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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Get ready for an invigorating journey into the world of poultry, as we unravel the intricacies of laying cycles, bird selection, and egg production. Our expert guides are seasoned veterans in the poultry hobby. We'll draw on their wealth of knowledge to delve into the impact of various factors on the laying cycle, from lighting to regional variances. They reveal golden strategies for keeping track of the best eggs and spotting poot quality hens, emphasizing the importance of selecting for vigor when breeding for production qualities.

In our exploration of egg production, we put the spotlight on persistent layers, a critical cog in any thriving poultry operation. We dissect the cycle of egg laying and how understanding a hen's productivity timings can provide key insights. Plus, we tackle the lifespan of egg-laying hens and the strategic thinning of the flock to improve it's  performance. 

Don’t miss the next episode where we dive deeper into poultry operations and breeding techniques. A successful poultry operation isn't just a dream, it's potential reality. Are you ready to turn that potential into action? Tune in and get started on your poultry operation journey today!

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Think your chicken coop is “good enough”? What Rip, Jeff, and Carey reveal in this episode will change the way you look at every part of your coop—from the floor under their feet to the air they breathe. Most poultry keepers focus on predators, bedding, or heat… but the real secrets that make coops safe, healthy, and long-lasting are hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of Poultry Keepers Podcast, we break down the most misunderstood parts of coop design. You’ll learn why insulation isn’t necessary (even at –30°F), how poor airflow silently harms your birds long before you smell ammonia, and why choosing the wrong flooring can invite bumblefoot, mud problems, and rapid coop deterioration.

They also dig into practical setup strategies: coop orientation, shade vs. sun, rooftop ventilation, predator-proofing, choosing between DIY and ready-made coops, and how to avoid the biggest mistake new keepers make—underbuilding and falling victim to chicken math.

If you’ve ever wondered why some coops stay clean, dry, odor-free, and predator-proof—and yours doesn’t—this episode gives you the missing pieces.

Watch now to uncover the design flaws most flock owners never notice… until problems show up.

#PoultryKeepersPodcast #PoultryKeepers360 #CoopDesign #BackyardChickens #ChickenCoopTips #PoultryCare #HealthyFlock #ChickenCoopVentilation #DIYChickenCoop #BackyardPoultry #ChickenMath #PredatorProofing #PoultryEducation #SmallFlockCare #HomesteadChickens

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