Meeting : May 7, 2011 (Workshop)

Poultry Processing Workshop Meeting
Location: Paul Pavilion on Chicken Alley in Natural Bridge
Attendance: 18 and 4 youth 
New Member: Dawn Michelsen

Meeting Notes: Meeting opened with introductions by Elizabeth and brief chat about how meeting would be structured and what we get to look forward to.
-Dawn included welcome to Chicken Alley, thanks to everyone for coming, bringing equiptment etc. 
-Jesse added, please sign in, and be sure to help yourself to free copies of magazines provided by backyard poultry and countryside magazine for club members.

* Onto hands on with processing poultry with great demonstrations and comparisons:
-Chad (www.ninepoundchicken.com) brought along his home processing production includeing home-made plucker, wash and process table, and scalding pot. 
-Bob and Jeannine Keitzer brought along commercial grade mechanical plucker. 
- With two killing cones in steady operation a total of 18 chickens were processed. 
-Hand-Plucking was also demonstrated.
-After cleanup and a brief bag lunch intermission we moved into Chicken Health Talk.
-Jesse demonstrated de-spurring of a rooster and talked about what to do for frostbite, bumble-foot, mites, treating mild open wounds, injections, etc. (Thanks to Jobe for his patience and being such a great sample chicken for demonstrations)
-Dawn demonstrated how she cuts wing feathers.
-Note: Jesse is not an expert only sharing her experience and opinions.

Meeting Closed. 
-JEPC

Meeting : April 21, 2011

Location: Old Courthouse W& L Meeting Room 
Attendance: 13 of which 1 was youth

Meeting Notes: Business & Announcements first, 
- Stacy gave treasurers report- We now have a bank account with a starting balance at$200.00
-Secretarys report by Jesse:
      *Please sign in and include contact information in order to be included in email mailings.
     *Brief overview of minutes from March meeting read.
     *In the News Announcement made- Supervisors unanimously passed new zoning amendment allowing up to 6 hens on 1 acre lots in Rockbridge Counties Residential zones. Also amendments were passed in the City of Salem. Will Lexington be next?
     *Lending List Announcement - List is growing- be sure to start taking advantage of great offers available to club members.
      1.) Our request letter was sent to 68+ companies to date of which 7 had responded.
       2.) Kitchen Kraft- only participates in local organizations.
     3.) Ideal Poultry sent brochure with letter regarding concerns about bio-security in backyard flocks and wished not to participate for that reason. 
     4.) APPPA- sent us a book valued at $44.00
     5.) Others have sent brochures or info about their products and or services.
Thank you letters are sent to all responding companies. and copies of all letters can be found in Lending List Binder Ive put together. This book will only be available at meetings. Full list wont be posted on online version. Added to binder you can also find interesting articles and news or info from past meetings. 
     I will continue to do my best to keep up to date and accurate with lending list info. Dont forget to add your own information about items to lend. When adding information please be descriptive, add photos if available, dont forget contact information, name email telephone etc. 
     - Cookbook report by Kim - start submitting, gave description of what to submit and explained that goal deadline was post-poned.
     - Barbara made announcement about Penn-State Home Orchard Book, & Lots of useful info and references. ( will send letter for club list)
     -Meeting for May rescheduled to Sat. May 7, to also include poultry processing workshop and chicken health at the Paul Pavilion on Chicken Alley in Natural Bridge.
     - Bumper Stickers- sold 80 so far and raised enough money to send subscription of backyard poultry magazine to Local Library!!!! 
     - 5 min chat on homestead gardening by Kim- included summary of whats already in the ground, what to be planting now until end of April and great chat with hand-out about Natural Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, ants, birds etc. and the types of flowers to have around for them to pollinate with as well. 
Kim also shared her sample of "green-planting" using a oatmeal containter cut off with lid as a transplantable planter that easilt transports from greenhouse to garden by simply snapping off the lid. Zuccini plant included! (to be raffled) 
-Barbara attempted to settle some confusion between the Arucana and Amerucana Breeds. A handout shared differences like looks, eggs, sizes, colors, etc. But in the end 1/2 of the members still voiced confusion. 
     - Kim also demonstrated her anti-pest device that used in home for pests like stinkbugs and then emptied as a treat to the chickens serves dual purposes. A club request letter has been sent to bugzooka.com
     - Door Prizes Given- 
Calenders from USDA to Hannah and Kim 
and Zuccini Plant went to Larry McNeil
     - Very wonderful Sharpening demonstration by Larry McNeil : Here are some highlights: 
*"Push to sharpen, Pull to Dull."
*Sharpen all sorts of tools including those you wouldnt think to sharpen, for example: 
shovels
hoes
hand shovels
knives
axes
lopers
hand pruners
lawn mower blades
screwdrivers
sheep shears
and more!
*Clean files with wire brush- side to side.
* To make sure a lawn mower blade is sharpened evenly try balancing on nail pounded into small board on its side. (demonstrated)
* Some tools used are: 
file
sharpening jog
workbench
clamps
ceramic stones
drill grinder


Meeting was closed- followed by some additional discussion at Nikkos by those who wished to participate.
-JEPC