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K-State taking orders for spring pullet saleKansas Orders are now being taken for the annual spring pullet sale from the Tom Avery Poultry Teaching and Research Farm at Kansas State University. The pullets will be available for pickup April 21, which coincides with the day of K-State's Open House. The pullets--female chickens grown to produce eggs--are managed with help from students in the university's Department of Animal Sciences and Industry. "The birds have been selected for high egg production while consuming less feed," said Scott Beyer, poultry specialist with K-State Research and Extension. "They have been fully vaccinated and will be almost ready to start producing eggs. There is a choice of white feathered pullets that lay white shelled eggs or red feathered pullets that lay brown shelled eggs." A flock of well-kept pullets will produce eggs for several years, he said. The advantage of buying pullets is that they start laying almost immediately, are guaranteed to be only females, and are healthy since they have been vaccinated against most common poultry diseases during the 17-week grow-out period. "The pullet project is a great teaching and research opportunity for our students," Beyer said. "Proceeds from the sale go towards maintenance and upkeep of our farm facilities. The students learn to apply lighting and nutrition programs to improve bird health and welfare. Many students involved in past pullet sales have gone on to careers in the poultry industry. Funds from these sales have provided jobs for the students while attending classes, and have helped the farm refurbish grain bins, replace equipment in the barns and repair the egg processing machine." Pullets can be reserved by contacting the animal science department at poultry@ksu.edu or 785-532-5654. More information will be posted on the website at http://asi.ksu.edu/poultry. All pullets must be picked up April 21 near the farm in Manhattan, Kan.
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