AgriLife Extension will host Backyard Chicken seminar series starting March 31
Virtual workshops include chicken basics and egg grader training
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host a Backyard Chicken Basics workshop on March 31-April 4 and an Egg Grader Training workshop on April 22-25.
Both virtual workshops are part of the Backyard Chicken seminar series presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science that includes weekly seminars on topics related to backyard poultry.
The workshops will cover a different module each day. The workshops are free and online registration is available at https://tx.ag/BackyardChickenWorkshop25 and https://tx.ag/EggGraderTraining25, respectively.
About the workshops
The Backyard Chicken Basics workshop teaches individuals about management, breeds, nutrition and health of laying hens. It will also focus on chickens in relation to the environment and gardening.
The Egg Grader Training teaches producers to grade eggs for sale according to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards for shell eggs. Additional information discussed will include egg composition and structure, factors affecting quality, and egg washing, handling and storage to preserve quality and safety.
Daily topics
Chicken Basics:
- March 31 — Introduction, housing and lighting.
- April 1 — Breeds and nutrition.
- April 2 — Selling eggs and poultry, food safety.
- April 3 — Health and disease.
- April 4 — Chickens, your garden and the environment.
Egg Grader:
- April 22 — Egg composition and biology.
- April 23 — Egg microbiology and food safety.
- April 24 — Interior egg quality and defects.
- April 25 — USDA grading standards
For questions or more information, contact Gregory Archer, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist and professor, Department of Poultry Science, Bryan-College Station. at Gregory.archer@ag.tamu.edu.
