Smallholding Courses » CHICKEN COURSES / POULTRY COURSES

Gain an Introduction to Chicken keeping as part of a weeklong fully inclusive holiday in France.

The Good Life in France — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:52:54 +0000

Chicken keeping can be combined with other skills to make your holiday interesting as well as relaxing. So why not come to France and let us take care of you whilst you learn new skills. The following activities can be combined:-

Sausage & Bacon Making, Ham Curing, Smoking, Home Dairying, Preserves, Brewing, Bread Making, Workshop, Grow Your Own, Keeping Chickens, Soap Making, Whole Pig Processing, Mushrooming and Cockling.

For more information www.thegoodlifeinfrance.com .

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Written by: The Good Life in France
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Introduction to Chicken Keeping

Deborah Penniston Fleming — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:13:27 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

Our chicken courses are delivered by Pauline Shanon of Deanbank near Biggar and are proving very popular. The course is aimed to provide the beginner with a working knowledge and confidence to start with their own hens through to the experienced hen keeper. The course covers; choosing and buying your hens; feeding and housing; pests and diseases; where to go for help an advice; rules and regulations; how to despatch and prepare a bird for the table (optional). The course starts with coffee/tea and bacon rolls from our own pigs. During the morning the theory is discussed before going out before lunch and looking at the systems that we have in place at Townhead. A two course lunch is provided and then there will be practical handling of hens before home baking and question time in the afternoon. There are nearly 80 hens here at Townhead of several different breeds and sizes and you will have the opportunity to handle these if you so wish. On the last course we had a lady attending that had had poultry for forty years and said she had learnt a great deal from Pauline! This is a great day out in friendly surroundings with wonderful views down the Clyde!

About Me

Debbie and John have had poultry for the seven years since taking over Townhead Farm. We started with just four hens and as our interest grew so did the hen numbers until now we have nearly 80 all free range and roaming freely over the fields. Sheep, rare breed pigs and turkeys are also farmed and visitors are welcome. We are not yet organic but work to 'organic principles' and enjoy watching our animals living outside as nature intended. Townhead Farm is on the outskirts of Helensburgh with panoramic views over the Clyde estuary and surrounding hills. Built in 1750 it is one of the oldest farms in this area and we look forward to showing you round. Formal bits: please not that we can accept no responsibility for any loss or injury whilst on these premises. By booking on this course you are agreeing to these terms. Courses are being run monthly, please make contact to discuss dates

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Written by: Deborah Penniston Fleming
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Hen Keeping in Your Garden with Francine Raymond – 21st April 2012 – 9am to 4pm

hesberthall — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:29:39 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

Spend a day with Francine Raymond and Martin Gurdon with hands-on advice, practical tips and a fabulous slide show. Francine, Chicken Woman par excellence, and writer & hen fancier Martin will instruct and regale on all matters poultry. Meet their travelling hen and see our resident flock of Marsh Daisies in action, plus on-site hints on how to garden despite your hens. Sit round the table and discover tempting recipes for all those delicious eggs, topped off with lunch, a glass of wine and a question and answer session with assembled experts. Take home a goody bag full of useful information, after sharing an enjoyable day with a small group of like-minded henkeepers.

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Written by: hesberthall
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Starting with Poultry – Nr Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire, 2012 bookings now being taken

Wool and Feathers — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:43:00 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

STARTING WITH POULTRY COURSE

This is an introduction to poultry keeping for those who would like to know a bit more about chickens before making that first move or for people who have just embarked on chicken keeping. We have been breeding some rare breeds of chickens which are kept alongside some common hybrids and bantams for some years now and also keep quail and other wildfowl so we hope you will enjoy a friendly, relaxed and informal course with us. Our aim is to arm you with just enough information to help you decide if hens are right for you whether you aim to just keep a trio of bantams in your back garden or want to embark on a much larger venture! The course is based on our 5 acre smallholding and meeting our chickens along with any chicks (depending on the season) is, of course, all part of the experience.

The course briefly covers:

Types of poultry - hybrids & pure breds, bantams & large fowl
What to look for when buying birds
How to hold a chicken
Housing and feeding
Pests and diseases
Predators
Vets
Question and Answer session

Course Dates and times:

From 10am - 12:30pm

2012 courses dates:

Saturday 31st March

Sunday 29th April

Saturday 23rd June

Cost: £25 per adult (accompanying child £5 each) and refreshments are provided.

Please email me for a booking form and to check availability.

Gift vouchers available if you would like to buy this course as a present - please just email me and I will send you confirmation along with a personalised gift voucher.

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Written by: Wool and Feathers
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Comprehensive Poultry Course – Nr Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire, 2012 bookings now being taken

Wool and Feathers — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 12:01:44 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

COMPREHENSIVE POULTRY COURSE

This is for people who have started with poultry and would perhaps like to gain a bit more understanding but can also follow on from our 'Starting with Poultry' course. We aim to provide a relaxed, informal venue where we can briefly cover some of the basics of poultry keeping and then move on to many new topics including broodiness, reproduction and hatching your own chicks and all that it entails! We will mainly concentrate on chickens but will also briefly cover turkeys, quails, geese and ducks. The course is based on our 5 acre smallholding and meeting our chickens along with any chicks (depending on the season) is all part of the experience. If the incubator is on the go you may even see some hatching!

The course covers:

Types of poultry - hybrids & pure breds, bantams & large fowl
What to look for when buying birds
Different types of birds for different situations, egg laying, meat etc
How to hold a chicken
Introducing new birds to the flock
Mixing different types of poultry and fowl
Broodiness and how to handle it
Reproduction and hatching your own eggs
Housing and feeding
Pests, diseases & Predators
Vets
Benefits of registering with DEFRA
Question and Answer session

Course Dates and times for 2012:

from 10am-3pm

Saturday 26th May

Saturday 28th July

Cost: £65 per adult (accompanying child £15 each) and refreshments and lunch are provided.

Please email me for a booking form and to check availability.

Why not buy as this course as a gift... just let me know and I will send out confirmation as a gift voucher.

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Written by: Wool and Feathers
View the original article for contact information and more images: Comprehensive Poultry Course – Nr Milton Keynes, North Buckinghamshire, 2012 bookings now being taken
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Backyard Poultry Keeping

The Accidental Smallholder — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:11:20 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

If you’ve every fancied keeping your own hens for really fresh, free-range eggs, but haven’t “plucked up” the courage, we can help!

Come along to our smallholding in Barry, by Carnoustie and learn the basics of backyard poultry keeping. On our half-day course we’ll cover

· Housing and bedding

· Feeding

· Buying hens

· Handling hens

· Health and hygiene

· Legislation

We offer a pick-up service from Carnoustie Railway Station.

There are two dates in 2012 – gift vouchers available.

· Saturday 16^th June 9.30am to 1pm, £35 with refreshments

· Sunday 29^thJuly, 2pm to 5.30pm, £35 with refreshments

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Written by: The Accidental Smallholder
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Chicken / Hen/Bantam Keeping Training Course – Lincolnshire border (Short ‘Open’) Course

Gardenfarming — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:26:14 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

Thinking of Chickens, Hens or Bantams for Family egg production and/or as Gardener’s companions/ pets? OR already got birds and feel you lack knowledge or are experiencing difficulties? This short open course is just perfect for you to increase your confidence, understanding, enjoyment and bird welfare!

Buy now for only £39.95 per person.Buy for yourself or gift to someone special?

Next Course: Sunday 4^thMarch 2012 (SOLD OUT),

Sunday 18^th March (AVAILABILITY)

Sunday 15th April

see www.gardenfarming.org for full list of course date releases 2012 OR ‘Open Date Voucher’ purchases for attendance date to be agreed later (ideal when a gift).

Teaching takes place in the back garden of my self sufficient smallholding in the East Riding of Yorkshire where we’ll cover all aspects of acquiring Hens and Bantams for family egg production utilizing the generous services of my own Hens & Bantams: Four hours dedicated to keeping healthy, happy and egg productive domestic hens.

Signs of health and illness – how to handle hens without stress.
Feeding and maintenance issues including feeding household scraps etc.
Housing systems & confinement verses free range living?
Cockerels – necessary or nuisance?
Discouraging vermin, predators and controlling contamination risks.
Keeping chickens and maintaining happy neighbour relations!
Lots, lots more………………….!

Question & Answers session follows and notes are provided to take home.

Course commences 10a.m., concludes 2 p.m. – purchase price is per person and includes tea or coffee with home baked cookies. Course delivery is mixture of practical demonstration, discussion and some voluntary participation outdoors involving my own hens and bantams plus some important theoretical delivery and discussion in the comfort of my own home with a cup of tea or coffee and home baked cookies over which you can ask any outstanding questions that haven’t already been answered during teaching delivery.

Course delivery is designed for adult attendance but one to one adult accompanied and mature outlook children will be most welcome. Tutor with in excess 27 years self sufficiency and bird keeping experience, former agricultural college tutor/assessor & full scale farmer. Please see Gardenfarming web site for full details – attendance by prior booking only & all courses restricted to 5 placements to ensure quality experience. sue@gardenfarming.org

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Written by: Gardenfarming
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Hens for the Garden – Wed 2nd May 2012

Mumbleys Farmhouse Produce — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:36:22 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

This half day course is designed to give you a complete introduction to keeping hens in your garden. Hens make lovely pets for all ages and are very rewarding to keep. We keep a wide variety of birds in small and large systems for you to meet and consider.

The Course:

This is a combination of theory, practice and demonstration with plenty of opportunities to meet and handle our girls.

Part One – Basic Chicken Needs: Here we look at the different options for housing your girls and their feeding and space requirements.

Part Two – Choosing a Breed: The different types of birds available, including ex-battery hens and rare pedigrees. How many to buy and what you might be expected to pay.

Part Three – All about Eggs: Deciding how many eggs you want and how to keep/sell them. The nutritional value and freshness of eggs.

Part Four – Caring for your Hens: Routine daily, weekly and seasonal tasks throughout the year and how to prevent diseases/problems. Your hens in summer and winter.

Clothing: Please wear warm, comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting mucky and bring waterproofs and wellies or stout shoes.

Price: £40 per person (adults only), including refreshments & a range of home-cooked farmhouse cakes and biscuits made from our own produce.

Time: 10am– 1pm

Maximum No. of Students: 10

Location: Mumbleys Farmhouse, Sweetwater Lane, Mumbleys, South Glos BS35 3JY. www.mumbleysfarmhouse.co.uk

Tel: 01454 415296

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Written by: Mumbleys Farmhouse Produce
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Advanced Poultry Keeping Course 18th March 12 , Devon

Chicken Management — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:57:25 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

Advanced Poultry Keeping will give you a greater depth of knowledge and useful tips on keeping chickens. This course is aimed at those who have kept birds for a while and would like to understand diseases, disinfection, hatching and best practice in their flocks. Nutrition and vaccination will be also be discussed.

Tutored by Alison Colville-Hyde who works within the poultry industry having experience with layers, broiler chickens and small flocks.

Sunday 18th March 2012, 10am-1pm

Please contact us if you would like to book a place.

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Written by: Chicken Management
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Chicken Keeping for Beginners Sat 17th March 12, 10am-1pm

Chicken Management — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:47:59 +0000

Origin of Content: Smallholding Courses

This course is suited to the beginner or those interested in having a deeper knowledge on keeping hens at home. It is run from our cottage in Devon where there will be bantams, ex-battery birds and others for you to learn from in the garden.

Over the three hours you will see a presentation, have a practical handling session and be shown how to treat common problems you may encounter with your own birds. The tutor is Alison Colville-Hyde who works full time with chickens within the poultry industry and Chicken Vet. So your questions will be able to be answered.

Husbandry, health, hygiene, purchasing, nutrition and all relevant points will be covered so you leave feeling confident on how to care for your birds. A comprehensive pack of notes will be given and there will be a break for tea/coffee and home- made cakes.

If you would like to discuss the course or have any queries please give Alison a ring. Full details and directions will be given on booking.

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Written by: Chicken Management
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