Hatching Quality

By Julie Turner-Crawford

Josh Stephans focuses his poultry and waterfowl operation on breeding- and show-quality birds

In certain livestock circles around the Ozarks, Josh Stephans is a “goat guy.”

He has shown and judged meat goats across the country and has ventured to Canada to sort classes.

Today, Josh and his family still have goats and a few head of cattle, but the largest livestock operation at their Elkland, Mo., farm has feathers. About 200 chickens, geese and ducks can be found at the farm, and just like his goats, Josh seeks birds of high quality.

“I got my first set of birds at around 10 years old,” Josh said. “I’ve had the poultry as long, if not longer, than the goats. They just kind of sat here and did nothing for a lot of years, but it has evolved over the last several years.”

Josh and his family, including wife Cassie, sons Grayson and Noah, and daughter Lucy, have as many as 15 different breeds of chickens.

“I like a little more odd, exotic or unusual breeds,” Josh explained. “That’s not to discredit breeds like White Rock, Wyandotte bantams, or something else you often see win at the show. Most of the breeds we have are fairly rare.”

Breeds Josh raises at Hidden Springs Farms include Dutch bantams, Whitefaced Black Spanish and Phoenix, which are rarely seen in shows.

Waterfowl breeds include Pilgrim and Toulouse geese, and Call, White Mandarin and Mcavoy ducks.

Gray Toulouse are a recent addition to the farm. Josh purchased the gray flock in Wisconsin last fall, and he also has a pair of buff Toulouse.

“These guys are going to be my main waterfowl focus,” Josh said.

The Mcavoy ducks are also a new venture. Josh will alternate drakes with a black female to achieve certain colors in the offspring.

“I only have one black hen, and sliver in waterfowl is basically the same as splash in chickens,” Josh explained. “Silver to black makes 100 percent blue. With only one