Speaker Biography

Brigid McCrea

PhD

Dr. McCrea

Extension Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Dr. Brigid McCrea serves as an Extension Specialist at Auburn University working with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Specifically she oversees the 4-H Animal Programs for Alabama 4-H. Her initial interest in poultry stems from her many years as a 4-H member and then 4-H leader. She chose the Avian Sciences program for her B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of California at Davis. It was through excellent mentorship at this institution, as well as stimulating side project and outreach activities, that her interest grew in microbiology and cooperative extension. After three summers working on a survey of the ratite industry and a niche market poultry microbiology project, she chose to further her education by obtaining a Ph.D. in Poultry Science from Auburn University. Her project’s area of emphasis was in microbiology and molecular analysis of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli in commercial broiler operations from farm-to-fork. She currently specializes in small flocks; niche market poultry products; and both pre– and post-harvest food safety. She is also the co-author of “The Chicken Whisperer’s Guide to Keeping Chickens,” “Chicken Fact or Chicken Poop,” and “Chicken Whisperer’s Guide to Zero Waste Chicken Keeping.”

Lectures

  • Thursday, October 29, 2026 4:00 - 4:50 p.m. Legacy

    Coops, Companions and Clients: The New Face of Poultry Ownership Poultry

    Learning objectives: 

    1. Describe the characteristics, motivations, and management practices of modern backyard poultry owners and explain how these differ from traditional commercial poultry producers.
    2. Discuss the influence of social media, online communities, and the human-animal bond on backyard poultry owner decision-making, health-seeking behaviors, and expectations for veterinary care.
    3. Identify the educational, clinical, and One Health implications of backyard poultry ownership for veterinary medicine, including zoonotic disease awareness, biosecurity, and public health considerations.
    4. Recognize opportunities for veterinary colleges and teaching hospitals to prepare students to effectively serve backyard poultry clients through clinical training, communication, and interdisciplinary partnerships.
    5. Apply lessons from backyard poultry case studies to enhance veterinary student competencies in client communication, flock-level problem solving, and evidence-based decision-making.