Best Poultry Podcasts (2025)

1
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Pastured Poultry Flocks 52:24

3y ago52:24

52:24

I have a conversation with Chrislyn Wood, DVM, about the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and pasture raised flocks. Dr. Wood is a veterinarian with USDA APHIS and she is involved first hand with HPAI monitoring and response efforts. We cover a lot of ground, including historical observations, risk assessment, disease identificati…

1
The Days of Wholesale Pastured Chickens are Over for Greg Gunthorp 1:01:40

4y ago1:01:40

1:01:40

Greg Gunthorp joins the show to talk about his decision to step away from pasture raised chickens. Covid plays into the story, of course, but the challenges started long before this virus came to be front page news. We also dig into some processing wisdom and reality. Greg talks consolidation and Bill Gates. We dig deep and cover a lot of interconn…

1
Turning a 20 year chicken hobby into a farm with Cynthia Capers 1:04:17

4y ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Cynthia Capers, Heniscity Farm in Tennessee, shares her 20+ year journey from hobby chicken keeper to poultry farmer. Twenty years ago, the sight of six Black Australorps brought tears to her eyes. Today, she's serving her community through egg sales, chick sales, pullet sales, and community education. She's incorporated poultry into their rural be…

1
PPT114 - Small Layer Flock Profitability 56:48

4+ y ago56:48

56:48

I answer a listener question, "How can I make my small laying hen flock more profitable?" With feedback from the community, insights from The Fighting Farmer, and personal experience, we dive deep into ways to prosper from your small flock of laying hens. The answer divides into three sections: management, pricing, and markets/marketing. Ask your q…

1
Perdue Acquires Pasturebird 33:19

4+ y ago33:19

33:19

Perdue acquires Pasturebird and becomes the biggest producer in the space. I unpack what it means on this episode and walk through some history.By Mike Badger

1
Maintain Production with All In/All Out Rotation for 5,000 laying hens 19:31

4+ y ago19:31

19:31

Listener Chris asks how to utilize an all-in/all-out pullet replacement strategy without duplicating infrastructure while maintaining egg production. To help answer the question, I share insights from Mark Harrison and Dave and Ginger Shields. The simple answer to the Chris' question is that infrastructure is required to maintain production. Listen…

1
Feed Management Tips to Reduce Waste & Maintain Egg Production 11:58

4+ y ago11:58

11:58

In Pastured Poultry Talk episode 110, farmer Matt Steinman discussed how he used fermented feed as a solution to feed waste and fines. While fermentation can be a viable solution for some people, it's not the only way to deal with fines. The problem with fines accumulating in your feeders instead of the birds is that that the chickens miss key nutr…

1
Is Fermented Feed Worth the Time for 1,000 hens? 50:49

4+ y ago50:49

50:49

Farmer Matt Steinman (Foothills Farm in Sedro-Woolley, Washington) and Dr. Louisa Brouwer (technical advisor on the trial) share the results of a SARE-funded trial that sought to understand the economic impacts of feeding fermented feed to laying hens. The trial compared a dry feed, wet feed, and a fermented feed and then determined the net differe…

1
Community Q&A PIus a Heritage Poultry Monologue 1:10:36

4+ y ago1:10:36

1:10:36

I close out the pastured poultry training series with a live streamed Q&A between Terrell Spencer from The Fighting Farmer and myself. We went live on Facebook and fielded questions from our listeners, and this episode of the podcast includes an edited version of that conversation. If you want to watch a replay of the stream, find it on YouTube. Be…

1
Perspectives on Pastured Poultry Shelters and Pasture Management 1:17:52

5y ago1:17:52

1:17:52

When you put chickens or turkeys out on pasture, there are two fundamental questions you need to consider. Why pasture and how do you house the birds? If you fully grasp the why of the pasture model, you won't take shortcuts in your housing and implementation. I'm primarily talking about the foundational principle of movement to fresh pasture appro…

1
Successful Brooder Management for Chicks & Poults (PPT107) 57:58

5y ago57:58

57:58

Did you know a commercial meat chicken or turkey may spend up to 40% of it's life inside a brooder? Layers, by comparison, spend approximately 5% of their first lay-cycle in the brooder. For all our poultry species, the time in the brooder is critical to the long term health and productivity of the flock with an emphasis placed on the first three d…

1
9 Practical Tips for Feeding Your Pastured Poultry (PPT106) 1:08:40

5y ago1:08:40

1:08:40

Feeding your pastured poultry is a huge topic, and it can quickly overwhelm you. As a beginner to pastured poultry, I provide nine tips for feeding your flock that can help you get off to the right start. I'll cover universal feeding advice as well as specific information for meat birds, layers, and turkeys. All this advice can summed up into a lar…

1
Pastured Poultry Training: Evaluating Breeds for Pastured Poultry and Understanding Genetics, Performance, and Cost (PPT105) 1:04:18

5y ago1:04:18

1:04:18

This episode has a downloadable worksheet to help you apply the concepts discussed in the podcast episode to your situation. Get it by email here. I assume that when it comes to choosing a breed of chicken for your pastured poultry flock, you will have a favorite breed. As you research birds, you'll make a list of potential options that would appea…

1
Pastured Poultry Training: Planning & Discovery (PPT104) 43:28

5y ago43:28

43:28

Download the worksheet for this episode to help you apply the concepts discussed in the podcast episode. Get it by email here. One of the biggest mistakes pastured poultry growers make is that they make impulsive decisions, which often go like this. I think I'll raise some chickens, so I go to the nearest chick days and find some birds based on wha…

1
103: Catching Up on Corona Virus from a Pastured Poultry Perspective 33:40

5y ago33:40

33:40

I've shared some Covid 19 corona virus updates via the APPPA channels in recent weeks, so I thought it was time to circle back to the podcast with an update. I cover a lot of ground, including how the Badger family is affected, how the pastured community is responding, supply concerns, and a few featured news items. In the face of any trial, crisis…

1
Luke Groce Shares His "Day" Range Setup for Pastured Poultry 13:29

5y ago13:29

13:29

In episode 101 of Pastured Poultry Talk, Randy Kleinman mentioned Luke Groce and cited a very popular video that featured his range model. A lot has happened since that video was filmed on Luke's farm. I give Luke an opportunity to update us on his range model for raising pastured poultry because he's clearly thought about it deeply and is committe…

1
Pastured Poultry Research: Feed Conversion, Labor, and Nutrition 56:46

5y ago56:46

56:46

There is no secret that pasture-raised chicken meat is more nutrient dense than non-pasture-raised chicken. More and more farmers are testing their products and posting the results for their customers and the world to see. Randy Kleinman, who farms with his family on Seelye Brook Farms in Anoka County Minnesota ran a two year study that compared a …

1
My Pastured Poultry Path - Celebrating 100 Episodes 41:50

5y ago41:50

41:50

My journey to 100 episodes of Pastured Poultry Talk started long, long ago. Celebrate the podcast milestone with me, as I recount the significant events in my life that led me to pastured poultry and and back to faith. I tried very hard to make decisions that would have denied me entry into pastured poultry. I've accumulated seemingly random skills…

1
PPT99: USDA Greenwashes Pastured Poultry 29:26

5y ago29:26

29:26

The Pastured Poultry Talk podcast is back in 2020 with an episode about label deceit, also known as greenwashing. I tie the USDA's updated label guidelines, the APPPA conference, and some recent greenwashing misidentifications from the pastured poultry community in the same discussion. It's increasingly clear (and not all that surprising) that not …

1
PPT098: A Personal Invitation to Join Mike in Jacksonville 18:13

5+ y ago18:13

18:13

As a Pastured Poultry Talk listener, it's incredibly important to me that you know about the APPPA Conference in Jacksonville from January 19-21, 2020. This episode explains that the Professional Pastured Poultry Conference is and how it came to be. Find more information. Listen for a special offer.By Mike Badger

1
PPT097: Looking forward to Goose Day with Cotton Patch Geese 32:24

5+ y ago32:24

32:24

I'm a cotton patch goose breeder. Well, I have geese that are old enough to mate. We'll save the moniker of goose breeder until we have some deliberate success. The cotton patch goose is a historical landrace breed originally used to weed cotton fields and other crops across the South. However, the introduction of pesticides replaced the need for g…

1
Troubleshooting Turkey Processing: Is It Possible to Get a Clean Pluck? PPT096 24:01

5+ y ago24:01

24:01

This is an edited version of the article I published in Issue 113 of the APPPA Grit, which was based on the conversation in this podcast. Not a member of APPPA? Go check them out. Last fall, I had the pleasure of consulting with a producer on some questions about his farm’s turkey processing procedure. Since turkey processing season 2019 is fast ap…

1
Evaluating A Started Turkey Business as a Buyer and Seller - PPT095 28:05

5+ y ago28:05

28:05

Turkeys are one of the most adored birds in the pastured poultry community with a strong emotional tie to family Thanksgiving; however, they can often be challenging to raise because they require more time and attention than a chicken. Those challenges often see high mortality rates or farmers who opt out of turkeys all together. There are at least…

1
PPT094: What podcasting teaches us about marketing pastured poultry 9:08

5+ y ago9:08

9:08

It's no surprise that I'm hot on the podcasting medium. Pastured Poultry Talk is a podcast, after all. In Episode 93 of the show, Kenny Troiano referenced his podcast, Bred to Perfection, as a primary marketing asset for his membership site. The publication of the episode was well timed because it happened soon after I returned from the Podcast Mov…

1
How to avoid being a dangerous chicken breeder 1:02:03

5+ y ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Dangerous breeders are everywhere and the internet gives them a platform to perpetuate bad breeding habits at the expense of offspring that represents the breed. A dangerous breeder is someone who produces offspring that doesn't represent the breed. They often don't know how to selectively breed, and they're not interested in learning. I may be cha…

1
PPT092: Understanding the difference in as-fed and dry matter nutrition in poultry feeds 6:24

5+ y ago6:24

6:24

https://pasturedpoultrytalk.com/2016/06/14/ppt044-understanding-the-nutritional-benefits-of-black-soldier-fly-as-poultry-feed/Confused about the difference between feed values expressed in as-fed or dry matter percentages? The difference between as-fed nutrition and dry-matter nutrition in poultry feeds is water. The dried feed removes the water, g…

1
Farming mealworms for chicken feed with Cheryl Powers: PPT091 39:05

5+ y ago39:05

39:05

Crickets are a popular insect protein for humans, and black soldier fly larvae receive most of the attention among chicken keepers; Cheryl Powers, Jord Producers, plans to change that by farming mealworms as a supplemental chicken feed. Actually, she's working to position mealworms for reptiles, exotic birds, and humans (but we tend to stick to chi…

1
PPT090: Is it time for pastured poultry to slaughter some sacred cows? 9:33

6y ago9:33

9:33

In the week or so preceding this episode, Polyface announced it was slaughtering one of its sacred cows. They were going to ship product. Social media was a angry throng of pastured poultry injustice warriors. If you're looking for commentary on Daniel and Joel's decision, you're in the wrong spot. My commentary is for the people commenting, and I'…

1
Doing the pasture-raised broiler side hustle in rural Kansas with Garoleen Wilson 56:10

6y ago56:10

56:10

Correction: In the podcast episode, I state Garoleen is producing 7,000 broilers. That was an error in my interpretation of her numbers. She's actually on track to produce 3,500 broilers on pasture in her fourth year. That still a fantastic trajectory and that growth is the point, as the numbers will fluctuate from year to year. Pasture-raised broi…

1
PPT088: Selecting a chicken breed and the value of community 13:23

6y ago13:23

13:23

In episode 87 of Pastured Poultry Talk, I talked with Erin Angulo about her Delaware chicken breeding success and the formation of a new association designed to help breeders learn. I'm taking this opportunity to follow up with my own thoughts on Erin's interview. [caption id="attachment_1848" align="alignright" width="284"] SASSO Naked Neck meat b…

1
PPT087: Breeding Delaware chickens for performance and utility: an introduction to Heritage Poultry Breeders Educational Foundation 30:12

6y ago30:12

30:12

Heritage chickens have a stereotype of being slow to grow and low yield, making them a difficult choice for production-based pastured poultry farms. Ok, maybe the stereotype has strong roots in reality. That's why Erin Angulo (Dawnridge Farm) is on the podcast discussing the improvements she has made with her line of Delaware chickens in addition t…

1
How to use email marketing for small farms - PPT086 32:33

6y ago32:33

32:33

Email marketing for small farms is one of those things that people have strong opinions about. Either you recognize the value, or you have limiting belief about why you shouldn’t send email. In this episode, I take the stance that email is the second half of a technically sound marketing process, and I’ll share some basic ways you can use email to …

1
10 Tips to Improve Your Farm Website SEO - PPT085 59:59

6y ago59:59

59:59

In this episode I discuss the foundation principles required to improve farm website SEO (search engine optimization). Farm website SEO helps you be found by people who are looking for the products and services you sell; that's why it's a critically important foundation for your entire marketing program. The only thing worse than not having a websi…

1
How to pick a chicken plucker for the farm or homestead - PPT084 19:44

6y ago19:44

19:44

After listening to the episode on learning the art of scalding, listener Chad asked if I could explain how to pick a chicken plucker. I happy to help. Quick disclaimer: While the advice in the episode is general purpose, the examples use the Poultry Man line of pluckers to illustrate the points because that's what I know the best. The first questio…

1
Latest Greenwashing craze: pasturewashing poultry: PPT083 23:51

6y ago23:51

23:51

Pasturewashing is the latest marketing craze where traditional poultry integrators want to capitalize on the success of pasture-raised chicken and eggs without following the principles of production. It's a form of greenwashing. Greenwashing describes a marketing tactic that positions an ordinary product as green or environmentally friendly in orde…

1
Pastured Poultry Talk Update on Ideal Customers, Planning, Speaking, and Greenwashing: PPT082 25:37

6y ago25:37

25:37

In this episode, catch up with Mike as he sets the 2019 pastured poultry production goals at Badgers’ Millside Farm, talks about pasture-raised greenwashing, and sets a vision for the show. Pastured Poultry Speaker Traveling, planning, attending, and presenting at a conference is emotionally challenging, but it is worth the energy. In the winter of…

1
PPT081: Backyard Chicken Business with Lauryn Salatin 5:27

6y ago5:27

5:27

Chick farmer Lauryn Salatin joins the podcast to discuss her backyard chicken business. She buys chicks from Murray McMurray, raises them until they're ready to lay, and then sells them. She finds her chickens enjoyable to be around and happy. This episode was recorded live at the Fertrell open house. Resources: Polyface Farm Murray McMurray…

1
PPT080: Selling Duck Eggs with Travis Salatin 8:07

6y ago8:07

8:07

In this Kids in Commerce episode, Travis Salatin of Polyface discusses his Khaki Campbell duck business. Travis' advice to other kids who are starting a business: "start slow." Resources: Polyface Yum Premiere 1 SuppliesBy Mike Badger

1
PPT079: Raising Sheep with Andrew Salatin 3:43

6y ago3:43

3:43

In this Kids in Commerce episode, Andrew Salatin joins the podcast to talk about his goals with raising sheep and what the enterprise has taught him. This episode was recorded live at the Fertrell open house. You can contact Andrew about lambs through Polyface.By Mike Badger

1
PPT078: Pastured Poultry since 1998 with Jonathan Coulimore 7:26

6y ago7:26

7:26

John Coulimore, a long time pastured poultry producer from Washington, joined the podcast for a quick chat. Jonathan is another community member who has taken up the dual role of growing pasture-raised broilers and eggs while fullfilling an important part of the supply chain for other farmers as a Fertrell dealer. This interview was recorded live a…

1
Empowering People through Pastured Poultry with Todd Morrison 8:32

6y ago8:32

8:32

Todd Morrison of Dawson Gap Farms joins the podcast to discuss how the farm approaches pastured poultry for consumers and other farmers. They operate a farm supply business in addition to direct-to-consumer products. This interview was recorded live at the Fertrell open house in October 2018. Learn more about Dawson Gap at their website.…

1
PPT076: We're Better Together: Interview with Daniel Salatin 14:53

6+ y ago14:53

14:53

Following Daniel Salatin's talk at the Fertrell open house, I caught up with him to ask what he means when he says, "We're better together." The subject of this talk was acknowledging the reality that the pastured poultry community is interconnected and has matured to the point where there is a deep support staff. You don't have to be an expert in …

1
PPT075: Bringing Ready-to-Lay Pullets onto Your Farm 32:58

6+ y ago32:58

32:58

Ready-to-Lay pullets, also called started pullets, are an economical way for pastured poultry producers and family egg flocks replace their laying hen flock. By buying started pullets, you typically pay less for each bird than it would cost you to produce it, and you eliminate up to 17 weeks of risk from disease, depredations, and management. When …

1
PPT074: Preparing your poultry farm for high winds, water, and hurricanes with Mike Marchand 31:53

6+ y ago31:53

31:53

Michael Marchand joins the show from the coastal plain of southeast Texas to talk about preparing your pastured poultry farm for the wind, water, and disruption of a hurricane. As we record, Hurricane Florence is days away from landfall in the Carolinas, and the projections are for a lot of water and wind. Mike has seen significant flooding events …

1
PPT073: Exploring the intersection of podcasting, pastured poultry, farming, and business 34:11

6+ y ago34:11

34:11

Many farmers listen to podcasts as they do chores, make hay, deliver product, or pick up supplies. Direct-to-consumer farmers have a lot of windshield time, and it makes sense that podcasts continue to fill more of that time as a way to be entertained and informed. But why aren't more farmers podcasting for their customers? That's the question this…

1
Cracking the performance problems of soy-free poultry feeds with Fertrell 27:59

7y ago27:59

27:59

Episode 72 takes on the soy-free poultry feed for your chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Up to this point, if you’ve fed soy-free feeds to your chickens, then you’ve likely experienced slower growth, more expensive feed, and improperly feathered birds, just to name a few problems. Jeff Mattocks from The Fertrell Company joins the show to discuss the pr…

1
How to perfectly grill chicken barbecue for family and groups 33:00

7y ago33:00

33:00

In Episode 71, learn how to grill chicken barbecue that's flavorful and moist. Email questions to [email protected]. As this episode drops, the United States will be in full-on summer picnic mode with the fourth of July. It’s a perfect place to showcase pasture-raised chicken. In a bad cook’s grill, however, it’s a great opportunity to f…

1
How to calculate the margins of a pasture-raised broiler business 38:27

7y ago38:27

38:27

Episode 70. Beginning pastured poultry farmers have a common question: "What are the margins in raising pastured poultry?" In other words, "will it work?" The margins in your pasture-raised broiler business is what's left over after you pay for expenses. The margin is the profit that goes back into the business. Mike Badger answers that listener qu…

1
Buying Ready-to-Lay Pullets and Understanding the Competitive Advantages and Opportunities for Pastured Egg Flocks 38:01

7y ago38:01

38:01

Ready-to-lay pullets, sometimes called point-of-lay, are one of the pastured egg farmers best competitive advantages. But it's not all upside. Pullet supplier Mike Badger discusses the advantages, disadvantages, and opportunities for farmers to save money on replacement pullet costs. It also calls out an unmet demand in the pastured layer community…

1
Troubleshooting Chicken Health Problems During Processing 37:35

7y ago37:35

37:35

[caption id="attachment_1113" align="alignright" width="300"] Plucked chickens ready to be examined along with healthy hearts, liver, and gizzard.[/caption] Episode 68, I help you identify poultry production problems from your gutting table. When your chickens are laying on your table naked and unafraid, they hold no secrets. It's the perfect time …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Poultry Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen