Welcome to The BackyardChickens.com Forum! + Newsletter Archive

[BYC Support]

BackYardChickens
Newsletter - 8/2011


Please "Like" and/or Bookmark BYC on Facebook!
If you're signed up with Facebook, we'd like to request that you "Like" our BYC Facebook page. If you're not a Facebook user, we still suggest that you bookmark our BYC page on Facebook. There may be times where we're doing site upgrades or updates and having access to this page could be the only way to satisfy your BYC fix!

Read more >>>


Contest Updates:
• Coop Contest Winners! - Over 375 coops added to our coop designs!
• Trivia Challenge - Sunday September 4, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST


BYC Sister Sites
Did you know BYC has sisters? Yup, three of them! Stop by and say hello:
www.TheEasyGarden.com
www.SufficientSelf.com
www.BackYardHerds.com


Topic Highlights
Here are a few recent topics that we thought you might be interested in reading:
• Finish this sentence: "You know you're addicted to chickens when..."
• Cochin breeding, genetics, and showing
• Bathing BEAUTIES contest (hens and roosters)
• ***Chickensitting Thread!!!***
• Blue chickens thread!
• Strangest and Silliest Chicken Names?
• Can't Stop Buying Chicks!!!!
• Can someone give me some advice on sour crop?
• Chicken Coop stability issues
• Writing a story in a chicken's eyes! Please read and comment!
• Did you know that chickens can learn tricks??


Featured Sponsors
Our sponsors help keep BYC running. Please take a few minutes to visit their websites and tell them you appreciate their support of our great community.
• EggCartonStore.com - Egg cartons, egg incubators, and egg trays on sale.
• Horizon Structures - Offering a complete line of high quality, pre-assembled chicken coops and coop kits.
• J.M. Hatchery - Specializing in Freedom Rangers: strong, robust and highly suitable for free range, organic, and pastured environments.
• Backyard Poultry Magazine - A bimonthly publication with information on raising, breeding, & housing domestic fowl.
• Randall Burkey Company - Poultry Supplies - Chicken Hatchery, Baby Chicks, Gamebirds, and Poultry Products.
• Surehatch - #1 online source for discount egg incubators and poultry supplies.
• ForageCake - We bring free range into the coop with Farmers' Helper ForageCakes!
• Metzer Farms - You have tried chickens. Now move up to Ducks and Geese!

You can see a list of all the BYC Sponsors here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-supplies.html

We'll see you in the forum!

The BYC Team

 

[BYC Support]

BackYardChickens
Newsletter - 9/2011


Last Call - BYC Coloring Book
Get out your pens, pencils, and art paper... or maybe just your computer! There is only one week left for submitting images to the new BYC Coloring Book!
Read more >>>


7 MILLION Posts!
Wow y'all are a chatty bunch! In less than 5 years you've made 7 million posts to our wonderful community! We add about 7,500 posts per day. Think about that for a bit... that's over 5 posts every minute of every day, 24/7! When do you think we'll hit 8 million?
Read more >>>


BYC Cookbook - Almost Gone!
The Official Cookbook of BYC has over 400 recipes submitted by our amazing community... and we're about to run out! If you think you'll want to cook using one of these, or have them available for gifts this holiday season you'll need to order one ASAP.

Note: We're not planning to do any re-orders of these, so once they are gone... they are really gone!
Read more >>>


Rate Pictures for the 2012 BYC Calendar
We've been collecting pics from our members for months and now we're ready for you to help us pick the best of the best for our 2012 BYC Calendar!
Read more >>>



Topic Highlights
Here are a few recent topics that we thought you might be interested in reading:

Incubators Anonymous
Interior Coop Pics
The Trap Nesting Thread
How much does it cost to raise a meat chicken?
what is this on my game-cam?
Share Pics of your Farm Dogs
Frizzle Thread ~ PICS ~~ Must Read Info On Page 4!!!
Things That Chicken Eat That Surprised You
Before and....AFTER!!
What is your favorite quote?
Got Flogged by A rooster tonight


Featured Sponsors
Our sponsors help keep BYC running. Please take a few minutes to visit their websites and tell them you appreciate their support of our great community.

ChickenDoors.com - Home of the "Pullet-Shut" Automatic chicken coop door
Ideal Poultry - The largest supplier of backyard poultry in the United States, shipping close to 5 million chicks annually
Happy Hen Treats - The world's first line of treats for chickens
Murray McMurray Hatchery - The world's largest rare breed hatchery
HenSaver.com - Makers of the Hen Saver

hen apron / chicken saddle
ChickensForBackyards.com - The right chickens (and ducks) for your backyard

You can see a list of all the BYC Sponsors here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-supplies.html

We'll see you in the forum!


The BYC Team

 

[BYC Support]

BackYardChickens
Newsletter - 10/2011


Sorry for the late newsletter, but we've been really busy with some exciting BYC related goodness!

One of the biggest things we've been spending our time on is the new 2012 BYC Calendar. The other is a HUGE project that will include a ton of new features for BYC (details will be posted next month, so keep your eyes peeled).


Chicken Molt Contest
Are your girls losing feathers? Have they stopped laying eggs? Well, it's that time of year for them to go through their molting process. Post pictures of your birds in the worst part of their molt and you could win our new contest!

Read More >>>


Official BYC Poll: How many years?
From time to time we like to get a feel for who is on BYC. The question we've been wondering lately: How many of our peeps are really new to raising chickens and how many are old-timers? Click the link below to answer the question:
"How Long Have You Been Raising Chickens?"

Read More >>>


Help Promote RCFD
"Raising Chickens for Dummies" is the official book of BYC. We currently have 85 reviews on Amazon and we need your help to get to 100 Five-Star reviews by the end of the year! Please take a moment and review the best book about raising backyard chickens!

Read More>>>


Topic Highlights
Here are a few recent topics that we thought you might be interested in reading:
New Official Ongoing BYC Scavenger Hunt - Win A GFM!
Post here if you DON'T wash clean-looking eggs
Ok really! WHO IS SICK OF IT?!
Ranchie, a dear heart is lost.
Help!! I'm overloaded with eggs!!
bad or half-baked chicken advice you've received?
I want to hatch more eggs...what's wrong with me?
for those that use deep litter method...please advise me
Weird ? - what would make a package of sausage blow up?
what is a good "flighty" chicken breed-thanks guys-got it.
My totally FREE coop!! FINALLY FINISHED!! (all pics on 1st post)


Featured Sponsors
Our sponsors help keep BYC running. Please take a few minutes to visit their websites and tell them you appreciate their support of our great community.
Fleming Outdoors - Your online farm supply store
Mt. Healthy Hatcheries - A hatching tradition for over 80 years
Purina - Register for the Purina Difference Rewards Program
Meyer Hatchery - Affordable Poultry Since 1985
Purely Poultry - Baby Chicks and Poultry Books at Great Prices
Incubators.org - Where Quality Comes to Life
MyPetChicken - Day old chicks, buy as few as 3 at a time

You can see a list of all the BYC Sponsors here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-supplies.html

We'll see you in the forum!

The BYC Team

 

[BYC Support]

BackYardChickens
Newsletter - 11/2011


BYC 2012 Calendar:
Our amazing community has done it again! Check out the BYC 2012 Calendar made from 15 amazing pictures submitted by members of our forum.

Add these to the sales below and you could have a bunch of your holiday shopping done!

Read more >>>


Tis the season to get ready for The Season!
It's that time of year for many of us... time to find some great gifts for those we love. Well, BYC is here for you! We've got some great gifts and some wonderful deals that you can get without leaving your house (and who doesn't love that!?)

1) HUGE GFM Sale - Buy 1 year, get 6 months free!
2) BYC University Liquidation Sale - 30% Off
3) Free shipping on orders over $50

Read more >>>


3rd Annual New Year's Day Hatch!:
Hurry and get those eggs ordered and ready to set!

Yup, it's time for our annual New Year's Day Hatch! Last year we had over 170 peeps and almost 4,000 (can you believe it) eggs set! Join in the fun!

Read more >>>


Topic Highlights
Here are a few recent topics that we thought you might be interested in reading:

Official Poll 2011 - Are Chickens Easier or Harder To Raise Than..
Chicken Tips - Take a Tip, Leave a Tip
How often to clean coop?
Ok you live frugal but Christmas is right around the corner. Now what.
What is the price of peanuts in China? What are you paying for feed?
Thanksgiving- What are your plans?
the wait is driving me crazy!!!
Kindness of strangers
Is it cruel to have chickens if they can't free range?
Dumpster Diving-Garage Sale-Goodwill-Thrift Store & Craigslist Finds
What kind of shoes do you wear out to the chickens?


Featured Sponsors
Our sponsors help keep BYC running. Please take a few minutes to visit their websites and tell them you appreciate their support of our great community.

Metzer Farms - You have tried chickens. Now move up to Ducks and Geese!
EggCartonStore.com - Egg cartons, egg incubators, and egg trays on sale.
Horizon Structures - Offering a complete line of high quality, pre-assembled chicken coops and coop kits.
Freedom Ranger Hatchery - Specializing in Freedom Rangers: strong, robust and highly suitable for free range, organic, and pastured environments.
Backyard Poultry Magazine - A bimonthly publication with information on raising, breeding, & housing domestic fowl.
Randall Burkey Company - Poultry Supplies - Chicken Hatchery, Baby Chicks, Gamebirds, and Poultry Products.
Surehatch - #1 online source for discount egg incubators and poultry supplies.
ForageCake - We bring free range into the coop with Farmers' Helper ForageCakes!

You can see a list of all the BYC Sponsors here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-supplies.html


We'll see you in the forum!



The BYC Team

 

[BYC Support]

BackYardChickens
Newsletter - 12/2011


Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!
Can you believe another year has flown by? It seems like just a few months ago we were writing the end of 2010 newsletter. Well, we're just a few days away from 2012, and looking back it has been an amazing year for BYC and for the trend of raising BackYard Chickens!
We started 2011 with 75,000 members and 5 million posts. In one year we've added a whopping 38,000 members and 2.6 million posts!!! A large part of that growth is due to the awareness of how wonderful it can be to raise backyard chickens, but also because of our amazing members sharing BYC with friends via their websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. For that, we thank you!

2012 is going to bring some really big and exciting changes to BYC and we're excited to have you be a part of it! Thanks for having fun with us in 2011, and we look forward to making 2012 another year of the chicken!


The BIG BYC Coop Cleanup:
We've got hundreds of chicken coop designs in our chicken coop database and we need help orgainzing them. We need your help to choose the cream of the crop! You can find instructions here.

Read More >>>


3rd Annual New Year's Day Hatch!
If you haven't seen it yet, you should really check out the New Year's Day Hatch thread. Our organizers have done a SUPER job with some exciting contests.

There's sure to be a ton of excitement going on over the next few days, so keep your eyes on the thread!

Read more >>>


Topic Highlights
Here are a few recent topics that we thought you might be interested in reading:
Chickens for 20 years or more? Lay some wisdom here! Warning: Graphic
How did your username originate?
No Nonsense, chickens are livestock, advise. Tell me like it is.
Ducks or Chickens? Pros/Cons
lets see your other pets
truly wild pictures!!
Model Chicken Contest - (Ends 12/31/11) *Real Prize*
Chicken in your face pictures!!
Does it ever feel like work?
Raccoon problem... HOW DO I GET RID OF THIS HORRIBLE CREATURE.
Need your opinion: what should every coop have?
What you're doing at this moment in three words-no more or less
Guess the breed-Chicken
How much do your chickens eat?


Featured Sponsors
Our sponsors help keep BYC running. Please take a few minutes to visit their websites and tell them you appreciate their support of our great community.
HenSaver.com - Makers of the Hen Saver

hen apron / chicken saddle
ChickensForBackyards.com - The right chickens (and ducks) for your backyard
ChickenDoors.com - Home of the "Pullet-Shut" Automatic chicken coop door
Ideal Poultry - The largest supplier of backyard poultry in the United States, shipping close to 5 million chicks annually
Murray McMurray Hatchery - The world's largest rare breed hatchery

You can see a list of all the BYC Sponsors here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-supplies.html

We'll see you in the forum!

The BYC Team

 

[BYC Support]

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February on
BackYard Chickens
Welcome to the New BYC
Annual Easter Hatch-a-long
The Write an Article Contest
Your Picture Here on BYC
Adding Chicks to the Coop
Thank You, Sponsors!​

Hello from BackYard Chickens!​

Picture of the Week (POW)
Create a page with pictures of your chickens and they might be featured as a BYC Picture Of The Week (POW). Post pics of your chicks now!


Increase Your Wing'ings
Trying to decide which breeds to add to your backyard flock? Check out this thread for great ideas and feedback from our community.

Thank You, Sponsors!
Thanks to our sponsors Surehatch, Backyard Poultry, Freedom Rangers, Murray McMurray Hatchery, and Ideal Poultry for their ongoing support.

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Welcome to the New BYC

We can't wait to roost with you in our brand new coop! We recently upgraded to a feature-rich content hosting service that offers more functionality and stability than our previous host. Your login information, posts, images, private messages, and more have been transferred to our new platform. Learn about the exciting changes, and welcome home!



Our Annual Easter Hatch-a-thon

Hop into spring with this beloved community project and contest.Our third annual Easter Hatch-a-thon, organized by BYC member Mahonri, is about to begin! Every year, our members come together to hatch thousands of baby chicks. If you want to join the fun, hurry and line up your fertile eggs in your incubator in time for setting.



Write an Article to Win on BYC

Get plucky and rise to the occasion. You could win big on BYC!
Write a fun and helpful article about raising backyard chickens, and you might win a $30 or $15 Amazon Gift Card and have your article featured on the homepage. The hens are waiting!

 

[BYC Support]

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March on
BackYard Chickens
Homemade Incubators
Raising Chicks for Dummies
Design Contest Ending Soon
Win a Coop Contest
The Do-It-Yourself Thread
What Do You Wish You Knew?

Come see
what's hatching!​

Purina Mills: Win A Coop
Enter to win a coop, plus a year of poultry feed fom BYC sponsor Purina Mills. May whomever hath the greatest pluck win!




DIY Thread: Show Us
Your Inventions
BYC is home to an incredible flock of creative, passionate, and generous people. Go to this thread to drool over homemade inventions and share yours with BYC's community.

What Do You Wish
You Knew?
What information do you wish you had when starting out? Share your golden eggs and headaches here.

Follow Us

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Where Great Ideas Come Home to Roost
Incubating eggs can be an amazing experience for kids and adults.This thread is packed full of great and easy-to-digest information on homemade incubators. Share your ideas with the BYC community on how to build one, and check out our collection of photos.
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Raising Chickens for Dummies

Do you wish you could take BYC safely to the beach or hen house?Check out the Official Chicken Books of BYC. They contain the same great content found on BYC, but don't require an Internet connection to enjoy. See what folks are saying and flap your wings!
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Coop Design Contest Ending Soon

Do you have a chicken coop you want to share with the world?
Submit your chicken coop design page to our contest, and you could win a $20 BYC store gift certificate. Get going! Contest ends soon.
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[BYC Support]

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April on
BackYard Chickens
Interesting Facts About Eggs
Chicken Comb Picture Contest
Health Precautions for Backyard Chicken Owners
Win a Coop and Feed Contest
Incubators Anonymous
Top Coops on BYC​

Come see
what's hatching!​

Win a Coop from Purina
Back by popular demand, don't miss your chance to enter to win a coop, plus a year of poultry feed from BYC sponsor Purina Mills. May whomever hath the greatest pluck win!


Incubators Anonymous
Do you sneak peeks when no one is looking? Cast longing glances at hot bulbs and temperature probes? Time to come clean on your incubator addiction. Check out this thread for helpful tips and advice.

Chicken Coop Contest Winners
We're pleased to share the winners of the BYC Coop Contest. Thanks for sharing great ideas and taking part in our healthy competition. What's your favorite coop design?

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Interesting Facts About Chicken Eggs

Ever wondered why hens can lay eggs every day of the week? How come these ladies don't need a weekend to recover from their labor? Why are some eggs brown, while others are white? How many days do you have to wait for an egg to hatch? Get answers and learn more fun facts about chicken eggs on BackYard Chickens.


Chicken Comb Picture Contest

A rooster may crow, but does it know how to comb? Here's your chance to show off that fly hairdo and tease the hens. Submit a photo of your chicken's irresistible comb, and you could win a 6-month Gold Feather Membership on BackYard Chickens. Get pretty, get snapping, and good luck!


Health Precautions for Backyard Chickens

Most breeders need only wash their hands after touching fowl.However, in order to remain healthy owners of backyard chickens, those with suppressed immune systems, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other conditions making them more susceptible to illness should be extra cautious. Check out the top 10 health precautions for backyard chicken ownership in this article.

 

[BYC Support]

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May on
BackYard Chickens
Post Your New Chick Pics
Free-Range Chicken Gardens
Adding Newbies To Your Flock
Win a Coop and Feed Contest
Homemade Feed Recipes
New Forums: Gardening & DIY​

Come see
what's hatching!​

Win a Coop from Purina
Back by popular demand, don't miss your chance to enter to win a coop, plus a year of poultry feed from BYC sponsor Purina Mills. May whomever hath the greatest pluck win!


Homemade Feed Recipes
Have you ever wondered how to make your own chicken feed? Can you save money? Grab your notebook and read this thread for helpful tips and advice.

New Forum Sections: Gardening & DIY
Tis the season for BYC spring cleaning! Take a gander at our new Gardening and DIY forums.

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Post Your New Chick Pics
Forlorn at how fast those baby chicks grow up and leave the nest? Don't despair. Take lots of photos of your young ones now, and preserve the memories while sharing them with the BYC community. You'll find that they grow like weeds, and before you know it they will no longer be your fuzzy babies! Grab your zoom lens and get clicking.


Jessi Bloom's Free-Range Chicken Gardens

Did you know you can keep chickens and have a beautiful garden?BackYard Chickens loves Free-Range Chicken Gardens by Jessi Bloom, which covers everything a chicken-loving gardener should know. You'll learn about chicken-keeping basics, simple garden plans, and what plants to avoid to keep your chickens safe. For anyone who wants a fabulous garden where colorful chickens happily roam, this essential handbook will bring the dream home to roost.


Adding Newbie Chickens To Your Flock

Planning to add new roommates to your roost? Moving in with new peeps can be a stressful experience for chickens. It's your job as head hen or roo to make the transition as safe and easy as possible. Learn about the importance of quarantining the new chickens, and how disrupting the pecking order affects the henhouse balance.

 

[BYC Support]

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June on
BackYard Chickens
Free Range Your Flock
Raising Chickens Video Contest
What's Cookin on BYC?
Advice From Experienced Chicken Owners
How to Keep Your Flock Happy
Duck House & Pond Contest​

Come See
What's Hatching!​

Chicken Advice from Experienced Owners
Get expert advise on raising chickens from members with 10+ years of experience. You'll get ideas and suggestions, and learn from others' experiences.


Keep Your Flock Happy
Do your hens give a hoot? Want to make your roosters roar with laughter? Introducing BYC's four helpful tips and tricks to keep 'em clucking.

Duck House & Pond Contest
Do you think you have the best duck house or pond on BYC? Take a photo and create a page to win!

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Will You Free Range Your Flock?

Chickens, like teenagers, are born free and destined to roam! At least, that's what they want us to think. Are your spring chickens ready for their first foray into the wilderness? Learn what "free range" really means, and how to provide for the best (and safest) experience for your chickens. One day they'll thank you, we promise.
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Raising Chickens Video Contest

Share your love of raising backyard chickens in a video on YouTube, and you might win a $50 Amazon Gift Card and other prizes! Come check out the current submissions, and then submit your own video. Help our BYC videos go viral (we don't mean like chicken pox) by sharing links with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter.
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Whatcha Got Cookin, Good Lookin?

Head over to our caravan kitchen for delicious recipes straight from the coop! We've listened to your requests and we're excited to announce that we are now accepting submissions (and edits) for the second edition reprint of our BYC Community Cookbook. Submit your recipes and edits today!
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