Want to learn all the ins and outs of raising broilers in the backyard for what amounts to chicken feed?
If so, at $20 the Small Flock and Vegetable Short Course slated for Aug. 10 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Nacogdoches was made to order, says Aaron Low, Texas AgriLife Extension agent for Cherokee County.
The AgriLife Extension Service office in Nacogdoches is located at 203 W. Main Street.
"We're charging just enough to cover material costs and lunch," Low says.
IT'S CHICKEN FEED. The Small Flock and Vegetable Short Course is Aug. 10 in Nacogdoches, Texas and the daylong course taught largely by poultry experts from Texas A&M is just $20—and that includes refreshments, educational materials, and a catered lunch too.
And when he says the course will cover all the ins and outs of raising poultry in a small flock, he's not exaggerating, Low assures. Plus, unlike some other courses, attendees also will be treated to several presentations on home vegetable gardening—including growing heritage varieties and raising vegetables for organic markets.
The registration fee will include a catered lunch, educational materials, and break refreshments. If planning to attend, you can register with an RSVP by Aug. 3 by calling 936-560-7711.
Morning presentations will include:
--"Raising Broilers in the Backyard," by Dr. Greg Archer, AgriLife Extension poultry specialist, College Station
--"Backyard Laying Hen Facilities and Nutrition Management," Dr. Craig Coufal, AgriLife Extension poultry specialist, College Station
--"Small Flock Diseases," Dr. Morgan Farnell, AgriLife Extension poultry specialist, College Station
--"Selling the Goods Produced by Your Backyard Flock—Regulations," Coufal, and
--"Brown Eggs, White Eggs, Red Chickens, White Chickens, Checkered Chickens—What Breed Do I Buy?" an Ideal Poultry Co. representative
After lunch presentations will include:
--"Ducks, Geese, Guineas or Turkeys—Why or Why Not?" an Ideal Poultry Co. representative
--"Home Gardening—Soil, Irrigation and Size and Type of Garden," Dr. Joseph Masabni, AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist, College Station
--"Insect Control in Home Poultry Flock and the Home Garden," Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension entomologist, Stephenville," and
--"Heritage Gardening, Selecting What to Grow, Selling Produce and Organic versus Non-organic versus Mixture," Masabni
The program is jointly hosted by AgriLife Extension offices in Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, and Shelby counties.