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one-day
course
keeping chickens |
Chickens
can play an invaluable role on a smallholding, or can be kept just
as happily in a back garden. This course will cover the basics of
keeping chickens and help you to plan your brood. There will also
be hands-on experience of handling and inspecting chickens. This
course is suitable for vegetarians wishing to keep chickens for
eggs, but there will be a discussion on the use of chickens for
meat, and the ethical issues involved.
The course
includes:
-
choosing
chickens to suit you: breeds of chicken; uses of hens and what
you want to get out of keeping chickens
-
housing:
different options for housing your hens, from deep litter to
totally free range, and the associated pros and cons
-
nutrition:
what a chicken needs to grow healthily and be productive; organic
feed, and what you can contribute yourself
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healthy,
happy hens: the basics of chicken care; the five ‘freedoms’
of animal welfare; common diseases and their cures; how to handle
a chicken and deal with chicken behaviour (pecking order, hens
going broody etc)
-
egg
production: understanding how a hen produces an egg and ways
in which you can help or hinder this process; artificial vs
natural breeding; care of chicks
-
meat
production: ethical and welfare issues associated with keeping
chickens for meat
-
legalities:
what laws/guidance from authorities that you need to consider
when keeping poultry
more
on poultry
how
to book: |
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if you can't open
the booking form, you need Acrobat
Reader - it's free
|
arrive: |
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around
9.30 for a 10am prompt start |
depart: |
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after
the course finishes at 5pm |
directions: |
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click here for
a map and directions to Windmill Hill City Farm |
what
to bring: |
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work
clothes; pen and notebook; packed lunch (if you're not using
the cafe) |
let
us know: |
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if
you have any special needs |
price: |
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£60
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30
admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course |
lunch: |
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bring
a packed lunch or you can get lunch at the cafe |
discounts:
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car
sharing: |
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what it's
all about - delicious fresh eggs every day
a fine-looking
cock
brooder containing
day-old chicks
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