Show Notes
Doyenne, grand dame, matriarch. However you encapsulate her, there is only one Megg Miller. In this candid and wide-ranging interview, Megg: — Reflects on her adventures over 35 years at the helm of Australasian Poultry magazine including how she navigated what was a male-dominated culture in the 80s when she began showing — Speculates on challenges facing the future of chicken keeping in Australia including her prediction that poultry shows will not continue indefinitely, but go online instead — Gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of her life post-AP, which published its final issue in early 2025 — Shares her own coop set-up at home — Offers her view on what defines a "chook person" — Describes the fascinating process by which brain development is stimulated in the embryonic chick via exposure of the right eye to more light through the eggshell — Discusses her top tips on managing flock health including her chemical-free approach to internal and external parasite control, how to trim rooster spurs and whether or not straw is good bedding material ... and much more.
More from Chook. The Podcast
For almost 40 years, Phil and Anne Westwood have run Freeranger Eggs in Grantville, 90 km south east of Melbourne.
Brendon Murphy presides over the Australian Facebook group dedicated to Cream Legbar breeding.
Belinda Burgess tried having a regular job. She tried retiring. Neither stuck. Despite 12 hour days, 7 days a week, she says running a commercial poultry farm is a good job, a passion. Therapy, even. She sells 30-40+ dozen eggs per week at the height of the season, and hatches hundreds of chicks per week. She sells year-round. Ask her how many breeds she keeps and she'll have to check. In this conversation, Belinda is beautifully candid. She shares what it’s really like selling hatching eggs as a business — the ups and downs and some of her major learnings along the way. Whether it’s leg banding baby chicks at midnight or packing eggs at dawn…this chat will give you a feel for what it takes to build a successful operation. Topics discussed include: