Spent all day at a poultry learning day put on through Ohio state/4-H. It was full -lots of people and kids (age 8 thru teens).
One session was all about getting rid of dead poultry and what a backyard person or a commercial business can do to get rid of “deadstock”. One method was composting, but the proper way to do it so no smell/does not attract raccoons or other animals. I don’t think I’ll compost any dead chickens though.
Another session was in bio security - and HPAI. In explaining the way it spreads they had the kids each get a vial of clear water. Then “swap germs” while out “free-ranging” by pouring one vial into another, then putting half back into the first vial (so now two poultry have swapped germs). They did this 3x each. Then, a drop of a chemical was added and if the vial turned pink you were “infected” with HPAI. Only 2 “infected” birds began the session, but 9 ended up “infected” after the germ swapping occurred. All harmless, of course bc it’s just water in vials but was a good visual for the kids.
During poultry nutrition, we discussed the recent feed issues (no eggs …must be a conspiracy…etc). Turns out, the person giving the talk - a PhD in animal nutrition, works in animal nutrition, had done much analysis on this. Basically, the feeds did match their feed tags, but the feeds most implicated in the feed issues tend to be lower cost feeds, and generally run along minimums (while still meeting tag requirements). But the energy provided by the feed (not a measurement) was low, and animals energy needs are higher in winter, so production is what gets dropped first in any lacking situation (nutrition, water, etc). Plus, some ingredients can meet tag requirements, but not be something that is utilized very well by the animal. It was a brief portion of the session, so we didn’t go into great detail, but still very interesting.
There was a necropsy session - always interesting. Another on how to cut up a meat chicken (the meat could be taken home if you wanted it), and a session on assessing live meat birds for quality and conformation, and how to select the birds for 4-H fair judging.
Overall, a good day of learning.
I can’t wait till DH comes home. Looks like by the weekend. 
55 predicted today. Rain predicted to start about 4 pm tomorrow. I will get outside and enjoy. Pear trees are not in bloom yet. I have one grape cutting with 2 feet of growth. Does anyone have experience with red creeping thyme?
