The Alabama Cooperative Extension System invites you to Cooptastic, a 2-day conference for small flock and backyard chicken owners with topics ranging from beginner to more advanced. Chickens are great fun to keep for both egg and meat production. At this conference, you will join fellow feathered-friend enthusiasts to learn the ins and outs of keeping chickens. Armed with research-based information, poultry professionals will help you make important management decisions using information designed for small flock and backyard chicken owners.

Details

When: March 13–14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Opelika Public Library, 1100 Glenn Street, Opelika, AL

Registration

Cooptastic is free to attend, but registration is required. To register, visit www.aces.edu/go/Cooptastic26.

Agenda

Friday, March 13, 2026

8:30–9:00 a.m.—Registration and Check-In

9:30–10:00 a.m.—Session 1

• Getting Started with Chickens (Classroom 1)
  • Jinquan Wang, Auburn University
• Poultry Disease Prevention (Classroom 2)
  • Brigid McCrea, Poultry Specialist, Alabama Extension at Auburn University

10:30–11:00 AM— Speaker and Q&A (Auditorium)

11:30–Noon—Session 2

• Raising Delawares for Meat (Classroom 1)
  • Brigid McCrea, Poultry Specialist, Alabama Extension at Auburn University
• How to Grade Eggs (Classroom 2)
  • Elizabeth Knight, Lamar County 4-H

12:30–1:00 p.m.—Lunch

1:30–2:00 p.m.—Session 3

• Egg Cleaning and Storage (Classroom 1)
  • Matthew Hughes, Mississippi State University
• Be Heard! Tell us About the Social Benefits of Keeping Chickens (Classroom 2)
  • Attendee Survey

2:30–3:00 p.m.—Session 4

• Internal Parasites of Chickens (Classroom 1)
  • Ruediger Hauck, Auburn University
• Preserving the Harvest (Classroom 2)
  • Janet Johnson, Food Safety and Quality Agent, Alabama Extension at Auburn University

3:30–4:00 p.m.— Speaker and Q&A (Auditorium)

Saturday, March 13, 2026

8:30–9:00 a.m.—Registration and Check-In

9:30–10:00 a.m.—Session 1

• Poultry Nutrition 101 (Classroom 1)
  • Rodrigo Hernandex, Auburn University
  • Erasmo Flores, Auburn University
• Why Did My Flock Stop Laying? (Classroom 2)
  • Matthew Hughes, Mississippi State University

10:30–11:00 AM—Speaker and Q&A (Auditorium)

11:30–Noon—Session 2

• 4-H Poultry Programs (Classroom 1)
  • Beth Yates, 4-H Agent, Alabama Extension at Auburn University
• Try Your Hand at Candling (Classroom 2)
  • Matthew Hughes, Mississippi State University

12:30–1:00 p.m.—Lunch

1:30–2:00 p.m.—Session 3

• Be Heard! Tell us About the Social Benefits of Keeping Chickens (Classroom 1)
  • Attendee Survey
• Footbaths Made Easy! (Classroom 2)
  • Brigid McCrea, Poultry Specialist, Alabama Extension at Auburn University

2:30–3:00 p.m.—Session 4

• Processing and Pricing Your Chickens (Classroom 1)
  • Dianna Bourassa, Poultry Science Specialist, Alabama Extension at Auburn University
• Raising Waterfowl 101 (Classroom 2)
  • Marc Metzer, Metzer Farms

3:30–4:00 p.m.— Speaker and Q&A (Auditorium)

More Information

For more information about Cooptastic, contact Brigid McCrea at mccreba@aces.edu or (334) 750-5213.