PK360 Audio

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.

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