CONTRIBUTED BY ALABAMA EXTENSION NEWS
JUSTIN MILLER
AUBURN —
Don’t be chicken. Make plans to attend Cooptastic, a conference designed specifically with backyard poultry owners in mind. The conference will take place March 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, Alabama.
The information covered at Cooptastic is suited for everyone, both veteran and novice poultry growers alike. Brigid McCrea, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System poultry specialist, said Cooptastic is unlike any other event in the country.
“There are so few of these opportunities designed just for backyard poultry growers,” McCrea said. “This conference will have wonderful opportunities for people to speak one-on-one with some of the foremost individuals in the world of poultry science.”
To register for Cooptastic, visit the Alabama Extension Store online at www.aces.edu/go/Cooptastic. The cost to register is $20, and lunch is included in that cost.
A HOT TOPIC
With the recent dramatic increase in egg prices, backyard chickens are a hot topic right now. Climbing prices have people wondering if they should start raising chickens of their own. There are many aspects of raising backyard chickens that people may not think about.
“There is a lot of misinformation about raising backyard chickens circulating across social media at the moment,” McCrea said. “Extension provides you with solid, science-based information because we care about the welfare of your flock.”
Cooptastic will cover a wide range of great topics that will help those that may be new to raising chickens understand everything involved in this venture. These topics will also help refresh and broaden the minds of veteran growers.
“We want owners to have access to the highest quality information possible because they and their flocks deserve only the best,” McCrea said. “Why not spend a day with your fellow feathered-friend enthusiasts and gain access to the knowledge of these professionals?”
Some of the topics that will be discussed include basic nutrition, poultry behavior, egg incubation and processing chicken, among others.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the conference, visit the Cooptastic: A Backyard Poultry Conference web page on the Alabama Extension website, www.aces.edu. There, you will find a conference agenda and a full list of topics. You can also contact McCrea directly at mccreba@auburn.edu.