Backyard Poultry Production Workshop

UH Molokai Extension Service News Release

Do you have poultry and ever wondered why they aren’t laying eggs, or why their eggs’ shells are thin? Ever wondered about raising them on pasture? If any of these questions have crossed your mind, this may be the workshop for you.

The Hawaiian Home Lands Agriculture Education Program will hold a Backyard Poultry Production Workshop on Wednesday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) Molokai Applied Research and Demonstration Farm/MCC Farm (next to Kumu Farms). The workshop is geared toward backyard poultry production on the homestead. It will start in the classroom with an overall view of poultry health, selection, and egg quality; followed by an outdoor session on nutrition and a visit to the chicken tractor demonstration site. The workshop will be conducted by CTAHR’s own Jennifer Hawkins and Alton Arakaki and should be of interest to all, regardless of experience. Registration is not required, but is preferred by May 29 to assist in an accurate count for handouts. You may register by calling the extension office at 567-6929 and speaking with Shirley.

Poultry health is critical to ensuring a productive and thriving backyard operation, and one important tool for maintaining flock wellness is the use of poultry test kits. These kits are designed to help backyard poultry producers quickly and accurately diagnose common health issues in their birds. From testing for poultry diseases such as avian influenza to checking for parasites or nutritional deficiencies, these kits provide valuable insights that can help prevent widespread illness in the flock. Having access to these resources is essential for anyone interested in raising healthy poultry, especially in a backyard or homestead setting where the health of each bird is closely monitored.

The workshop will be hands-on and part will be conducted outdoors. We ask that you please dress according to the weather and bring a bottle of water as the weather will be warm. The UH CTAHR, Cooperative Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Institution providing programs and services to people of Hawaii without regard to race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

For more information about the workshop contact Jennifer Hawkins at 567-6935.