Chook. The Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Chook Journal
Podcast Overview
<p>Fresh, free-ranging conversations for <strong>backyard chicken keepers</strong> and <strong>serious</strong> <strong>breeders</strong>. Hosted by former foreign correspondent turned chicken breeder Jane Cowan. </p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/3/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Chook. The Podcast
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
April 20, 2026
Season 2 Trailer
A sneak peek at upcoming guests during Season 2 of Chook. The Podcast.
April 13, 2026
Phil and Anne Westwood on 4 Decades of True Free Range Egg Farming
For almost 40 years, Phil and Anne Westwood have run Freeranger Eggs in Grantville, 90 km south east of Melbourne. What’s super interesting about Phil and Anne’s operation is that growth has never been part of their business model. They have stayed deliberately small, deliberately avoiding automation including a total lack of autodoors and rollaway nest boxes. There were several motivations for this strategy. Firstly, the idea was to keep things small enough that a single person could run the entire business without the need for staff. Secondly, an intentionally smaller, truly free-range operation, as Phil describes it, is also able to maximise hen welfare sine the chickens are living in smaller groups. Thirdly, smaller flocks produce less manure with its associated impacts on the land, making the whole operation more environmentally sound. Topics covered include: What kind of living you can actually make with a one-person operation like Freeranger (listen to the end where Phil does share some figures) Environmental impacts of running 10 000 birds per hectare, the maximum allowed to still qualify as a "free range" egg farm What regenerative poultry farming looks like How native vegetation coexists with chickens on the Westwood's property ISA Browns — how many eggs they lay, and how long they can live when cared for the way the Westwoods do, without lights Whether you could run an economically-viable egg farm with heritage, coloured-egg laying breeds Egg production in free range vs. caged systems Use of lights with laying hens (Impacts on health and longevity) Mite and lice control Wormwood as a natural deterrent against parasites, internal and external Sawdust over straw as preferred nest box bedding Diotomaceous earth Managing wild birds, goannas, snakes around chook food and nest boxes Maremma dogs as livestock guardians Use of mobile sheds What it's like running an egg farm solo How to stay enthusiastic about hands-on egg farming after almost 40 years Use of the Kangaroo Apple shrub around chickens What trees Anne would plant around a home chicken coop Whether the egg industry is becoming more sustainable
March 28, 2026
Brendon Murphy on Australian Cream Legbars
Brendon Murphy presides over the Australian Facebook group dedicated to Cream Legbar breeding. In this conversation, we discuss: How Cream Legbars were created in Australia How to tell the difference between Australian and import bloodlines Egg colour Ways to work with faults like high tails and floppy or twisted combs Perhaps the most interesting thing Brendon shares in this chat is why some Cream Legbar chicks hatch with vaulted skulls, a defect Brendon says stems from how the Araucana, one of the breeds used to create Cream Legbars, was itself created in this country. The level of detail in this conversation means this really is one for those of us seriously into this particular breed.
22 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for Chook. The Podcast
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Chook. The Podcast?
<p>Fresh, free-ranging conversations for <strong>backyard chicken keepers</strong> and <strong>serious</strong> <strong>breeders</strong>. Hosted by former foreign correspondent turned chicken breeder Jane Cowan. </p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.