Open Contest 2026 BYC Calendar Photo Contest - We Need Your Pictures!

[casportpony]

This contest is brought to you by our BYC Sponsors
(click to view & support them)

2026 BYC Calendar Photo Contest
We Need Your Pictures!
Ends August 31st, 2025

Chickens can be pretty marvelous; they're stunning to look at, with their vibrant feathers and eye-catching combs. For the past 14 years, BYC has been publishing the illustrious 13-month BYC Calendar, which features stunning photos submitted by our wonderful members of their chickens, posing in all their astounding glory.
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How to submit your pictures for consideration for the 2026 BYC Calendar:

1. Select a HIGH-RESOLUTION picture that is at LEAST 3,000 pixels wide & 2,000 pixels tall that is very clear (not blurry), clean, and post it to this thread. If you aren't sure of your picture's size, use this: Imageonline.co
2. Since the calendar is printed on 11-inch-wide by 8.5-inch-tall paper, pictures should be in landscape mode, not square, and not portrait.
   

Suggested reading

• Photography Tips from BYC's jolenesdad
• Photography Tips from BYC's mdees88
• Photo Critique Club
• Photography Tips from BYC's TudyBOT

All entries are entered into a spreadsheet as they are submitted. Check this spreadsheet to see if your entry qualifies.

Rules

1. Photos of chickens only; this is a chicken calendar.
2. Limit of 4 submissions per user, so choose your very best pictures!! One picture per post, please.
3. High-quality images are recommended.
4. The picture needs to have been taken by you.
5. POW & caption winners may be entered.
6. You cannot use a photo that won an award in another BYC-sponsored, judged photo contest.
7. We want to see the world through your eyes, not through the excessive use of editing tools. However, basic cropping and poop removal is allowed.
8. By submitting your pictures, you agree that you are granting BYC license to edit and use the images in the calendar, promotions, and for other BYC purposes, etc.
9. Images that have been resized will be disqualified if they are too small to judge.
10. No people in the picture (no faces, fingers, hands, arms, etc.).
11. No screenshots, watermarks, date stamps, text, etc., on the photo. No collages.
12. ALL pictures MUST be uploaded to BYC and not hosted on other image sites, personal websites, etc.
13. All BYC rules apply: Terms of Service (Rules)
14. Entries will be accepted through August 31st, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

Remember, make sure you have a clear, high-resolution picture (at LEAST 3,000 pixels wide and 2,000 pixels tall...but a higher resolution is better)! Our system will resize your picture when you upload it, so make sure you have/keep the full-sized image in case your photo is selected.

We're looking forward to seeing your wonderful picture submissions!!!

A few notes:

1. We've been known to send a free calendar to those who get their pics chosen... so, it may happen again this year.
2. Remember, only 4 submissions per member, and make sure you have VERY HIGH-RESOLUTION images that we can use for print!
3. Regarding copyright & license: We are very conscientious about respecting the copyright of other peeps' work. We want to make sure we have your permission to use the photo for the calendar and for other BYC related uses. You retain ownership of your image and can continue to use it however you want. By submitting your pictures to this thread, you are simply granting BYC license to use the images for BYC-related purposes.

Regarding contest timing, judging, etc.

1. All entries are entered into a spreadsheet as they are submitted & marked as qualified or disqualified. All members can view the spreadsheet here.
2. All entries are uploaded to an album in the Gallery.
3. After the contest closes, our team will take a week to filter out submissions that don't fit the calendar requirements.
4. Our team will rate all of the pictures that meet the calendar requirements and select the top 30 pictures.
5. The top 20-30 finalists will be contacted via a conversation and asked to fill out a Google Form. There they will enter the name of the chicken, the breed of chicken, and a snippet about their picture. They will also upload their original image(s).
6. Once the pictures have been uploaded to the Google Form, our team will review them and select the final 13 images that will be printed in the calendar (about a week).
7. The images go into the design and printing process and arrive at our store (about 3-5 weeks).
8. We hope to have the calendars in our store by the end of October!

**Deadline for pic submissions is August 31st, 2024, 11:59 pm**
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Last year's calendar:

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Spoiler: Previous Calendar Contests

2025 BYC Calendar Photo Contest—We Need Your Pictures!
2024 BYC Calendar Photo Contest—We Need Your Pictures!
2023 BYC Calendar Photo Contest - We Need Your Pictures
2022 BYC Calendar Photo Contest - We Need Your Pictures!
2021 BYC Calendar - We Need Your Pictures!
2020 BYC Calendar - We Need Your Pictures!
2019 BYC Calendar - We Need Your Pictures!
2018 BYC Calendar - Your Pictures Needed!
2017 BYC Calendar - Your Pictures Needed!
2016 BYC Calendar - Your Pictures Needed!
2015 BYC Calendar - Your Pictures Needed!
2014 BYC Calendar - Your Pictures Needed!
Your Chicken Pictures Needed For The BYC 2013 Calendar
Your Chicken Pictures Needed For The BYC 2012 Calendar
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[casportpony]

Important - Please Read

All entries are entered into a spreadsheet as they are submitted, and you can check this spreadsheet to see if your entry qualifies.

Entries will be disqualified if:

• The photo cannot be cropped to 3000 x 2000. For more information about this, please see the Cropping Examples below.
• The photo is too small to judge. The photo you upload must be at LEAST 3,000 pixels wide by 2,000 pixels tall. If you aren't sure of your photo's size, use this: Imageonline.co.
• The photo is a screenshot. No screenshots allowed.
• The photo has text, watermarks, datestamps, etc., on it.
• The photo has people in it.
• The photo has been heavily edited. We want to see the world through your eyes, not through the excessive use of editing tools. However, basic cropping and poop removal is allowed.

In the comments section of the sheet, the reason for disqualification is listed.

If your entry has been disqualified, you may enter a replacement, just make a new post, and we will make a note in the spreadsheet.

If you submit four entries, and then find or take a better photo, you can replace one of the existing entries by posting the new photo and informing us of the replacement.

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Cropping Examples.​

New for this year! Photos in the portrait format will be accepted if they can be cropped. Below are examples of photos that can and cannot be cropped to fit the template.


This photo was used in the 2021 Calendar.

This is Reginald our Partridge Brahma roo from The Little Red Coop!

This can be cropped because all of the rooster is in the template.

Original	Cropped

This photo was used in the 2022 Calendar.

Entry #1

This can be cropped because all of the chick is in the template.

Original	Cropped

This cannot be cropped because the comb & wattles extend past the edge of the template:

Original	Cropped

This cannot be cropped because the comb & toes extend past the edge of the template:

Original	Cropped

This is an image we might consider if it's well-focused, well-composed, and aesthetically pleasing.

Original	Cropped

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Hope this helps!

 

[casportpony]

If you're having trouble viewing the spreadsheet, you can check whether your entry is qualified or disqualified in the spoiler below. If it's qualified, three judges will assess it to decide if it will advance to the next round.

Spoiler: Entries Through Page xx - Click to Open

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[BigBlueHen53]

Entry #1

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

 

[FamilyOfSeven]

I’m so Excited!!

 

[casportpony]

Entry #1

That's adorable! Do you have the original, full-sized version?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

That's adorable! Do you have the original, full-sized version?

Yes...

ETA: DH took this, I am laid up in the house with a bum leg.

 

[casportpony]

Yes...

ETA: DH took this,

Cute! But it's only 1008 x 756 pixels. What camera did he use?

I am laid up in the house with a bum leg.

Oh no, what happened?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Cute! But it's only 1008 x 756 pixels. What camera did he use?

Phone. Is not adequate for calendar?

Oh no, what happened?

I got old, lol! Torn meniscus. Then compression fracture resulting from - gasp! Getting out of bed!