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800.456.3280 Facebook Instagram Facebook Instagram HOME SHOP CHICKS WATERFOWL TURKEYS GAMEBIRDS JUVENILE BIRDS EQUIPMENT GIFTS AND BOOKS BLOG RESOURCES Free Catalog MURRAY FEST MIDWEST Newsroom Newsletter Photo Contests CONTACT US Select Page McMurray Hatchery Blog Hatchery News, Updates and Information on Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys and Other Poultry Join Us This Summer for Murray Fest Midwest — Buy Tickets Now! 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... Read More 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... Read More 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... Read More 2024 Catalog Photo Winners The 2024 Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog will start landing in mailboxes across the U.S. and Canada over the holidays. Each year’s catalog features photos submitted by our customers. Our 2024 catalog is our most comprehensive issue to date, featuring 132 pages of... Read More 5 Reasons to Raise Waterfowl I have been known to swim against the current, do things my way, and voice my reasons loudly. Not in a bossy way, but in a way that makes you wonder if you should have taken my advice. This rings true for my beliefs on intentional gardening, how and what I choose to... Read More Build Your Farm and Future: Raising a Sustainable Meat Flock This article first appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of Homestead Living magazine. Whether you are a backyard hobbyist or a full scale homesteader, my guess is that you have at least flirted with the idea of raising your own meat chickens. Perhaps you are still in the... Read More Our Favorite Duck Breeds In the fall as our chick season begins to slowly wind down, but duckling season is still in full swing! Next to chicks, ducklings are the next favorite among our customers and a common next step on the road to owning more birds and/or livestock. Ducks lay highly... Read More From the Experts: Chick Tips for New Chicken Owners Are you thinking about keeping chickens? Is this your first time ordering day-old baby chicks? While baby chicks are cute and fluffy, it can also be stressful for first-timers. To help alleviate any fears or stress, we asked five experts for their top chick tips for... Read More 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... Read More 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... Read More CHICKENS WATERFOWL OTHER FOWL CONTESTS HOMESTEADING NEWS Join Us in Iowa! Murray Fest Midwest JUNE 29-30, 2024 Hamilton County Fairgrounds • Webster City, IA BUY TICKETS Q Breed Spotlight: Murray’s Midget White Turkey by Janet Garman | Mar 25, 2024 The Midget White turkey breed was new to me last season. I had never heard of them at all before spying them in Murray McMurray’s annual catalog last year. In fact, I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to try raising turkeys again after the first time. Years ago, when we... read more Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Cochins by Holly Callahan-Kasmala and Chrisie DiCarlo | Feb 8, 2024 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... read more Ringing in Our 107th Hatching Season by Tom Watkins | Jan 25, 2024 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... read more Gail Damerow Discusses Winter Health Considerations for Chickens by McMurray Staff | Jan 6, 2024 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... read more 2024 Catalog Photo Winners by McMurray Staff | Dec 7, 2023 The 2024 Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog will start landing in mailboxes across the U.S. and Canada over the holidays. Each year’s catalog features photos submitted by our customers. Our 2024 catalog is our most comprehensive issue to date, featuring 132 pages of... read more 4-H and Fair Champions Flock to McMurray Hatchery by McMurray Staff | Sep 15, 2023 Since our inception, McMurray Hatchery has supported 4-H and FFA members and clubs, as well as a host of other agricultural organizations, across the U.S.A. — from shows highlighting rare breeds to broiler projects, automatic feeder inventions, and even livestock... read more 2023 Livestock Conservancy Conservation Priority List Updates by McMurray Staff | Jul 30, 2023 Murray McMurray Hatchery® is dedicated to preserving rare and endangered Heritage poultry breeds. Today, several of our flocks stand as the only viable established lines left in the United States for a number of rare and critically endangered breeds. It is our honor... read more Gail Damerow Discusses Her Top Three Favorite Chicken Breeds by McMurray Staff | May 25, 2023 How long have you been keeping chickens? "I started keeping chickens in 1970. While looking for my first house, I wanted a place that was zoned for chickens. As luck would have it, the place I bought came with chickens already installed," she explains. "There was such... read more Black Flies (Buffalo Gnats), Protecting Your Flock and Livestock by McMurray Staff | May 1, 2023 As a poultry owner, it’s important to understand how insects can pose a risk of danger or disease to your flock. While spring is an exciting time for many, seasonal rains and warm, humid weather across states, including those in Central, Northern, and even... read more Coffee with the Chicken Ladies Breed Spotlight: Salmon Faverolles by Holly Callahan-Kasmala and Chrisie DiCarlo | Apr 27, 2023 This month’s breed is a chicken lady’s (or gent’s) dream come true! They’re ridiculously adorable, friendly and chatty, gentle with other breeds, super cold hardy, and an all around excellent companion. They make great show birds, and they’re pretty decent layers,... read more Raising American Bresse with Erik Gordon by McMurray Staff | Apr 14, 2023 The American Bresse (pronounced bress”) is one of the most sought-after meat breeds on the market today. The Bresse is a unique dual-purpose chicken breed that originated in France, where they are raised under strict protocols in order to achieve the tender, marbled... read more Three DIY Chicken Projects With Janet Garman by Janet Garman | Apr 11, 2023 Chicken tending naturally lends itself to DIY projects. From the time your brand new...