Meigs VoAg/FFA students raising rare birds

POMEROY — Did you know that behind Meigs High School there is a small chicken coop occupied with not just ordinary chickens but a few birds of the rare Java breed?

The Java type chickens were reportedly in America as early as 1835 but are said to have practically disappeared from here in the 1950s.

While the population of Javas has increased, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy continues to list Javas as “critical” on its watch list, meaning fewer than 500 breeding birds from five or fewer primary breeding flocks are known.

The Javas at Meigs High School were given to the Vocational Agriculture (VoAg)/FFA department by Rodney Butcher of the Harrisonville community, the uncle of an FFA member, with the thought that it would give the students an opportunity to raise and show the rare birds which reside in Meigs County.

Last summer Tiffany Will purchased two of the Javas from Butcher to enter in the Meigs County Fair competition. She received a reserve champion award on her chickens.

Read more: Gallipolis Daily Tribune - Meigs VoAg FFA students raising rare birds