4-H Program to offer three bird and poultry projects for youth nine to 19 years old

The Tioga County 4-H Program is now offering three different 4-H bird and poultry projects for youth nine to 19 years old.

The 4-H Program has partnered with the Owego Kiwanis, to offer a first year pilot of the 4-H Fall Turkey Project. A Kiwanis sponsor will purchase six birds for the participating 4-H member. The 4-H member is responsible for all feeding and butchering costs. At the end of the project, the sponsor will get a bird free of charge. The 4-H member will then be responsible for finding buyers for the remaining five birds.

The program will begin in June and 4-H youth will raise the birds until late October at which time the birds will go to the butcher. The maximum number of youth that will be accepted is ten.

Also, the 4-H Program has once again partnered with Bruce’s Processing, Athens, Pa. for the 4-H Meat Bird Project. This project is open to 4-H youth nine to 19 years old. The 4-H project members will receive up to 15 birds each; the birds must be taken in five bird lots.

There are a limited number of birds available so registrations will be on a first-come, first-served basis. All birds must go through the 4-H Livestock Auction at the Tioga County Fair.

The deadline to sign up for either the 4-H Turkey project and/or the 4-H Meat Bird project is Friday, Jan. 9. Youth must be enrolled in the 4-H Program before they can participate in these projects. There will be a mandatory information session on Saturday, Jan. 10, at noon in the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Conference of the Ronald E. Dougherty County Office Building (formerly the Tioga County Office Building) located on Main Street in Owego, N.Y.

The 4-H Ring Neck Pheasant Raise and Release project is also being made available to 4-H through the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Any 4-H families that are interested in participating in this project must attend a mandatory introductory meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the CCE Conference room.

Following the introductory meeting, 4-H families will have until Feb. 27 to decide whether to commit to the project or not. The 4-H Office will order all pheasant chicks which are delivered in early May. Youth must be enrolled in the 4-H Program to be able to participate in this program.

For those participating in the project, there are a number of responsibilities to plan on. The project leaders will review project requirements, discuss rearing techniques, and explain project expectations. The leaders will assist members in preparing rearing facilities and evaluate the release site before approving 4-H members for the project in order to ensure proper rearing and release conditions for the birds.

Youth and project leaders will monitor progress together and share their experiences with other participants. The number of pheasants released must be recorded in the 4-H member’s project record book at the end of the project and sent to the 4-H Office. Those numbers must then be reported to the DEC.

The rearing and release of pheasants requires a great deal of responsibility and time commitment by 4-H youth and families. So, why raise pheasants?

Rearing pheasants is enjoyable, challenging and teaches youth responsible behavior.

Released pheasants offer fall hunting opportunity.

People enjoy seeing and hearing pheasants.

To find out more about the Tioga County 4-H Program contact the 4-H Office, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga County at (607) 687-4020.