday mode around the ranch. We will take next week off from the podcast, but we will return the following week, just before […]

    Caring for a Chicken with Frostbite – Watch Out for Backyard Hazards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2014 35:33


    [hr] Episode 32 Show Notes Bird Flu is Back! Craig sent us a message with a link to a HobbyFarms.com article about how bird flu has been found in flocks across Asia and Europe. Craig wondered if we should be concerned here in the United States. This strain of bird flu does not cross over […]

    Should You Caponize Your Roosters? – Choosing the Right Breed for You

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2014 36:47


    [hr] Episode 31 Show Notes Meat Bird Update After processing The Colonel, our one-year old Light Sussex rooster, he let him rest in the refrigerator for five days and then Suzy used a pressure cooker to prepare him. Despite being a year old, he was very tender and extremely tasty. I sensed a slight aftertaste […]

    Our First Chicken Processing Experience – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2014 52:28


    [hr] Episode 30 Show Notes Email from Ryan in Texas Ryan sent us an email through our website, and he says: I’m looking to raise chickens for the first time. What is the recommended age to get them at and now that it’s November and winter is upon us, is my timing bad for buying […]

    Common Mistakes Made by Chicken Keepers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2014 37:53


    [hr] Episode 29 Show Notes Happy Veteran’s Day! This week is Veteran’s Day, so we offer a heartfelt thank you for every man and woman who has served out country in the military. e appreciate the sacrifices that you and your families have made. Chicken Processing Day is Coming This coming weekend, we are determined […]

    Frozen Chicken! How to Get Your Flock Ready for Winter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2014 41:15


    [hr] Episode 28 Show Notes Crazy Week! It all started with the time change last weekend, which means that by the time I get home from work, it is already dark. Add in election day this week, which wasn’t strenuous but definitely throws a small wrinkle in our normal weekly work flow. And then, after […]

    How Can You Go On Vacation When You Have Chickens?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2014 43:14


    [hr] Episode 27 Show Notes We Are Back! Suzy and I are back from vacation, and sadly we were not able to put out an episode last week. Unfortunately, the reason for missing an episode is not because we were on vacation. No, we diligently produced an extra episode to be released while we were […]

    The Days Are Getting Shorter… Should You Add Lights to Your Coop?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2014 29:17


    [hr] Episode 26 Show Notes Happy Eggtoberfest! October means Octoberfest in our household, so this month Suzy will highlight German recipes that use eggs. This week we talk about my favorite noodle… Spaetzle! It’s basically a short stumpy egg noodle, but it is amazing! Check out the recipe here! What Happened to All the Eggs? […]

    Does Raising Chickens Make You a Hero? We Ask Joel Salatin!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2014 35:54


    [hr] Episode 25 Show Notes Visiting the Dairy Farm This last weekend, Suzy and I visited an open house at a small local dairy farm… if 2,000 cows is a small farm. Interview with Joel Salatin Suzy and I welcome our very first guest ever on the podcast. Even if you haven’t heard of Polyface […]

    You Don’t Have to Be a Carpenter to Build Your Own Chicken Coop and Save Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2014 36:44


    [hr] Episode 24 Show Notes Special Announcement! If you have been listening to the show for a while, you may have noticed that we do not normally have guests. To be more accurate, we have never had a guest before. That, my friends, is about to change. Next week, on Episode 25, we will have […]

    Things You Can Do to Keep Your Flock Healthy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2014 37:04


    [hr] Episode 23 Show Notes Correction In Episode 22, we talked about sending baby chicks through the mail. I made the statement that you cannot send adult chickens via the post office. Turns out I was wrong! You can indeed ship adult chickens through the mail! I Learned that the Hard Way [06:20] The other […]

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