PK360 Audio

Your chicks have feed, water, and heat—but are they getting the start they need? The small details in their first 14 days can affect the birds you raise months later.

In this PK360 conversation, Rip Stalvey and our team’s livestock nutritionist, Jeff Mattocks, discuss the hands-on care that helps chicks get off to a strong start. Drawing on years of raising poultry and working with poultry keepers, they explain what to watch for, what to prepare, and how to tell whether your chicks are finding feed and water.

We cover early feeding, chick weights, crop fill, starter feed and particle size, brooder temperature, grit, and moving chicks from the incubator. The conversation also includes Jeff’s approach to feeding eggs, water additives, dust bathing, and the value of spending time observing your chicks.

Whether you raise heritage breeds, exhibition poultry, or a small backyard flock, this episode will help you pay closer attention to the details that are easy to overlook.

What is one thing you do to give your chicks a strong start? Share your experience in the comments.

This Audio Edition features a conversation from a previous PK360 LIVE video broadcast, edited and tightened for those who prefer to listen.

Poultry Keepers 360 — Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

#RaisingChicks #ChickCare #PoultryKeepers360

Chapters and timestamps

00:00 Give your chicks a strong start

00:38 Why the first 14 days matter

02:01 Weighing chicks and tracking growth

03:42 How soon should chicks get feed?

05:44 Help chicks find feed and water

06:53 Introducing grit and checking crop fill

08:33 Early care and genetic potential

13:04 Choosing chick starter and particle size

18:16 Early development and brooder temperature

22:39 Brooder space during the first three days

24:32 Immune development and introducing sod

27:42 Small chicks and hatching egg size

29:24 When to move chicks into the brooder

33:02 Bantam feed and feeding eggs

37:18 Water first or feed and water together?

38:23 Jeff’s approach to water additives

40:04 Water temperature and preparing the brooder

41:16 Feed particles and chick grit

42:24 Dust baths and handling chicks

45:52 Shipped chicks and Grow Gel

47:05 Honey and feeding eggs to older chicks

49:08 Does this approach apply to meat birds?

50:00 Grit size and brooder dust

51:42 Encouraging chicks to drink

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Buying spring chicks? Before you choose a breed or order another dozen, answer one question: What do you want your flock to do?

Eggs for breakfast, meat for the freezer, birds to show, or simply chickens you enjoy—your answer helps you choose birds that fit your goals, your space, and your everyday life.

In this Audio Edition, the Poultry Keepers 360 team—Rip Stalvey, livestock nutritionist Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson—talks through the decisions worth making before chicks come home. You'll hear why the same breed can give different results, what bargain chicks may really cost, and how adding birds can quickly stretch your time and facilities.

We cover choosing birds for your climate, temperament around children, planning for family egg needs, finding exhibition stock, and keeping breeding plans manageable. We finish with a buying checklist, including what to do with extra males and what needs to be ready before the chicks arrive.

Chapter

00:00 What do you want your flock to do?

00:41 Same breed, different results

02:27 Hatchery birds and standardbred birds

04:05 Choosing chickens for your climate

05:38 Coop space and chicken math

07:26 Choosing birds when children help

08:36 Different breeds, different housing needs

09:36 The time and cost of a growing flock

11:59 What bargain chicks really cost

13:20 A word from The Fertrell Company

13:50 How many hens does your family need?

15:55 Planning replacement layers

17:06 Buying birds for poultry shows

19:59 Eggs, meat, and bone broth: your goals count

21:21 Matching breeding plans to your facilities

24:38 Your chick-buying checklist

26:30 Plan for extra males before buying

27:17 Have the brooder ready first

27:39 Finish this sentence: I want my flock to...

28:24 Your next listen: choosing the right birds

Poultry Keepers 360

Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

Recommended next episode

Did You Choose the Right Breed—but the Wrong Birds? – Audio Edition

Frank Reese joins the team for a closer look at why the breeder and the line matter as much as the breed name.

https://www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com/did-you-choose-the-right-breed-but-the-wrong-birds-audio-edition/

This Audio Edition features a conversation from a previous PK360 LIVE video broadcast, edited and tightened for those who prefer to listen.

Watch the original LIVE conversation here: https://youtube.com/live/e86WPLgPzEk

#BuyingChicks #BackyardChickens #PoultryKeepers360

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Did you choose the right breed—but still end up with birds that don’t meet your needs? Two flocks can carry the same breed name and give their keepers very different results. What might you have overlooked?

Frank Reese joins the Poultry Keepers 360 team to discuss choosing standardbred poultry for eggs, meat, and preservation. Drawing on his experience breeding chickens and turkeys, Frank explains why the breeder and the particular line deserve as much attention as the breed name.

We discuss New Hampshires, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Delawares, and other traditional breeds, along with the questions to ask before bringing birds home. The conversation also covers selecting future breeders, learning from experienced poultry keepers, and working with others to maintain a line.

In this episode:
• Heritage poultry and the importance of breed standards.
• Setting a clear purpose for your flock.
• Matching a breeding line to your egg and meat goals.
• The difference between hatching chicks and selecting breeders.
• Finding a breeder and learning the strengths and weaknesses of a line.
• Considering costs and a market before expanding.
• Preserving useful qualities for future generations.

This Audio Edition is adapted from a previously recorded PK360 LIVE conversation. Production figures and examples reflect Frank’s experience with particular lines and management conditions; they are not guarantees for every flock.

RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
Linebreeding Chickens: Build Consistency Without Losing Vigor – Audio Edition
https://youtu.be/ajtT02BbTWY
Continue with a closer look at breeding for consistency while maintaining vigor.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Why choosing the right breed isn’t enough
00:30 Frank Reese: learning from lifelong breeders
02:28 Heritage poultry and breed standards
05:58 Decide what your flock needs to do
11:48 Choosing birds for eggs and meat
15:48 New Hampshires and Delawares for the table
17:27 Hatching chicks versus selecting breeders
19:20 Why the breeding line matters
20:40 Finding a breeder and maintaining a line
30:48 Growth expectations and good management
31:18 Study the breed and its standard
33:19 Jersey Giants and the family table
34:00 Frank’s advice for getting started
36:00 Preserving poultry for future generations
36:39 Takeaways and your next episode

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What do you want your flock to provide: eggs, meat, preservation, or a combination? What would you ask a breeder before choosing your next birds?

Poultry Keepers 360
Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

#HeritageChickens #PoultryBreeding #PoultryKeepers360

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The protein percentage may be the first number you notice on a bag of chicken feed—but it cannot tell you the whole nutritional story.

In this Audio Edition, Rip Stalvey, Carey Blackmon and livestock nutritionist Jeff Mattocks examine the vitamins, minerals and metabolizable energy that help determine how well poultry use their feed.

The conversation explains why minimum nutrient requirements are not necessarily optimum levels, how vitamins support vision, feather development, reproduction and normal immune function, and why minerals must remain in balance rather than being added individually without a plan.

You’ll also learn:

• Why vitamin A matters to feathers, skin, vision and developing chicks
• How vitamin E and selenium work together
• What B vitamins may contribute to normal behavior and stress response
• Why vitamin C can be useful during heat stress—but difficult to add correctly
• How heat, air and long storage can reduce vitamin value
• Why excess minerals can interfere with one another
• The relationship among calcium, phosphorus and other minerals
• What metabolizable energy means on a practical level
• Why growing birds need different energy levels at different stages
• How to begin evaluating a poultry feed tag more thoughtfully

This discussion is intended to help poultry keepers ask better questions about feed. It is not a recommendation to add individual vitamins or minerals without knowing the complete diet. More is not automatically better, and some nutrients can become harmful when overused.

Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

Chapters and timestamps

0:00 Why Vitamins Matter in Poultry Diets

2:03 Vitamin D, Sunlight and Artificial Lighting

4:06 Minimum Requirements vs. Optimum Nutrition

10:01 Vitamin A, Feathers and Flock Health

15:02 Feed Quality and Breeder Nutrition

20:20 Vitamin E and Selenium

23:25 B Vitamins and Bird Behavior

25:16 Vitamin C and Heat Stress

27:11 Protecting Vitamins During Feed Storage

30:38 Preventing Vitamin Deficiencies

32:09 A Word From Our Sponsor

33:28 Why Mineral Balance Matters

36:28 Copper in Poultry Drinking Water

37:44 How Vitamins and Minerals Work Together

40:45 Finding a Quality Poultry Feed

43:34 Choosing Fats and Oils

45:04 Understanding Metabolizable Energy

49:09 Fish Meal and Other Protein Sources

50:54 Energy Levels for Conditioning Birds

54:19 Feed Labels and Supplemental Selenium

56:31 Closing Takeaway and Recommended Episode

Prefer the original Video Edition? Watch it here:
https://youtube.com/live/YRCGjk2GAfA

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Does a deep orange yolk mean a more nutritious egg? Why do some eggs taste richer or develop a fishy flavor? And what causes watery whites or thin shells?

In this Audio Edition of our member-led PK360 egg show, Rip Stalvey hosts a discussion with team members Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson. Together, they work through the questions poultry keepers sent us. We discuss how feed, forage, breed, and the hen herself can affect egg flavor, yolk color, fatty acids, texture, and shell quality. We also talk about what a “complete feed” label tells you when choosing feed for laying hens.

The Egg Nutrition and Flavor Research Guide mentioned in the show is available in the Files section of the Poultry Keepers 360 and Poultry Breeders Nutrition Facebook groups. It includes links to nine research papers for keepers who want to explore these questions further.

CHAPTERS
0:00 What makes a better egg?
0:57 What gives eggs their flavor?
2:13 Do breed and genetics change egg flavor?
4:14 What causes a fishy smell or taste?
7:58 Free ranging, flavor, and yolk color
11:05 Why yolks differ—and what color tells us
17:44 A member question about fragile yolks
20:26 Beak and leg color in laying hens
25:00 Corn, soy, and omega-enriched feeds
35:49 Watery whites, texture, and hard-to-peel eggs
38:02 Thin shells, meat spots, and unusual eggs
42:08 What does “complete feed” mean?
43:38 A word from our sponsor, Fertrell
46:25 Research behind feed and egg claims
48:01 Egg Nutrition and Flavor Research Guide
53:04 Changing protein levels as hens mature
55:00 Find past PK360 LIVEs by topic
56:09 Selecting hens for egg capacity

Poultry Keepers 360: Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

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Poor hatch rates are not always the incubator’s fault. Temperature, humidity, airflow, egg quality, breeder nutrition, storage, turning, and even the room where the incubator operates can influence the outcome.

In this Audio Edition, the Poultry Keepers 360 team explains how to prepare and fine-tune an incubator, recognize temperature and humidity problems, manage hatching eggs, and make better decisions throughout the incubation process.

Topics include:

• Preparing an incubator before setting eggs
• Choosing the right location
• Temperature and humidity targets
• Finding hot and cold spots
• Using calibrated thermometers and data loggers
• Monitoring air-cell development
• Turning and storing hatching eggs
• Breeder nutrition and chick vigor
• Dry incubation
• Cleaning and sanitizing dirty eggs
• When to remove chicks from the hatcher

CHAPTERS

0:00 Understanding the incubator’s job

1:33 Prepare the incubator before setting eggs

2:49 Choosing the right incubator location

5:24 Fertility, nutrition, and egg sanitation

8:46 Turning eggs correctly

10:16 Incubator construction and insulation

11:13 Temperature and humidity targets

13:44 When to remove chicks from the hatcher

16:02 Opening the incubator and recovery time

20:41 Finding hot spots and airflow problems

26:11 Thermometers, hygrometers, and data loggers

31:18 Air-cell development and humidity adjustment

34:46 Candling and removing problem eggs

37:45 Comparing incubator designs and features

44:28 Feeding breeders for better hatching eggs

48:50 Cleaning dirty eggs and protecting the bloom

55:18 Dry incubation and regional humidity

57:12 Storing and turning eggs before incubation

1:02:49 How long hatching eggs can be stored

1:04:18 Stabilizing a partly filled incubator

1:05:33 Hand-turning duck eggs

1:08:10 Can poultry be bred year-round?

1:13:44 Hatching eggs upright or on their sides

1:15:37 Food and water inside the hatcher

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

Poultry Keepers 360
Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions

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Linebreeding can reveal weaknesses already hiding in a flock—and that is exactly why careful breeders use it.

This Audio Edition was adapted from a PK360 LIVE conversation featuring Rip Stalvey, poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks, Karen Johnson, and guest Logan Courtney. Logan is a sixth-generation Oklahoma farmer who uses linebreeding with registered Jersey dairy cattle, Hereford cattle, and Light Sussex chickens.

Together, they discuss what linebreeding can accomplish, why it sometimes produces disappointing generations, and how selection, records, nutrition, and patience work together to build a more consistent flock.

Topics include:

• What linebreeding is and what it can accomplish
• Why it exposes hidden genetic problems
• Clan breeding and practical systems for smaller flocks
• Record keeping, wing bands, and pedigree software
• Protecting size, vigor, fertility, and production
• Choosing breeders and evaluating each generation
• Starting with limited breeding stock
• Bringing a needed improvement into an established line
• Giving birds the nutrition needed to express their genetic potential

Original PK360 LIVE video broadcast date: February8, 2024

Prefer the original video? Watch the PK360 LIVE Video Edition here:
https://youtube.com/live/96mZJxuCYog

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

#PoultryBreeding #ChickenGenetics #PoultryKeepers360

Chapters and timestamps

0:00 Meet Logan Courtney

4:46 What Linebreeding Really Does

8:22 Consistency, Selection and Patience

14:09 Records, Wing Bands and Pedigrees

16:58 Building a Clan Breeding System

22:57 Protecting Production Qualities

27:15 A Practical Program for Smaller Flocks

31:24 Matings That Reveal Hidden Genetics

36:47 Exposing and Removing Genetic Problems

38:31 Maintaining Vigor and Choosing Breeders

43:11 Nutrition and Genetic Potential

47:26 Egg Selection and When to Cull

52:11 Can You Start With One Pair?

56:52 Introducing Improvements Into a Line

1:00:03 How Long Should You Use a Proven Male?

1:03:26 Closing Thoughts and Future Questions

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Winter gives poultry keepers something we rarely have during the busy season: an opportunity to slow down, look back, and decide what genuinely needs improvement.

A winter flock reset does not mean changing everything. It means identifying the routines, systems, and decisions that made poultry keeping harder than necessary—and correcting them before another breeding or hatching season begins.

In this episode, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson discuss how to evaluate the past year honestly. They examine breeding results, recordkeeping, housing, ventilation, watering systems, mud and litter problems, nutrition, body condition, winter enrichment, and preparations for the next breeding season.

You’ll also hear why changing several things at once makes it nearly impossible to determine what worked, how your birds’ behavior can reveal whether a change is helping, and why some successful parts of your system should be left alone.

The goal is not a complete overhaul. It is a more manageable flock, stronger birds, better breeding decisions, and fewer avoidable problems next year.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

#PoultryKeepers360 #WinterChickenCare #FlockManagement

TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS

00:00 Using winter as a practical reset
01:24 Evaluating the past year’s results
04:06 Learning from experienced poultry keepers
13:38 Records, observations, and breeding plans
17:40 Housing and ventilation
22:30 Water, mud, litter, and manure
27:56 A word from Fertrell
30:11 Winter watering systems and frostbite
33:24 Viewer questions about garlic and flock health
37:23 What body condition reveals about feeding
40:09 Feed quality, supplements, and behavior
47:12 How much feed do chickens need?
51:22 Preventing winter boredom and aggression
56:35 Selecting and pairing breeding birds
59:39 Winter jobs that prepare for breeding season
1:02:50 Is the system failing—or the follow-through?
1:03:51 Keep what works and measure the results
1:05:44 Change one thing at a time
1:07:52 Breeding goals and difficult selection decisions
1:09:24 Closing thoughts

Listen to the Audio Edition here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDRODbVf9y3g

Watch the Video Edition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGfX27f-7_I

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Successful breeding begins long before the first eggs go into the incubator.

In this episode, Carey Blackmon and poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks explain how to prepare a flock for breeding season—from choosing the right birds and setting breeding goals to managing lighting, nutrition, housing, and nest boxes.

We discuss:

• The difference between hatching chicks and building a breeding program
• Choosing breeders with the fewest serious faults
• Deciding what you want your flock to become
• Using linebreeding to improve consistency
• What inbreeding depression really looks like
• Choosing the right time of year to hatch
• Preparing breeders through lighting management
• Adjusting light for younger and older birds
• Improving breeder nutrition before collecting eggs
• Egg size and its effect on chick quality
• Amino acids, vitamins, and chick vigor
• Preparing clean, comfortable nest boxes
• Whether greens have a place in the breeder diet

Breeding season is not simply a matter of putting a rooster with a few hens. Better chicks begin with healthier breeders, clearly defined goals, and thoughtful preparation.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

Poultry Keepers 360
Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

Chapters and Timestamps

0:00 Opening Conversatio

7:22 Getting Ready for Breeding Season

9:38 Hatching Chickens vs Breeding Poultry

11:12 Where a Breeding Program Begins

12:52 Where Should Your Flock Be in Five Years?

15:58 Turning Goals Into a Breeding Plan

16:20 Linebreeding, Inbreeding, and Predictability

18:05 What Inbreeding Depression Really Means

22:38 Choosing the Right Hatch Season

23:19 Preparing Breeders With Light

25:22 Light Color and Intensity

29:40 Increasing Day Length Gradually

32:15 Lighting Older Breeding Birds

38:55 Continuous-Flow Watering Update

43:15 Feeding Birds for Breeding Season

44:35 Egg Size and Hatching Quality

46:29 Amino Acids and Chick Vigor

49:17 Nest Boxes for Breeding Pens

50:57 Bedding and Nest Cleanliness

53:32 Five-Gallon Bucket Nest Boxes

59:57 Do Breeding Birds Need Greens?

1:03:33 Alfalfa and Other Green Feeds

1:06:03 Final Thoughts

This Audio Edition was adapted from a PK360 LIVE originally broadcast on September 18, 2025. Prefer to watch the original Video Edition? You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/tagqQL2d1_E

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When cold weather arrives, many poultry keepers instinctively close their coops tightly to keep their chickens warm. Unfortunately, that can trap moisture, ammonia, and stale air—creating conditions far more dangerous than the cold itself.

In this episode of PK360 LIVE, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson take a practical look at winter air quality and what poultry keepers can learn by observing their birds and the conditions inside their coops.

The team discusses:

• The difference between healthy ventilation and a harmful draft
• Why dry birds generally tolerate cold temperatures remarkably well
• How moisture and condensation accumulate inside winter housing
• Why ammonia can harm chickens before people can smell it
• How to calculate coop volume and choose an exhaust fan
• Timed and forced-air ventilation
• The connection between bedding, carbon, moisture, and ammonia
• What respiratory behavior and feather condition may reveal
• How stocking density and coop construction affect air quality
• Common winter ventilation mistakes
• The risks associated with supplemental heat

Good winter management is not about creating human comfort inside a chicken coop. It is about protecting birds from direct weather while maintaining clean, dry, healthy air.

Poultry Keepers 360 brings breeding, management, and nutrition together to help small-flock keepers understand their birds and make better-informed decisions.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

Our sincere thanks to The Fertrell Company for sponsoring PK360 LIVE and supporting practical poultry education.

TIMESTAMPS AND CHAPTERS

0:00 Why winter air quality matters
1:57 Cold temperatures versus moisture and wind
3:07 Ventilation versus drafts
4:35 Where an exhaust fan should be placed
7:17 Calculating coop volume and fan runtime
9:38 A mentor’s cold-weather ventilation system
14:30 Where winter moisture comes from
16:08 Ammonia can cause harm before you smell it
19:09 Bedding, carbon, and ammonia control
21:02 Biochar, activated charcoal, and peat moss
25:14 Should ventilation change with temperature?
26:05 What birds reveal about poor air quality
27:49 Feather condition, humidity, and dietary fat
34:39 What a properly managed coop should smell like
35:51 How chickens behave when they are truly cold
37:32 Ventilating open-sided coops and barns
40:35 A word from The Fertrell Company
42:10 Stocking density and air quality
43:19 Wooden coops versus metal construction
47:26 Common winter ventilation mistakes
48:52 Helping birds adjust to environmental changes
50:26 Balancing weather protection and ventilation
52:45 One change that can improve coop air quality
54:25 Choosing breeds suited to the climate
55:57 The risks of supplemental heat
58:49 Final winter air-quality lessons

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Protein percentage is only part of the story when it comes to feeding poultry well. What matters is how protein, amino acids, fats, fiber, and the other components of a diet work together.

In this PK360 discussion, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, and Carey Blackmon take a deeper look at three major components of poultry diets—protein, fat, and fiber—and explain why simply choosing the feed with the highest protein number may not give your birds what they actually need.

We discuss vegetable and animal protein sources, why amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and cysteine matter, and how protein needs change as birds grow and enter production. The conversation also explores fish meal, fiber and gut health, the relationship between fat and fiber, different sources of dietary fat, and some of the practical compromises involved in mash, pellet, and crumble feeds. The discussion emphasizes that protein percentage alone can be misleading when amino-acid balance and total feed intake aren't considered.

You'll also hear practical discussion about reading feed tags, feeding chicks and growing birds, breeding-season nutrition, whole grains, oats, feed freshness and storage, and questions from poultry keepers watching the original PK360 LIVE.
Use the chapters below to listen from beginning to end or jump directly to the subject you need.

Poultry Keepers 360 brings together practical experience and thoughtful poultry education to help poultry keepers better understand their birds and make informed decisions about breeding, management, and nutrition.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

Chapters & Timestamps

0:00 Welcome & What We’re Covering
1:07 Protein Sources in Poultry Diets
3:31 Why Amino Acid Balance Matters
5:03 Animal vs. Vegetable Protein
9:02 Fish Meal & Sustainable Sources
12:13 Fish Meal, Feather Quality & Eggs
16:25 Lysine, Methionine & Cysteine
19:21 How Much Protein Do Chicks Need?
25:07 Protein Needs for Growing Birds
26:13 Developer & Layer Feed
28:30 Do Some Breeds Need More Protein?
29:22 Nutrition for Breeding Stock
30:34 Fertrell Sponsor Break
31:40 Why Fiber Matters
34:31 Fiber, Gut Health & Bird Behavior
35:42 Choosing Effective Fiber Sources
37:42 Whole Oats & Diet Self-Selection
39:00 Balancing Fat and Fiber
40:23 Choosing Better Fat Sources
41:48 Animal Fat & Shelf Life
43:58 Vegetable vs. Animal Fats
45:24 What Fat Does for the Bird
47:35 Reading Fat & Fiber on Feed Tags
49:22 Why Good Fat & Fiber Levels Are Hard to Find
51:15 Whole Grains & Feeding Grit
52:49 Ergot Risk in Rye
53:44 Feed Freshness & Shelf Life
56:09 Mash vs. Pellets
57:32 Chick Feed & Breeder Supplement
58:12 What Is Mash Feed?
1:00:23 How Long Does Feed Stay Nutritious?
1:00:52 Calcium in Poultry Feed
1:03:40 How Long Can Whole Grains Be Stored?
1:05:07 Closing Thoughts

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A chicken can look big, fluffy, and healthy—but what do you really know about what's underneath all those feathers?

In this episode of Poultry Keepers 360 LIVE, Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson take a practical look at the difference between a bird's weight and its body condition—and why understanding both can help you make better decisions for your flock.

We discuss how to use your hands to evaluate muscle and fat, what the keel and pelvic bones can tell you, why two birds at the same weight may be in very different condition, and why regularly handling and observing your birds gives you information a scale alone cannot provide.

As winter approaches, the conversation expands into seasonal feeding, water consumption, feeder space, managing birds that are over- or under-conditioned, and the nutritional demands of molt. We also tackle the common advice to simply increase protein during molt and explain why timing matters.
Along the way, we answer viewer questions about young birds in cold weather, broody hens adopting chicks, seasonal feeding changes, sudden weight loss, lighting, and more.

Most importantly, we return to one of the principles at the heart of Poultry Keepers 360: observe first and diagnose later. One unusual sign doesn't automatically tell you what is wrong. Learn what's normal for your flock, notice meaningful changes, ask better questions, and gather information before reaching for a treatment.
Better decisions begin with better observations.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that's what this channel is all about.

Timestamps and Chapters

0:00 Weight vs. Body Condition — What's the Difference?
2:49 Establishing What's Normal for Your Flock
4:59 What Does Body Condition Really Mean?
5:54 Using Your Hands to Evaluate Body Condition
8:06 Same Weight, Different Condition
10:25 What Excessive Body Condition Feels Like
11:22 Why Regular Hands-On Checks Matter
12:10 Molt, Weight Loss & Body Condition
13:18 Observation: Keep Your Hands in Your Pockets
16:31 What Changes Should You Expect in Winter?
17:00 Switching to Controlled Feeding
18:04 Why Feeder Space Matters
19:59 Winter Feed & Water Consumption
24:12 Managing Over- and Under-Conditioned Birds
25:48 Nutrition During Molt
29:17 “Push the Protein” — What Does the Science Say?
32:49 Do Birds Molt at the Same Time?
35:21 Sponsor Break
38:32 Does Age Affect How Chickens Handle Winter?
41:47 Can a Hen Adopt Another Chick?
44:47 Young Birds & Cold Weather
46:41 Should Feed Change With the Seasons?
47:29 What Sudden Weight Loss Can Tell You
51:00 Observe First — Diagnose Later
54:25 Should Chickens Gain Weight for Winter?
56:06 A Year-Round Body Condition Timeline
57:32 Start With the Goal
59:40 Make Five-Minute Flock Observation a Habit
1:00:27 Jeff's Buff Orpington & Minnow Story
1:01:50 Closing Thoughts

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The first 14 days of a chick's life can shape far more than its early growth. Nutrition, brooder conditions, access to feed and water, lighting, temperature, grit, and opportunities for natural behavior can all influence how those chicks develop.

In this episode of Poultry Keepers 360, Rip Stalvey, Carey Blackmon, and poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks take a practical look at what chicks need during this critical early period—and why getting the basics right from the beginning matters so much.

The conversation covers choosing and evaluating chick feed, the importance of amino acids and early nutrition, when and how to introduce grit, brooder setup, access to feed and water, encouraging natural chick behavior, lighting and overstimulation, temperature management, common brooding mistakes, and questions from poultry keepers about their own chicks.

You'll also hear an important discussion about what is happening inside the chick during those first days of life and why some developmental opportunities can't simply be recovered later.

Whether you're preparing for your first hatch or have raised chicks for years, this episode offers practical ideas for taking a closer look at how you start your birds—and how those early decisions can affect the flock they eventually become.

Better decisions begin with better observations.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that's what this channel is all about.

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Timestamps and Chapters

0:00 Welcome & Why the First 14 Days Matter

2:34 Choosing the Right Feed for Baby Chicks

5:28 What to Look for on a Chick Feed Tag

6:38 Dairy Products and Young Chicks

11:19 When Should Chicks Start Getting Grit?

17:25 Early Development: Why There Are No Do-Overs

20:22 Making Feed and Water Easy to Find

21:19 Encouraging Natural Chick Behaviors

24:00 Nutrition and Feather Development

28:50 How Soon Should Newly Hatched Chicks Eat?

34:14 Community Questions & Poultry Keeper Experiences

39:22 Brooder Floors, Bedding & Early Feeding

43:24 Lighting, Stress & Friendly Chicks

46:03 Using Treats Without Replacing Good Nutrition

50:47 Wing Banding & Brooder Questions

56:07 Common Brooding Mistakes to Avoid

56:47 When Chicks Begin Regulating Body Temperature

58:09 Mixing Ages & Raising Chicks with Poults

1:00:33 Water and Electrolytes for Chicks

1:06:25 Choosing a Safe Heat Source

1:08:08 Closing Thoughts

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Winter often brings shorter days—and fewer eggs. But is adding artificial light really the answer?

In this video, we'll separate fact from fiction and discuss what supplemental lighting can and cannot do for your flock.

We'll cover:
• Why egg production naturally declines during winter.
• How day length affects a hen's laying cycle.
• When supplemental lighting may be helpful.
• Common mistakes poultry keepers make with winter lighting.
• Why lighting alone won't solve every egg production problem.

By the end of this video, you'll understand what actually works, what doesn't, and how to make better winter management decisions for your flock.

Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

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This is audio from the July 16, 2026 PK360 LIVE

Got questions about your flock? Pull up a chair and join the conversation.

Flock Talk LIVE is our interactive livestream where small flock poultry keepers come together to talk about the real challenges and opportunities of raising chickens and other poultry.

This is a relaxed, experience-based discussion where we share practical knowledge, explore current poultry topics, and answer your questions live.

In tonight’s episode, we’ll cover:

• Practical tips and tricks to help you manage your flock more effectively

• Hot topics that poultry keepers are talking about right now

• A live Q&A session where you can ask your poultry questions in real time

Whether you're raising backyard chickens, breeding quality birds, or simply trying to better understand your flock, this livestream is designed to help you think more clearly about Genetics, Management, and Nutrition—the three foundations of successful poultry keeping.

Bring your questions, share your experiences, and be part of the conversation.

If you enjoy thoughtful, experience-based poultry information like this, that’s what this channel is all about.

Poultry Keepers 360 helps small flock poultry keepers build stronger, healthier flocks through a deeper understanding of poultry Genetics, Management, and Nutrition.

#FlockTalkLive #BackyardChickens #PoultryKeeping #ChickenCare #SmallFlock #PoultryTips #ChickenBreeding

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Winter has a way of changing a flock.

Some birds become more active. Others spend more time on the roost. Feed consumption changes. Water consumption changes. Social interactions change. The question isn't whether your flock behaves differently during the winter—the question is whether you know how to read what those changes are trying to tell you.

Join us for this PK360 LIVE as we explore one of the most valuable skills a poultry keeper can develop: learning to "read" your flock through observation.
We'll discuss the behavioral clues your birds give every day, what those clues may mean, and how careful observation often allows you to recognize small issues before they become bigger problems.
This won't be a lecture filled with winter management tips.
Instead, we'll have a conversation about learning your birds' language—one observation at a time.

Whether you're new to poultry keeping or have cared for chickens for years, you'll leave with practical ideas that will help you become a more confident observer and a better decision-maker throughout the winter season.
Bring your questions, share your own observations in the live chat, and let's learn from one another.

Because better observations lead to better decisions.

Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

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The future of Poultry Keepers 360 starts now.

Join Rip Stalvey, Sue Dobson, and Carey Blackmon in this special PK360 Audio, as they unveil the biggest improvements and educational initiatives in our organization's history.

During this show, we'll discuss:

• The new PK360 Learning System

• Field Guide Videos

• PK360 Sheets

• YouTube Shorts as learning reinforcement tools

• The Observation Framework (our first official curriculum)

• Our new programming guide

• Seasonal content planning

• The return of podcasting

• Future educational initiatives

• What's next for PK360

Most importantly, we'll explain how these changes will help poultry keepers learn more effectively and make better decisions. We believe the future of poultry education isn't simply about creating more content. It's about creating better learning. Join the conversation and be part of the next chapter of Poultry Keepers 360.

Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions.

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Discover the art and science behind selecting and breeding true dual-purpose chickens in Part 2 of our series! Join us as we dive deep into evaluating carcass quality, balancing body structure for meat and egg production, and how nutrition and genetics both shape your flock’s success. Learn firsthand from real breeders’ experiences, feeding trials, and practical selection methods to create resilient, productive birds. Whether you’re a homesteader, breeder, or serious poultry enthusiast, this episode is packed with real-world knowledge you can apply today!

Subscribe for more poultry breeding education, feed strategies, and sustainable flock management tips!

Listen Here Now: www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com

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In this information-packed episode of the Poultry Keepers Podcast, we dive deep into how to evaluate and select true dual-purpose poultry breeds for both meat and egg production. Join Rip, Jeff, Carey, and Mandelyn as they discuss hands-on selection techniques, key body traits, breed standards, carcass evaluation, and how to use real production data to make better breeding decisions.

Whether you’re breeding American Bresse, Rhode Island Reds, or other traditional dual-purpose breeds, this episode will help you understand what to look for in males and females at different ages, how to balance traits, and why the best breeders also process and eat their own birds.

Don’t miss this honest, experience-based conversation on making meaningful progress in your flock by focusing on structure, productivity, and purpose, not just appearance. This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. Be sure to catch Part 2 next week!

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This is the conclusion of last week's episode.

Calling all poultry enthusiasts! Are you ready to elevate your bird game? This episode unravels the science and art behind poultry breeding and selection, a path that can take your casual interest in birds to a whole new level. We guide you through the maze of information, from understanding the essential factors like egg laying rates, persistence and molting rates to the different breeding strategies that can set a solid foundation for your flock. Be warned, though - in-breeding can be a double-edged sword, so choose wisely!

In this journey to poultry excellence, we also shed light on bone spacing and bird evaluation, imparting tried and tested wisdom on assessing the shape and feel of your bird's body. You'll pick up tips on identifying a narrow bird with pinched tails from a wider one and discover the significance of finger width measurements. And if you're just starting out, we have you covered with practical advice. Wrapping up, we delve into the crucial aspects of managing light and growth in your flock, making sure your birds are not just surviving, but thriving. So, tune in, gear up and let's embark on this journey to poultry success!

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