To all the newbies

[Nifty-Chicken]

Search is great on this forum, especially if you know how to use advanced stuff like searching titles only and using Boolean terms.

Also everyone, as you see the same questions asked over and over again please do 2 things:

1) Help us build out and improve the FAQ's https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1198

2) Gently reply to newbie posts that ask FAQ's with something like:

You've posted a great question, in fact it has been asked and answered lots of times before. Please review the FAQ section of the site here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1198

Also, please do a search on the forum here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/search.php

Now, with all that said, this is a very social place, so if someone asks a question that has been asked before there may still be plenty of people that want to post a reply and socialize.​

 

[arlee453]

OK, one more request....

When you create a thread, please make it a MEANINGFUL title.

'Please Help' or 'What do you think...' are not very helpful.

Better choices would be:

'Please Help...Hen is lethargic and won't walk'

'What do you think....gender of my SLW??'

You get the idea...and then include all the pertinent info in your post that you think someone may need to give an educated answer....OR prepare yourself for a rather tedious game of 20Q.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Quote:
This is probably the most important thing everyone can do on the forum!

Searching titles is so much faster and more effective than searching entire threads. This becomes even more powerful when there are good titles to go with the threads / topics!

 

[gritsar]

Okay, so I'm a newbie. I know about the search feature and I'm sure I'll use it often, especially after I get my first chickens and when I need an answer quick. As to why I post on the forum, in addition to using the search feature, is because I like to get a variety of opinions on the same subject before I make up my mind AND I like the socialization part of it. Take my questions on brahmas for example. I asked two different questions on brahmas (I think it was ONLY 2, if it was more I apologize). It was in asking the second question that I got exactly the answer I was looking for from mdbucks. Perhaps the first time I didn't phrase the question just right. That happens to me alot as I enter my AARP years and sometimes have to sit and think for hours before I remember what I even sat down at the computer for!

As a newbie I will make the following pledge to you old-timers: I will try to find my answer in the search feature, but sometimes I will want a collection of opinions (and that's okay, right?) I will try to only post my question in the appropriate catergory and post it only once. And last but not least I will try to treat all newcomers and oldtimers with respect and an understanding that they, like myself, are human and sometimes make mistakes.

 

[silkiechicken]

Questions about the same topic are great, especially if you have a specific situation question. But things like, how many days does it take a chicken egg to hatch can get redundant.

 

[speckledhen]

I understand exactly what you're saying, gritsar, and I sometimes want the experiences of others with a certain type of chicken, rather than, say, the information on Henderson's Breed Chart. Elderoo kidded me about using the term "experiential" when looking for information one time, but sometimes that is what we want rather than encyclopedic information. (okay, David, kid me about that word, LOL!) So, I get that.
Still, my only input here was to say how great the Search feature is as opposed to that of other sites I've visited. Let's make use of it and give it a chance. And we can help the Search to do its function by taking Arlee's advice and being specific with our titles. Very good advice, too, Arlee! Thank you.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
So how many days DOES it take??? I hadn't thought that far ahead yet.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'm feeling particularly evil today...blame it on cooking overload from yesterday.

 

[hoosierhen]

Why did the chicken cross the road???

 

[johnnyjack]

Quote:

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Don't worry, we're not all that strict on any of this, but it is good to search for the most basic questions.. two of my favorites:

"How do I add pictures to the forum?"

"How much space do my chickens need"


What is good to see is variations on the frequent questions... for example:

"2 bantums, 3 standards, and a duck... how much space do I need?"

Oh, and while I'm here... in addition to DETAILED SUBJECT LINES I think all of the moderators would LOVE it if everybody, especially newbies, post their new threads in the appropriate sections of the forum!