Easter time SAVE A CHICK rally

[chickiemom]

Quote:
I know that in Louisiana it is illegal to color animals. We even have people that call the police when they spot someone selling one of these animals.

 

[cockadoodlemom]

I agree with the card thing. Count me in and let me know what I can do.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

I love to see everyone getting together for a good cause like this! WOOHOOO!

BYC can act as a place to hold the files and documents for the fliers and cards. We can make a page that has all the details, files, instructions, etc. This will make for easy access, reference, and printing.

If there is a way to easily print / distribute / track this we could do a huge printing of thousands of cards and hundreds of fliers for pretty cheep. If the BYC site and forum are used as the "for additional information" reference then BYC can even help pay for some of the printing costs.

 

[Chickens-246]

Without addressing individual responses I'll preset an accumulation of the ideas so far. (read previous posts for idea credit)

Withholding sales is an interesting idea, something "we" can control immediately. If they want only one chick, it may be evident to what they are doing. But what if the buyer does have their heart in the right place or is adding to their flock? Could be candidly 'quizzed' on intentions.

It would seem best to target your locale shops, for starters. Cards with brief information and a reference to this site would take less material. However, some people don't have computers and/or internet access (strange to think, huh). These people have to be considered too, so a flyer (or half flyer) with all care information would be a better solution, with a BYC link. Some 'what not to do' should be included.

Convincing the store owner/chain that it is to their benefit (more peripheral sales) for correct chick/chicken care is the key. This may take some effort, but would be worth it. Information flyers would probably need to be provided to stores for free. Keep in mind, not all stores are heartless and may copy the information themselves.

How about a slogan; The BackYardChickens.com community, the people that care. (?)

Lets see a list on chicken care to consider. (see if it could be fit on a card)

 

[Chickens-246]

Nifty-Chicken, Saw your post after I posted. Good idea for a central place for information on the flyer. This way it can be an approved SAVE-A-CHICK information sheet. Shipping costs may be an issue to providing a cheaper flyer via mass printing.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

It is a tradeoff... at least that way you can guarantee the quality of the cards / fliers. Also, shipping on 20 fliers and 100 cards isn't too bad.

BTW, I stickied this topic.

 

[Llysse]

Backyard Chickens did a good job of summing up what we have so far. I'd just like to add that, as I read over those ideas, it occurs to me also that there are two possible fliers or handouts here: one that would go to prospective chicken owners to provide them the information they need to properly care for and "save a chick," and another targeted to store owners to convince them to hand out the fliers to their customers.

I know that two fliers sounds perhaps unnecessary, but since we've really got two different audiences here with two very different goals, we might have more success targeting them separately. For example, for store owners we might be able to provide ideas about how to track additional sales generated from the "Save a Chick" campaign, but customers would not need to see that information, and it might even turn them off. The flier targeted to store owners/managers would frankly not need many copies, and (in contrast to something targeted at customers) it might be possible forgo printing the store owner flier professionally provided we have volunteers at the forum willing to print out a handful each (5 or 10?) to take to their local stores. The stores that agree to distribute the fliers to customers could then be provided with a supply of the fliers for customers/consumers.

Nifty Chicken, I love your idea about using the BYC forum to keep the files. What if we made the fliers downloadable pdfs so stores could print out additional fliers for their customers if they ran out? If we decide to do that, we may want to make both a color and a black and white version so it would be easy and inexpensive for them to do (and for us, too, for that matter).

What does everyone think about having a contest, similar to the bumper sticker contest, in which we could design and submit a flier?

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Great points! I like PDF's and can output to them in either B/W or Color. We should also have other versions available in case people don't have a PDF reader.

I like the idea of everyone working together. I think this calls for more of a "wiki" environment vs. a contest, but I think we're on the right track.

We can all work to write the content then we just need a couple people to put on the finishing touches... one that can write really well and maybe someone with design skills to make it look appealing.

Should we start posting ideas for what the fliers / cards should say on this forum or should this be the "main thread/topic" and we can create another for everyone to post ideas for copy?

BTW, let's kill two birds with one stone... oh wait... probably not the best analogy to use in this thread....

How about we use the following page as a staring point and then clean it up for the fliers / cards / etc. https://www.backyardchickens.com/raising-chickens-basics.php

I could make the link cleaner to go on the card... something like www.backyardchickens.com/care

 

[DuckLady]

The Duck Rescue Network board of directors is working on this very thing. We are designing a tri fold pamphlet and will be applying for grants to get them printed to take to feed stores and distribute at shows, etc.
We should also have it available on our site for download, printing and distribution. (not there yet)
We are very concerned (and enraged) at the number of ducks and geese (and yes chickens) who get dumped at local parks to fend for themselves. We want to educate people and provide a safe haven for the times when the realization that the cute chick or duckling doesn't stay cute and fluffy for long and Wow! They DO need food and water and gosh! they do die if you hug them too tight. We find homes for abandoned waterfowl and help to rescue and rehabilitate the injured, like fishing line injuries, broken limbs and malnutrition.

California (I think) has outlawed sales of chicks and ducklings and goslings the week or so before Easter (Thank god) and hopefully others will too.

Working together is a great way to get the word out.

 

[Llysse]

Nifty-Chicken,

I'll volunteer to try a first draft of copy to post here so we can all make suggestions. (Or if others want to submit first drafts, too, maybe we can pick the best parts of each and combine them.) I may start another topic for the copy as you suggest so this main thread doesn't get engulfed in revisions.

... unless one has already started by that time.

I'll try to have a draft by tomorrow afternoon. We actually don't have too much time this year before Easter, do we? However if we can get things rolling this year, one hopes it could be an annual thing.

Terrielacy, it's wonderful that you all are working on something similar. It's something to bear in mind that although chicks are probably the most stereotypical victims of Easter whimsy, other bird babies like ducklings often fall prey, too.