Last year, 4-H youth learned how to take care of poultry and showmanship skills at a poultry clinic. This year, The 4-H Poultry Care and Showmanship Clinic will be at 11 a.m., Sunday, February 22, in the Chenango County Cornell Cooperative Extension building, located at 99 North Broad Street in Norwich. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH -- The 4-H Poultry Care and Showmanship Clinic is right around the corner. 4-H youth and parents are invited to sign up to learn how to raise birds in a clean environment, provide balanced nutrition and gain confidence in the show ring.

The clinic will be at 11 a.m., Sunday, February 22, in the Chenango County Cornell Cooperative Extension building, located at 99 North Broad Street in Norwich.

4-H Youth Development Educator Macaela Meseck said the guest speaker will be APA-licensed judge Bill Post.

"We’re excited to welcome Bill Post as our guest instructor for the clinic," said Meseck.

"His expertise brings tremendous value to our 4-H youth. He’ll be available to answer questions about breed standards, judging expectations, what makes a well-prepared exhibitor stand out in the show ring, and any other questions youth may have throughout the day,” she said.

“Having a nationally recognized poultry judge on hand gives participants a unique opportunity to learn directly from someone with many years of professional experience in the field,” said Meseck.

4-H youth ages five through 18 can register for the clinic online at pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=Poultry_Clinic_5-2_208.

Deadline to register is February 15.

She explained 4-H youth will learn several key aspects of responsible poultry care. Including how to properly handle birds, maintain clean and safe housing, provide balanced nutrition, and monitor flock health.

“They’ll learn daily care practices such as checking waterers, cleaning coops, and observing behavior for signs of illness,” Meseck continued. “These skills help youth understand what it takes to raise healthy birds and prepare confidently for poultry showmanship.”

The clinic will have a chicken on hand to demonstrate proper handling and showmanship techniques.

“Youth are welcome to bring one of their own,they’ll just need to bring a cage and a water bowl, so their bird stays safe and comfortable,” she said.

Meseck noted, for showmanship, youth will learn techniques to safely and confidently present their birds and includes how to properly hold and carry poultry, how to insert and remove a bird from a cage, and how to set the bird for inspection while showing key body parts.

In poultry showmanship, there is also a knowledge component. This includes being able to identify their bird’s breed, understand its origin and purpose, naming all body parts, and explaining basic care practices, she added.

For more information, visit the Chenango County 4-H Youth Development Facebook page.