The U of A Small Flock Poultry Short Course, an exciting workshop designed and presented by the University of Alberta and Dr. Teryn Girard. Online and in person delivery of this course allows folks to participate from all over Alberta and across Canada. Proceeds from the U of A Small Flock Poultry Short Course will go towards the U of A Heritage Chicken Program, which exists to preserve and protect rare poultry breed genetics.

Click the date below to register!  PLEASE NOTE: If there is not enough interest in each date, the online sessions may be merged into one. Participants will be notified of any changes to dates and times.

 

April 13, 2025-from 1-5pm-In Person

(Class at the Alberta Chicken Producers Poultry Technology Centre at the University of Alberta)

 

April 14-15, 2025– 2 days from 6-8pm (Online)-

(each evening on zoom)

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Course Content

Learn about choosing the right breed of chicken for your small farm, building or buying a coop, chicken anatomy & egg laying, proper biosecurity practices, how to recognize and treat common poultry disease and more! Listen and learn from our world-class experts and bring your questions for a Q & A session at the end of each session. There is something for everyone, from first time chick buyers to seasoned farmers, or that you simply love chickens and want to learn more!

This 4-hour Small Flock Poultry course is designed and presented by various University of Alberta presenters and Dr.Teryn Girard, DVM, MSc. The course has 10 modules and topics include:

  1. Introduction to Small Flock Poultry Production
  2. Types and Breeds of Chickens
  3. Sourcing Eggs, Chicks and Adult Chickens
  4. Reproduction in Chickens
  5. Incubation
  6. Digestion
  7. Feeds and Feeding
  8. Housing
  9. Biosecurity
  10. Poultry Disease Management

Where

The course is offered with in-person events or fully online and presented through Zoom or similar, with course information and registration available through the University of Alberta Marketplace.

Who

 

Course material has been developed and will presented by various people and may include:

Frank Robinson, Ph.D. is a Professor and Special Adviser to the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta. He holds A B.Sc. in Agriculture (University of Saskatchewan), a M.Sc. in Poultry Science (Virginia Tech) and a Ph.D. in Animal Reproduction (University of Guelph). Since 1986 he has been teaching and conducting research in areas of animal and poultry science (management and reproductive physiology). He has presented over 400 workshops on poultry management to producers, locally, nationally and internationally. He was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame (2006), was awarded a 3M National Teaching Fellowship (2007) and is a Fellow of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (2007) and the Poultry Science Association “Fellow” (2008).

Dr. Teryn Girard, DVM, MSc, graduated from the University of Calgary in Veterinary Medicine. Prior to vet school, Dr. Teryn obtained a Masters of
Science in poultry behaviour with application to animal welfare.
Currently, Dr. Teryn is working with Prairie Swine Health Services – she’s
enjoying getting to know Alberta poultry farmers, practicing pig,
chicken, and turkey veterinary medicine, and helping teach
workshops on how to perform post mortems, humane euthanasia,
and bird welfare.

Dr. Valerie Carney BSc, MSc, Ph.D. A native of Edmonton, Valerie Carney completed her BSc and MSc in poultry reproductive physiology at the University of Alberta and went on to complete a Ph.D. in poultry genetics at the University of Arkansas. She started her career in the poultry industry with Aviagen North America where she worked as a field and research geneticist. Val returned to Alberta as a production and technology transfer specialist with the Alberta government. Her position included research, teaching and technology transfer. She has served the Poultry Science Association in various capacities and most recently as President in 2017-18. Val is currently the Poultry Innovation Partnership lead, working with partners from the poultry industry, the U of A and the Alberta government to accomplish the PIP strategic plan. “I was a city girl who spent every possible moment I could on my grandparents farm, mused Val. “I wanted to be a veterinarian as a kid. In my poultry classes at the U of A I was introduced to research and I was hooked.”

Kerry Nadeau

Graduated with a BSc in Animal Science from the University of Alberta. She is the current manager of the Poultry Facility, and has 25 years of experience in Poultry handling and research.

Audience

Anyone is welcome to register. The course will focus on the needs of both the small flock and urban poultry keeper, and covers birds from incubation to old age.

Cost

starting at $50/ person

How Do I Register?

Follow one of the links above to University of Alberta Marketplace.