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Poultry husbandry: Saturday 5 May 2012
10.30am to 4pm
The Course
This course deals with the basic principles of keeping chickens. The workshop covers options of poultry housing to suit gardens, orchards and field, the principals of correct feeding and feed available, together with an explanation of the digestive system, reproductive system, general hygiene and common ailments. Together, we learn how to handle a hen while at the same time looking for imperfection in health, inspecting it for lice and mite, also a simple way to tell whether a hen is laying. There are certain parts of poultry legislation that we need to understand, especially concerning the retailing of eggs, even if it is only to our neighbours. This course, although comprehensive, includes information sheets to take home and consult at a later date. There will be time for questions during and after the workshop within the friendly atmosphere that surrounds our day together.
The Tutor
David Bland assisted his father with a breeding flock while still at school and started his official poultry training in 1951. He went on to become the youngest Poultry Manager of the largest egg producing unit in the South of England at the age of 21 and six years later formed his own poultry company: Southern Poultry Engineering Services.
In 1969 David formed Southern Pullet Rearers (S.P.R). Since then he has professionally advised producers of all sizes up and down the country as well as overseas. For a period of 22 years David has advised and also written articles for Smallholder magazine, Fancy Fowl magazine and Feathered World magazine. A few years ago, he decided that one magazine was enough and settled with Feathered World magazine; writing a regular column called ‘Poultry Talk’.
During his time in the poultry industry, David founded the West Sussex Commercial Association in 1968 and together with two others; he founded the National Producer Retail Association (NEPRA) which represented egg producers all over the UK.
Concerned about the poor quality of birds auctioned up and down the country, David introduced the Graded Card System whereby trained poultry judges would inspect every bird’s condition and card them with relative information. Sadly the scheme was not adopted by the Poultry Association of Great Britain, however it has been implemented by the Rare Breeds Association.
Having written and published his first book Poultry for the Garden in 1974 followed by Practical Poultry Keeping in 1996 and Turkeys, a guide to management in 2000.
David is now a director of UKEPRA (United Kingdom Egg Producer Retailers Association.)
Participant Information
No special clothing or equipment is required.
Course Fee
£50 per person, to include all tuition, coffee, tea and a light lunch.
To book, download a form here. Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.
