About the Author

Steph Merkle

Steph Merkle is the Digital Content & Community Director for Countrysde. She tends to her raised bed gardens, raises a mixed flock of egg layers, and keeps honey bees on her four acres in southeastern Wisconsin. As a Colorado native, Steph spent her childhood in the remote San Luis Valley, the largest agricultural alpine valley in the United States. Growing up in the valley made Steph appreciate the scarcity of water in a semi-arid climate and the mounting demands on this limited resource. Steph spent her summers working as a landscaper focused on xeriscaping practices as well as lending a hand on her grandparents’ tree nursery. Steph enjoys traveling as far and wide as her pocketbook allows and spending time with her husband and two young children.
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Articles by Steph Merkle

Flock Days of Summer Giveaway
July 12, 2021 · · Giveaways

Win feed, treats, an automatic coop door opener, hatchery gift certificates, digestion aid, and more! Treat yourself and your flock.

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Nominate Your Favorite Flock Owner for a Backyard Poultry Feature
April 30, 2021 · · Magazine Previews

Know a flock owner who inspires others? Want to see them featured in Backyard Poultry magazine? Nominate them (or yourself!) and we’ll tell their story in the pages of our magazine through photos and a short essay!

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Reinventing the Chicken Coop: Designer Chicken Coops Made Easy

Contemporary design meets backyard chickens in 14 building plans for chicken runs and coops, from pure function to the designer chicken coop of your dreams.

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The Chicken Encyclopedia: Your A-Z Guide for Facts about Chickens
March 15, 2021 · · Book Reviews, Chickens 101

Add to Favorites Celebrated poultry author Gail Damerow is giving the poultry world something to cheer about with her new (and indispensable) encyclopedic resource book: The Chicken Encyclopedia. Beginners and …

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Clucktober Giveaway — Win Nearly $200 in Prizes

Now through October 31, enter to win a poultry prize package worth nearly $200 from Murray McMurray and Backyard Poultry!

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Zachariah’s Acres
March 3, 2020 · · Coops

Tucked into the rural folds of southeastern Wisconsin, you’ll find an extraordinary place called Zachariah’s Acres (ZA). ZA connects children and young adults with special needs to nature and agriculture on its universally designed 48-acre campus. The campus boasts rows of raised bed gardens, orchards, apiaries, walking trails, greenhouses, butterfly gardens, fishing ponds, and yes, chickens.

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Download Our Free Poultry Guides
October 2, 2019 · · Chickens 101

Need some support with your flock? Take a look in one of our helpful poultry guides!

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Sweeter Heater 15% Off
September 11, 2019 · · Partner Perks

Sweeter Heater is offering Backyard Poultry Members 15% off their 11 x 40 model and you’ll get free shipping!

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Buy One Fresh Frenzy Get One 50% Off
September 10, 2019 · · Partner Perks

Happy Hens is proud to partner with Backyard Poultry to offer a buy one get one 50% off deal!

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How to Connect with Our Poultry Experts
September 3, 2019 · · Ask The Expert

Ask our poultry experts about your flock’s health, feed, production, housing, and more! Experts answer reader questions Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm Pacific time/11 am to 7 …

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