Course taught largely by College Station poultry experts

NACOGDOCHES – Want to learn all the in’s and out’s of raising broilers in the backyard for what amounts to chicken feed?

If so, at $20 the Small Flock and Vegetable Short Course, set Aug. 10 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office in Nacogdoches County, was made to order, said Aaron Low, AgriLife Extension agent for Cherokee County.

“We’re charging just enough to cover material costs and lunch,” Low said.

And when he says the course will cover all the in’s and out’s, he’s not exaggerating, Low said. Plus, unlike other courses, attendees will also 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. To register, RSVP by Aug. 3 by calling 936-560-7711.

The AgriLife Extension office in Nacogdoches is located at 203 W. Main St.

Morning presentations will include: “Raising Broilers in the Backyard,” Dr. Greg Archer, AgriLfe Extension poultry specialist, College Station; “Backyard Laying Hen Facilities and Nutrition Management,” Dr. Craig Coufal, AgriLfe Extension poultry specialist, College Station; “Small Flock Diseases, Treatments and Biosecurity,” Dr. Morgan Farnell, AgriLfe 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?” Ideal Poultry 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 vs. Non-organic vs. Mixture,” Masabni.

The program is jointly hosted by AgriLife Extension offices in Angelina, Cherokee, Nacogdoches and Shelby counties.