Cornell Cooperative sponsors program for backyard poultry keepers

MIDDLETOWN — A Cornell veterinarian who specializes in poultry will present a health and management program for small chicken flock owners throughout the Hudson Valley on Feb. 21.

“If you are one of the increasing number of people keeping a small flock of chickens for eggs and/or meat, I urge you to attend this important program,” Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator Audrey Reith said in the group’s press release announcing the program. “You may have the best fed and housed poultry - but they will not grow and produce efficiently if they become diseased or infested with parasites. We’re going to show you how to prevent that from happening.”

The program will be led by Dr. Jarra Jagne, senior extension associate with Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Lab.

“Dr. Jagne has with over 19 years of experience in poultry disease management and control,” Reith said. “She translates and interprets poultry test data for veterinary practitioners and poultry producers as well as providing on farm technical assistance to commercial poultry producers and small poultry farm owners.”

According to Reith, poultry health management must aim to prevent the onset of disease or parasites; recognize at an early stage the presence of disease or parasites; and treat all flocks that are diseased or infested with parasites as soon as possible and before they develop into a serious condition or spread to other flocks.

Essential information
The program will be held Thursday, Feb. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, 18 Seward Ave., Third Floor, in Middletown.

Cost is $5 per person, and walk-ins are welcome.

For more information on this or other Extension programming, visit www.cce.cornell.edu/orange or call 845-344-1234.