(feat. Doug Crouse of Delaware 4-H / UD Extension and the Delaware State Fair!)
The 2021 State Fair is your passport to summer fun! Get the inside scoop with a very special guest: Doug Crouse (Delaware State Fair Executive Board Member / Treasurer and our very own Delaware 4-H State Program Leader!
he crew interview UD Extension poultry agent, Georgie Cartanza, about the poultry industry on Delmarva, pollinator buffers, and the impact of the recent pandemic.
Join Dr. Mark VanGessel, University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist for another program in our Webinar Wednesday forage series. Managing weeds in pasture is a common question among horse owners and livestock producers. In this webinar you will learn about these plants we call weeds; why they are a concern for many owners and producers and what strategies you can use to control them. We will discuss both cultural and chemical methods for weed control and also briefly touch on the topic of toxic weeds.
To register: https://www.pcsreg.com/weed-management-in-pastures
Sponsored by Delaware Cooperative Extension, a joint effort between Delaware State University and the University of Delaware.
This program is brought to you by University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, a service of the UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources – a land-grant institution. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If you have special needs that need to be accommodated, please contact us.
Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Virtual Event 
I want a Chick for Easter
By Daniel Severson
UD Cooperative Extension
Easter is quickly upon us. The egg has been associated with this holiday for years and in many cultures eggs represent new life and fertility. Visions of children running through the yard on an Easter egg hunt, filling their baskets with eggs, is one of my favorites on this holiday. Easter chicks always seem to be a popular gift this time of year. What most people don’t realize is they require just as much time and commitment as any other pet. Here are some things to think about before giving a chick as an Easter present.
Chicks require special feed and housing. Research on what type of feed the chick will require as it changes during its lifetime is necessary. The environment and housing a chick requires will change as it grows as well. And remember, what goes into a chick eventually has to come out. Are your prepared to deal with that on a daily basis? If you currently have other pets in the house, will they play nice with the new gift? Chicks are very fragile when they are young and can be easily injured by larger animals or children.
Once the cute fluffy feathers are gone and the novelty wears off, you will still have a chicken to feed and take care of. Your zoning laws may not allow chickens on your property. You will have to check with multiple organizations to make sure it is legal to do so. Currently in Delaware, you need to have over one acre of land to raise chickens, unless you are doing so as part of an educational program.
Chickens are a life investment. They are not low-cost or low maintenance. They require just as much care and attention as a dog or cat. I would also recommend that you don’t buy just one chick. Chickens are flock animals and need to be with their own kind, therefore, it will need a buddy. So, you will be dealing with at least two birds. Chickens can live a long life; we once had a chicken that lived to be ten years old!
Another thing to consider is what are you going to do if your chicken gets sick? I do not think you will find a chicken veterinarian around the corner. Also, children may be at risk of Salmonella infection if proper hygiene is not followed. Remember to wash hands thoroughly after handling or playing with the chicks.
While I love chicks and we raise some of our own at my house, there are more practical alternatives. Try a stuffed animal instead. Take your child to a petting zoo where they can interact with the animals for a few hours. If the child still wants a chick, have them volunteer time at a local farm or humane society. They will learn all about the time and care that is necessary for raising a chicken.
Stop by the New Castle County Cooperative Extension Office located 461 Wyoming Road in Newark, Delaware, or phone 302-831-2506 for more information. For comments or questions email me at severson@udel.edu or follow me on twitter @DanSeversonUD.
Have you ever considered what you would do if you had a barn fire? How would you protect your animals and all the other assets you have in your barn? What could you have done to prevent it? The thought of a fire is very scary. Although you cannot completely eliminate the risk that there could be a fire in your barn, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk and be more prepared.
Contact your local fire department to have them do a “checkup” of your barn and offer more recommendations for your individual situation. The University of Kentucky’s “Preventing Barn Fire: Tips for Horse Owners” recommends the following steps in reducing your chances of having a barn fire.
Mentally prepare yourself so that you can act calmly and safely in the case of a fire. Remember that human safety is the top priority—ensure your own safety and the safety of others before taking care of animals. The University of Kentucky’s “Preventing Barn Fire: Tips for Horse Owners” recommends the following steps for preparing yourself and being ready if a fire does occur in your barn.
If there is a fire, call 911 and get people out of the barn. Only get animals out if you can do so without risking human safety. Follow the directions from the fire department or 911 dispatcher.
No one ever wants to think about the risk of a fire, but it is best to be fully prepared so that you can react fast and appropriately.
Winter has arrived in full force in Michigan. Cold temperatures can cause some challenges in our barns, but utilizing some easy techniques on your farm will help you manage your herd successfully during the winter months.
Ensuring your herd has access to fresh, clean water is essential to their health. In the winter, battling frozen water buckets and tanks can be a challenge. By utilizing tank heaters, heated buckets or automatic waterers, water is kept ice-free and at a temperature the animal is comfortable drinking.
Products that utilize electricity, such as tank heaters and heated buckets, should be checked with a voltmeter to ensure there is no current running through the water. Any electrical current will deter animals from drinking from the water tank or bucket. By inserting one end of the voltmeter in the water tank and the other into the ground, you will get a reading that will indicate if there is a problem. Make sure to check this often.
The University of Wisconsin Extension has published a water consumption chart that outlines the amounts of water certain species will consume per day. Ensuring that your animal is consuming enough water each day is critical to their overall health and well-being.
| Amount of water livestock will consumer per day | |
|---|---|
| Species | Water needs, gallons per day |
| Cattle | 7-12 |
| Goats | 1-4 |
| Hogs | 6-8 |
| Horses | 8-12 |
| Llamas | 2-5 |
| Poultry | Up to 1 |
| Rabbits | Up to 1 |
| Sheep | 1-4 |
Most animals need some shelter during the winter months, however their natural winter coats allow them to endure cold temperatures. Providing shelter or wind breaks that can be easily accessed by animals is key. Humans oftentimes are prone to making the winter environment for their animals too warm, which is unhealthy for animals.
Michigan State University Extension recommends the following factors to consider when evaluating the housing of your animals:
Animals must maintain their energy reserves in order to endure cold temperatures. Before the weather gets cold, asses the body condition of each animal and adjust the nutrition they are receiving to adequately prepare them to thrive in winter conditions. It is critical to continue to assess body condition scores throughout the winter, as it may be necessary to increase the amounts of good quality feed and forages. Supplying adequate amounts of feed is essential in your herds well-being through the winter months.
This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu.
Clinical signs of virulent Newcastle disease include swelling around the eyes and respiratory distress. ( USDA )
Animal health officials have confirmed two cases of virulent Newcastle disease in backyard poultry flocks in southern California, raising concerns the disease could spread to commercial operations. The disease has not been confirmed in commercial poultry in the United States since 2003, according to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
While not a food-safety threat, humans can contract a usually mild form of the disease from exposure to infected birds. In unvaccinated poultry flocks though, the virulent disease can cause up to 100% mortality.
The two California cases, one in San Bernardino County and one in Los Angeles County, were confirmed over the past two weeks in backyard poultry flocks. APHIS now urges poultry owners, especially in southern California, to adopt biosecurity measures to prevent spread of the disease. These include:
Clinical signs of virulent Newcastle disease include:
Images of some of these signs are available here.
Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at the USDA’s Biosecurity for Birds website.
Additional cases will be reported on the APHIS website as they are confirmed.
LANCASTER, Pa. — Do you find yourself throwing away eggs after treating your flock for internal parasites? Although it’s nearly impossible to keep your chickens completely worm-free year-round, proper management can help prevent parasite issues in your flock.
Why should you care about worms in your birds?
Worm, or parasite, infestations can cause poor growth, decreased egg production and in severe cases, death. Internal parasites can also make a flock more susceptible to diseases or make existing diseases worse.[1]
Backyard birds can easily ingest internal parasite eggs while scratching the ground and foraging for bugs, including snails, slugs, grasshoppers, ants and earthworms. Insects can also harbor parasite eggs, which infect your birds when ingested.
If your birds are not behaving normally and seem distant from the rest of the flock, it could be a sign of parasites causing illness. Pay close attention to your birds for additional symptoms of internal parasites:
While parasite infections can be serious, being proactive can help prevent parasites from ever becoming an issue. Here are nine ways to help keep your birds happy, healthy and parasite-free:
Naturally preventing diseases before they start is the best strategy to support the immune system of your birds, prevent expensive, time-consuming veterinarian visits and maintain a happy, healthy flock. For more information about poultry health, visit dbcagproducts.com and “like” the Healthy Flock Facebook page.
– See more at: https://www.morningagclips.com/9-ways-to-prevent-parasites-in-your-flock/?utm_content=articles&utm_campaign=NLCampaign&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_term=newsletteredition&utm_medium=email#sthash.NJwlBegF.dpuf
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama officials have confirmed bird flu in two poultry flocks, just a week after three commercial breeders had to kill their chickens across the state line in Tennessee.
The state veterinarian announced that chickens are under quarantine after testing positive for the disease at a commercial breeding operation in Pickens County near the Mississippi line.
Dr. Tony Frazier’s statement says the disease also was found in a backyard flock in Madison County, near the Tennessee line.
Agriculture officials say this strain of avian flu poses no risk to humans and has not entered the food chain.
The Alabama Poultry and Egg Association says poultry is Alabama’s largest agriculture sector, generating about $15 billion in annual revenues and employing more than 86,000 people.
Copyright: For copyright information, please check with the distributor of this item, Canadian Press.
For more articles concerning bird flu, click here.
– See more at: https://www.morningagclips.com/bird-flu-confirmed-in-alabama/?utm_content=articles&utm_campaign=NLCampaign&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_term=newsletteredition&utm_medium=email#sthash.FN6iMxVc.dpuf
Delaware poultry farmers are on alert after a recent outbreak of bird flu devastated a Tennessee farm.
More than 73,000 birds on a southern Tennessee farm that supplies chickens for Tyson Foods were killed after federal officials identified a case of deadly bird flu in the flock.
For Delaware poultry farmers, this is a wake up call that the virus could be nearby.
“The Delaware Department of Agriculture has really been preparing for Avian Influenza since the last time we had it back in 2004 and we haven’t stopped preparing because the chicken industry is such a large part of our economic impact in Delaware,” said Stacey Hofmann, a spokeswoman for the department.
Hofmann said the path migratory birds take through Tennessee is not the same as the one birds use in Delaware, but they eventually meet at their Arctic breeding grounds. Once they leave during the fall, that’s when it’s possible the virus might spread down the Mid-Atlantic.
State officials and industry groups say farmers should remember to wear disposable clothing inside chicken houses to prevent the spread of the virus. Hofmann said farmers should also limit the amount of visitors to the chicken houses.
A turkey farm in Wisconsin also reported a less serious case of bird flu, but it didn’t require the culling of an entire flock.
