When eXtension first began several years ago, I put together the Small and Backyard Flocks Community of Practice. It was developed to provide the growing number of homeowners/renters keeping backyard poultry flocks with science-based information on the proper care of their birds. This information is essential for poultry welfare as well as human health from zoonotic diseases and foodborne illnesses. The online extension program includes a website with a variety of poultry-related articles, a blog, links to monthly webinars, and links to recordings from past webinars. There is also the Ask-Extension app (new version of Ask-an-Expert) the public can use if they don't see the answer to their question. We have since added a link to a Facebook page where important poultry-related news is posted. The website gets over 15,000 visits a week. While only a handful of people attend the live webinars, hundreds continue to watch the webinar recordings on our YouTube channel.

I was at the annual Poultry Science Association meeting mid-July and many extension professionals commented on the success of the online extension program, especially the webinars and articles. They often refer small flock owners in their states to the website.