Who is your poultry extension specialist?

[WisconsinGardenChick]

A poster here at BYC who is also from Wisconsin emailed me to ask for contact info for our poultry extension specialist. It occurred to me that other people from Wisconsin might want that info, and that a thread inviting posters from different states to post their extension specialist contact info might be useful.

This is my first year of chicken-keeping, and I've learned a lot here that I don't think I could have gotten anywhere else! In fact, I don't know where I'd be without the wisdom of poster Ruth, who unknowingly encouraged me to follow my instincts and get my baby chicks outside, or the practical advice of patandchickens on winter care for chickens, or the many other posters from whom I've gleaned useful information and wonderful anecdotal stories that helped me to understand what are typical chicken behaviors and problems.

But I also believe in gathering information from multiple sources, and it's often helpful to include scientific and professional advice with practical lore. So, with that in mind, where are you from, and from whom in that region can you solicit professional and/or scientific advice?

Here in Madison, Wisconsin, our poultry extension specialist is Ron Kean. His email address is [email protected]. It's part of his job to answer our questions, so don't feel shy about contacting him. Remember that the University of Wisconsin is one of the original land grant institutions, established by Congress to serve the people of their respective states. Ron is very approachable and answers emails in a timely fashion. He has a master's degree, but also a wealth of practical experience. He began keeping chickens as a kid; they are a passion for him, too.

Katherine

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I believe all the land grant universities in the US have some sort of agricultural cooperative extension services whose job it is to help citizens in their agricultural endeavors. In Pennsylvania, Penn State is in charge and has representatives in most if not all counties. Call your local state university branch and ask about contact information or google it. There is a LOT of written information on everything from hatching eggs to processing and preserving. They are authoritative and researched. It's almost all free and it's your tax dollars at work. ( There are some minimal charges for extensive written material)
Our local Extension service even has an Embryology Project that they take to the elementary schools to demonstrate chick development in the eggs and hatching.
http://extension.psu.edu

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

they'reHISchickens :

I believe all the land grant universities in the US have some sort of agricultural cooperative extension services whose job it is to help citizens in their agricultural endeavors.

Yes, that's the point I was trying to make; sorry if it wasn't clear.

I just thought if people had that contact info and/or experience with a helpful individual, it might be useful to others in that state/county.​