PK360 Audio

Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson
  • 4.6 (41)
  • Home & Garden
  • Weekly

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, we've learned something important. Simply sharing information isn't enough. We want to help poultry keepers not only learn more, but also become more confident in the decisions they make every day. That's why we've created PK360 Audio. Our mission remains the same—Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions. What has changed is how we hope to accomplish that mission. Rather than simply telling you what to do, we'll also provide practical tools that help you put what you're learning into practice. Whether it's our Observation Journal, educational Sheets, Decision Trees, or other companion resources, our goal is to help bridge the gap between learning and doing. Most episodes will be adapted from our Field Guide videos and PK360 LIVE programs, making it easy to continue learning while driving, working around the farm, or taking care of everyday chores. You'll also hear occasional audio-exclusive conversations, interviews, and special programs created just for our podcast listeners. You'll also be hearing from the entire PK360 team, including livestock nutritionist Jeff Mattocks, poultry educators Carey Blackmon and Sue Dobson, along with me, Rip Stalvey. Learning doesn't end when an episode is over, so I invite you to join us in the Poultry Keepers 360 Facebook Group, where you'll find our companion tools, thoughtful discussions, and a community of poultry keepers who enjoy learning together. If you have questions, suggestions, or ideas for future episodes, I'd love to hear from you. You can reach me anytime at stalvey.rip@gmail.com. Thank you for joining us. I'm excited about this new chapter, and I hope you'll come along for the journey. Because better observations lead to better decisions.

  1. 6d ago

    Buying Spring Chicks? Answer This First – Audio Edition

    Buying spring chicks? Before you choose a breed or order another dozen, answer one question: What do you want your flock to do? Eggs for breakfast, meat for the freezer, birds to show, or simply chickens you enjoy—your answer helps you choose birds that fit your goals, your space, and your everyday life. In this Audio Edition, the Poultry Keepers 360 team—Rip Stalvey, livestock nutritionist Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson—talks through the decisions worth making before chicks come home. You'll hear why the same breed can give different results, what bargain chicks may really cost, and how adding birds can quickly stretch your time and facilities. We cover choosing birds for your climate, temperament around children, planning for family egg needs, finding exhibition stock, and keeping breeding plans manageable. We finish with a buying checklist, including what to do with extra males and what needs to be ready before the chicks arrive. Chapter 00:00 What do you want your flock to do? 00:41 Same breed, different results 02:27 Hatchery birds and standardbred birds 04:05 Choosing chickens for your climate 05:38 Coop space and chicken math 07:26 Choosing birds when children help 08:36 Different breeds, different housing needs 09:36 The time and cost of a growing flock 11:59 What bargain chicks really cost 13:20 A word from The Fertrell Company 13:50 How many hens does your family need? 15:55 Planning replacement layers 17:06 Buying birds for poultry shows 19:59 Eggs, meat, and bone broth: your goals count 21:21 Matching breeding plans to your facilities 24:38 Your chick-buying checklist 26:30 Plan for extra males before buying 27:17 Have the brooder ready first 27:39 Finish this sentence: I want my flock to... 28:24 Your next listen: choosing the right birds  Poultry Keepers 360 Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions. Recommended next episodeDid You Choose the Right Breed—but the Wrong Birds? – Audio Edition Frank Reese joins the team for a closer look at why the breeder and the line matter as much as the breed name. https://www.thepoultrykeeperspodcast.com/did-you-choose-the-right-breed-but-the-wrong-birds-audio-edition/ This Audio Edition features a conversation from a previous PK360 LIVE video broadcast, edited and tightened for those who prefer to listen. Watch the original LIVE conversation here: https://youtube.com/live/e86WPLgPzEk   #BuyingChicks #BackyardChickens #PoultryKeepers360 Join our Facebook Groups: Poultry Keepers 360 - -  https://www.facebook.com/groups/354973752688125 Poultry Breeders Nutrition - https://www.facebook.com/groups/4908798409211973

    Buying Spring Chicks? Answer This First – Audio Edition

  2. Oct 19

    Did You Choose the Right Breed—but the Wrong Birds? – Audio Edition

    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

    Did You Choose the Right Breed—but the Wrong Birds? – Audio Edition

  3. Oct 12

    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

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

  4. Oct 5

    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

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

  5. Sep 28

    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

    How to Get Better Hatches From Your Incubator – Audio Edition

  6. Sep 21

    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

    Linebreeding Chickens: Build Consistency Without Losing Vigor – Audio Edition

  7. Sep 14

    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

    Winter Flock Reset: Fix What Isn’t Working - Audio Edition

  8. Sep 7

    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 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

    How to Prepare Your Chickens for Breeding Season
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Trailer

4.6
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

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, we've learned something important. Simply sharing information isn't enough. We want to help poultry keepers not only learn more, but also become more confident in the decisions they make every day. That's why we've created PK360 Audio. Our mission remains the same—Helping Poultry Keepers Make Better Decisions. What has changed is how we hope to accomplish that mission. Rather than simply telling you what to do, we'll also provide practical tools that help you put what you're learning into practice. Whether it's our Observation Journal, educational Sheets, Decision Trees, or other companion resources, our goal is to help bridge the gap between learning and doing. Most episodes will be adapted from our Field Guide videos and PK360 LIVE programs, making it easy to continue learning while driving, working around the farm, or taking care of everyday chores. You'll also hear occasional audio-exclusive conversations, interviews, and special programs created just for our podcast listeners. You'll also be hearing from the entire PK360 team, including livestock nutritionist Jeff Mattocks, poultry educators Carey Blackmon and Sue Dobson, along with me, Rip Stalvey. Learning doesn't end when an episode is over, so I invite you to join us in the Poultry Keepers 360 Facebook Group, where you'll find our companion tools, thoughtful discussions, and a community of poultry keepers who enjoy learning together. If you have questions, suggestions, or ideas for future episodes, I'd love to hear from you. You can reach me anytime at stalvey.rip@gmail.com. Thank you for joining us. I'm excited about this new chapter, and I hope you'll come along for the journey. Because better observations lead to better decisions.

Information

  • Creator
    Rip Stalvey, Jeff Mattocks, Carey Blackmon, and Sue Dobson
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    165
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Poultry Keepers 360
  • Show Website
    PK360 Audio

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