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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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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. Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 programChoosing breeders with the fewest serious faultsDeciding what you want your flock to becomeUsing linebreeding to improve consistencyWhat inbreeding depression really looks likeChoosing the right time of year to hatchPreparing breeders through lighting managementAdjusting light for younger and older birdsImproving breeder nutrition before collecting eggsEgg size and its effect on chick qualityAmino acids, vitamins, and chick vigorPreparing clean, comfortable nest boxesWhether greens have a place in the breeder dietBreeding 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  Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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. Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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. Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

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. Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973