PK360 Audio

PK360 Audio

By Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue DobsonLeisureHome & Garden
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PK360 Audio episodes

  • What’s Missing From Your Chicken Feed? Vitamins, Minerals & Energy – Audio Edition

    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


    58 min
  • What Makes a Better Egg? Flavor, Nutrition, and Quality Explained-Audio Edition

    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


    1 hr
  • How to Get Better Hatches From Your Incubator – Audio Edition

    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


    1 hr 16 min
  • Linebreeding Chickens: Build Consistency Without Losing Vigor – Audio Edition

    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


    1 hr 5 min
  • Winter Flock Reset: Fix What Isn’t Working - Audio Edition

    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


    1 hr 10 min
  • How to Prepare Your Chickens for Breeding Season

    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 


    Join our Facebook Groups:

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


    1 hr 6 min
  • Is Your Chicken Coop Ready For Winter? Don't Forget The Air!

    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


    1 hr 2 min
  • What’s Really in Your Chicken Feed? Protein, Fat & Fiber Explained - Video Edition

    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


    1 hr 5 min
  • Is Your Flock Ready for Winter? Weight & Body Condition Matter-Audio Edition

    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


    1 hr 3 min
  • Start Chicks Strong-Audio Edition

    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


    1 hr 9 min

About PK360 Audio

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to PK360 Audio, and thank you for joining us.


If you've been with us for a while, you may remember our original Poultry Keepers Podcast. As PK360 has grown,…

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