EXT X001 - Backyard Poultry Certificate Course
For a variety of reasons, there is an increase in interest in keeping backyard poultry. Backyard flocks provide the opportunity for people in rural and urban areas alike to produce tasty eggs and meat for personal and family food security. You might want egg layers. You might want to raise meat birds for a harvest in your freezer. You might even have a youth interested in raising chickens for their 4-H or FFA project, as these lower maintenance livestock can be kept in a fraction of the space for a fraction of the cost when compared to other species.
Whatever your reason for raising poultry, this course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and resources you will need to get your backyard flock off to a great start.
Delivery Options
Online, Self-Paced: A course that is available fully online with no scheduled class sessions or fixed due dates. You can start coursework at any time and work through it independently at your own pace, within the timeframe designated. Online modules may include readings, lecture videos, assignments, quizzes and more.
Modules
- Getting Started
- Brooding, Basic Husbandry & Nutrition
- Housing
- Egg Production
- Maximizing Health
- Biosecurity
Time to Completion
This course is projected to take 2-3 hours to complete.
Course Completion Requirements
Successful completion of this course requires scores of 80% or higher on each module quiz and end of course quiz.
Technology Requirements
- A computer or tablet capable of playing mp4 files: current Mac (OS X) or PC (Windows 7+) with high-speed internet connection and speakers/headphones are recommended
- Adobe Acrobat Reader. Can be downloaded here for free.
- The recommended browsers for taking this course are Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.
What You'll Learn
- Identify rules and regulations relevant to raising backyard poultry in their state, city, or municipality
- Source healthy birds to raise in their backyard
- Apply concepts of basic husbandry, nutrition, and housing to successfully raise backyard poultry.
- Explain how eggs are produced
- Practice safe handling of birds and eggs
- Recognize health-related abnormalities of poultry through physical examination
- Describe the roles of of veterinary care and biosecurity in maximizing poultry health
What You'll Earn
- A Backyard Poultry certificate of completion from Ohio State Extension.
- Skills and credential that allow for keeping backyard poultry, which is required in most municipalities.
Additional Information
At this time, this course is only offered in English.
Contact Us
For questions about the enrollment process, payment options, technology, or course records, please submit an inquiry and our Enrollment Support team will assist you within 24 hours during business days.
For questions about course details contact Tim McDermott at mcdermott.15@osu.edu.