Mid-Atlantic Small Flock Poultry Expo to be Held Feb. 2

ANNAPOLIS, MD (Jan. 29, 2013) – The University of Maryland Extension will host the Mid-Atlantic Small Flock Poultry Expo on Saturday, February 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of Maryland Extension Carroll County Office & Carroll County Agriculture Center, 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, Maryland, 21157. During the expo, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Animal Health Inspectors will present information on poultry disease testing requirements for 2013 exhibitions and conduct live testing demonstrations. Additionally, MDA Animal Health Section will staff an information table for the duration of the event. MDA’s Food Quality Assurance Staff will also make two presentations about poultry and egg regulations as well as present two egg grading demonstrations.

The expo will also feature educational seminars on poultry nutrition, disease prevention and control, chicken breeds, egg and meat production basics, housing, pasturing, feeding and watering systems, regulations on selling meat and eggs, breeding and egg incubation, turkey production, poultry in diversified livestock operations, exotics, egg grading and handling, marketing and economics, urban poultry production, predator control, showing poultry, coop construction, and injured bird first aid. Vendors will be available with live poultry and poultry related items. A poultry processing equipment demonstration will be conducted. Producers and Extension specialists will be available for technical questions about production practices.

Lunch and snacks will be available for purchase. Registration is $10 in advance; $20 at the door. Free registration for 4-H members and volunteers with membership card (must pre-register). For additional information about the Mid-Atlantic Small Flock Poultry Expo, see: http://carroll.umd.edu/ag/poultry.cfm or call (410) 386-2760.