Episode 1 kicks off our new Chicken Support Insights segment, bringing real conversations from the Valley Hatchery Support Team straight to our listeners. Cortney and Connie break down what beginners need to know, what experienced keepers are refining, and why flock planning for 2026 is already underway. Clear guidance, honest expectations, and practical takeaways — all designed to help every chicken keeper raise a stronger, more confident flock. 

Join us for this frank discussion about "the Dark Side" - those times when you start to question your decision to raise chicks. When they get sick. When they die. Heck, when you look up one day and you just have too many to keep track of! It's a thing we all know as Chicken Math and it's real. In this episode, we're going to talk about the basic health issues faced by chicken folks all over the country and cover treatments and preventive actions that help you to be more proactive in managing the health of your flock - and hopefully it will pull you back from "the Dark Side." 

Join us for our 2025 round-up of all of our key VH Essentials video content, summarized for you in one podcast! This is Season 1, Episode 1 of Beyond the Brooder: Mastering the First Year with Backyard Chickens.