Janssen Animal Health is offering bursaries to five veterinary nurses, or trainee veterinary nurses to attend a Henschool course about poultry-keeping.

The day-long course, which takes place in Barking, near Needham Market in Suffolk on Saturdays or Sundays throughout the year, covers selecting hens, basic husbandry, feeding and dealing with common ailments, such as parasitic worms. The specific requirements of ex-battery chickens are also covered and there is even an opportunity to gain 'hands-on' experience.

Nigel Underwood from Janssen Animal Health said: "There is huge interest in poultry keeping right now. But many novices know very little about basic care and common poultry diseases. We hope that the Henschool bursaries will help veterinary nurses to learn more and to share their new knowledge with prospective and novice poultry keepers."

To apply for a bursary, write down why you think you would benefit from attending the course, in 200 words or less. Include your name, the name of your practice and the address with a contact telephone number and send it to Companion Consultancy, PO Box 468, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6XR. Your application should be received no later than 30th November 2010.

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.