Dagnabbit!!!! education before birds is a must

[fowlweatherfriends]

I am really not understanding the original post now. To see some of the old posts I am really confused about the current attitude towards those that come new to this site for help.
You can understand my confusion when reading the other threads by original poster:

www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3147

And this quote from thread: www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2467

I've come to this board on more than one occassion with health questions and as long as they're a part of my life I have no doubt that I will continue when I'm uncertain.

So what exactly is the point of this particular thread message? I will have to assume it is a bad day or week that all of us go through when we have life events add up and create pressure. But in any event, I think this thread which is posted on the most visited "general" section by newbies, is very damaging. And I think some retractions might be in order or some clarifications made, for the new visitors, so they do not gather a misunderstanding and go away without help.

And to quote from thread: www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=994

Makes me think their behinds need to be on this board to learn about care and upkeep.

My point exactly (seems as if original poster used to agree with most of us). Newbies and uneducated NEED to be here-not chased away by harsh attitudes and answers.

A little research (the search option-by author) goes a long way, but it can also lead to locating past comments and conflicting statements.

I just sincerely hope that this thread doesn't do any lasting harm to those seeking help from our "chicken haven".

I am positive

that I want to encourage newbies that you will be treated with the utmost respect and helpfulness by this boards members. And welcome to the wonderful world of fowls

 

[Chicken_Addict]

THANK YOU FOWLWEATHER!!!!

if it hadnt been for folks like u welcoming me to the board and understanding my problems i wouldnt be here and i am sure lots of others will agree with me!!!! you said it sister!!!!

 

[chicks rule]

The way I see it, is we are all always learning, and if not where would we be:yiipchick

 

[Whirlwind]

Sometimes I ask questions that I have read about in books. I have 3 books. I take a magazine some times by another mag. They dont all have the same answers for the same question and I am looking for first hand experience from others. I also built my coop and read all I could over and over Before I got my chicks but still there are questions? thanks again for everyones input.
Cindy

 

[eggchel]

The BackYardChickens.com website Home page has links, including the following, to help new chicken owners. Feel free to refer new poultry owners to these pages as well as directing them to the appropriate topic sections, such as Raising Chicks, and Emergencies.

Raising Chickens 101
https://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php

The Learning Center
https://www.backyardchickens.com/lcenter.html

FAQs
https://www.backyardchickens.com/cgi-bin/faq/mojofaq.cgi

chel

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

chel,

Any chance you could sticky those links on the General Board? Maybe under "New Members read this first" or something? Just a thought

.



-Meg

 

[MoonGoddess]

Quote:
Well said.

Robin I understand that you feel the need to make sure people are responsible for their animals, but I think you may need to take a bit more zen of an approach here. Your fighting against the grain. Your actually NOT stopping anyone from aquiring birds before they have the proper equipment or funds, because your posting it HERE. Now if you were standing with a picket in front of a hatchery or a feedstore, you may be more effective.

As it is, they are here.

Posting a blanket statement that includes all "accidental" chicken owners who already have them is, quite frankly, the least productive thing you can do.

Now the zen approach would be to guide them to responsibility...not scolding. As that has very little effect on people. Mostly it just angers them into ignoring you...which I know is not your desired effect.

It is better to just hold back on the more aggressive type of post and grit your teeth and try to guide them into proper chicken ownership.
Haven't you ever heard the expression you get more flies with honey? Your not attracting new chicken owners...they are already here. Your helping the CHICKENS they have now to a better life.

And since that's what your professing...that you care more about the chickens...you would think that should be your first priority.

It is NEVER to late to become educated.

And PS. I definitely agree that this should NOT be on the general board as it seems to take a harsh turn quickly. Are we trying educate people or scare them away with being scolded?

 

[whistlin dixie]

If your getting that upset about someone else's chickens then maybe you should check out the backyard psyco forum. I think you have an ugly hatefull judgemental attitude and need to get over yourself. By the way, I have 6-6 week old chicks in my basement and my coop is not even set up. What a horrible person I must be!

 

[4H kids and mom]

I think that comments like the last post are only going to scare away a 'noob' who would now be so afraid to post a question that their chicks are REALLY going to suffer.

I think this thread should just slip away quietly into the night before feelings get hurt, or things get said that can't be taken back or forgiven.

None of us is perfect, none of us do everything exactly the same way, so none of us are right and others wrong. If a 'noob' or newbie is here seeking advice, no matter how mundane the question, THEN THEY ARE RIGHT and deserve to be here. They DO NOT deserve to be harassed and chased off.

Yes, the mundane questions have been answered a thousand times over, and yes, it bothers me even just a little when they are asked nearly daily again and again. BUT, if we don't answer, or at the very least, link these newbies to previous posts on the same topic, then we are doing more harm than good by their chickens.

Now, lets get back to the norm with cute fuzzbutt photos, and smiling, friendly, helpful advice to those who need it.

 

[equine chick]

When I first started thinking about getting chicks a more than a few years ago, my family thought i was crazy because we lived in the city and "what would the neighbors think" . So i researched throughly by buying books, mags whatever i could get my hands on. When we moved to the country, a neighbor of mine had chickens and became a mentor to me and guided me in the right direction. Not everybody is that lucky to live next to a 50 years of experience chicken farmer. I really believe knowledge is essential before gaining chickens, newbies should not be chatised for not being an expert. There are many people that buy chicks from feedstores that are not prepared and end up killing the chicks because they do not have access to byc or try to wing it with letting their kids have chicks, rabbits, horses whatever. I don't think these are the people that buy from hatcheries but the local farm store, feedstore. They(the feedstore) should be direct on what you need before you buy any chicks. I'm afraid this post will only scare away some people looking for help and won't be able to find what they need to do and then it will be too late.