University of Georgia Extension in Forsyth County is launching a series of intensive summer workshops for those who raise, or who would like to raise, backyard chickens.

The classes will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 4, 11, 18 and 25 at the Coal Mountain Park Community Building off of Setting Down Road in Cumming. Pre-registration is required and each class costs $5.

“These classes will cover a number of topics that beginning and experienced backyard and small-scale poultry keepers have asked for,” said Heather Kolich, agricultural and natural resources UGA Extension agent in Forsyth County.

UGA poultry scientists or veterinarians from the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network will teach the classes, which will cover information on establishing a new flock, increasing egg productivity, preventing and spotting common chicken illnesses, how and where to process meat chickens and more.

The class schedule is as follows:

June 4, 2015: Foundations of Flock Management – UGA Poultry Scientist Casey Ritz will address housing, equipment, and nutrition needs of backyard chickens, as well as other factors that affect their health and productivity.

June 11, 2015: Layers and Behaviors; Egg Quality Lab – UGA Poultry Scientist Claudia Dunkley will focus on laying hens and what their behavior. She will also lead a hands-on egg quality evaluation lab.

June 18, 2015: Disease and Disease Prevention – Georgia Poultry Network Laboratory veterinarian Doug Anderson will discuss poultry diseases and how to prevent them from entering flocks.

June 25, 2015: Raising Meat Chickens, Cut-up Lab, and Food Safety – UGA Poultry Scientist Brian Kiepper will focus on the process of raising meat chickens, including a hands-on lesson in safely cutting a whole carcass into parts.

For more information or to register, visit caes.uga.edu/extension/forsyth or call the Forsyth County’s UGA Extension office at 770-887-2418.