Raising chickens in your backyard is becoming a national fad.

There has been a push to change land use codes to allow for small-scale poultry production in large cities and towns. More people want to raise their own chickens for eggs and meat.

However, raising poultry is not for everyone.

Before purchasing poultry, determine what county and city codes affect your property. Then, consider limiting the impact of poultry on your neighborhood. Poultry can bring unwanted smells and insects if improperly managed. Your yard needs a dry area to house the poultry.

Next, consider chick care. Baby chicks must be kept at around 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week. Decrease 5 degrees each week until they are more than 5 weeks old. These young birds also need special chick starter feed until they are 8 weeks old, when you can switch them to a chick grower feed.

Chicks must be 20 weeks old before they receive adult feeds. If your backyard flock is for laying eggs, separate the roosters and hens at 20 weeks. Roosters are really of no use if you just want laying hens. The hens must be fed a layer ration.

Chickens are vulnerable to parasites — like worms, mites and lice — and diseases. Put them in a clean, dry habitat. This will help decrease internal and external parasites and reduce the need to use pesticides to control them. Additionally, ask a local vet about diseases prevalent in your area.

We recently had a fowl pox outbreak, so I would recommend vaccinating against this disease.

Coops should have at least two solid sides and a roof that will protect chickens from the wind and rain. The structure can be fixed or mobile. A mobile coop makes sanitation easier by spreading manure around the yard so that it does not accumulate in one location.

Whether fixed or mobile, coops must be sturdy enough to keep out predators. Additionally, chickens need a minimum of three square feet of floor space per bird.  

Finally, chicken manure is nitrogen-rich; you must fertilize less if using manure.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview. Call 689-5850 for more on this topic.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Tips for raising your own poultry

CRESTVIEW —  The Journey Java Connection invites interested local artists of all levels and types to exhibit their works at the coffeehouse, 269 N. Main St.

If selected, artists can show their work for one month.

A selected Artist of The Month will have a larger exhibition area and will be honored with a reception.

Submit a photograph of your work to Peggy@drphh.com or hand-deliver it to the Journey Java Connection.

Call 398-8814 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Artists wanted for Crestview coffeehouse exhibit

CRESTVIEW — This year's Miss Heart of the USA pageant is at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 in Warriors Hall on Stillwell Boulevard.

The entry fee to participate is $35 for Okaloosa County females of all ages. Entries will be narrowed down to 10 contestants per division.

See www.missheartoftheusa.com/okaloosacounty to apply or for more information.

Divisions — based on the contestant's age as of Jan. 1, 2013 — are as follows:

Attire is custom or off-the-rack casual wear.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Miss Heart of the USA Pageant is Feb. 23

CRESTVIEW — Crestview High School graduate Ben White’s acclaimed student lip-synch video to Katy Perry’s “Firework” is still making viewers — as the lyrics say — go “oh, oh, oh.”

The production, which White shot primarily in one continuous take, recently topped 200,000 views on YouTube.

“I am excited to say that the lipdub has reached so many views because of the community’s help,” Ben said.

The video displays energetic personalities from most of the school’s student organizations, including clubs, sports and academic groups.

It can viewed at http://bit.ly/KikBVA.

White followed the production with a teacher lipdub as a surprise gift for the graduating class.

With close to 12,000 views, that video can be seen at http://bit.ly/UNKC4X.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lipdub tops 200,000 views

 NICEVILLE — A poster design contest is the first component of Northwest Florida State College’s upcoming 50th anniversary celebration.

The contest, which offers an $800 reward to the top winner, is accepting entries. Poster contest rules and the entry form appear at www.nwfsc.edu/50.

The contest is open to anyone. The artistic medium used has no restrictions. Submission of digital art, watercolor, oil, illustration, photography and other forms is acceptable, but all entries must be formatted in a vertical poster format suitable for print reproduction.

The contest submission deadline is April 1.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Poster competition celebrates college's 50th anniversary

Saving money is a priority for 2013, Americans have indicated.

Fifty-two percent of survey respondents list “saving more” as their top financial resolution, according to a Fidelity Investments survey, as reported by Yahoo’s Money Talks News.

However, financial resolutions are harder to keep than other New Year's resolutions, survey respondents said. Less than half of respondents accomplished 80 percent of their financial goals for 2012.

If putting more money in the bank is a top priority for you, these seven tips will help you get started:

•Set goals

•Break down your goals into easy steps

•Make savings automatic

•Track expenses

•Find spending leaks and ways to cut expenses

•Track your progress and

•Reward yourself

You can use the 52 Week Money Challenge to structure your New Year savings resolution. This simple savings approach will help you accomplish all seven money tips. 

Add $1 each week until you build up to saving $52 in the month's last week. Or you can do the opposite and start with $52 the first week and work your way down to saving $1 in the 52nd week. 

Some folks have opted for each, with the third week to be the 52nd week and count downward while the other weeks count upward.

For example: save $1 in week one; save $2, week two; $52, week three; $3, week four; $4, week five; and $51, week six. 

This may make it easier to save. 

In the end, you will have saved $1,378! 

Can you do the 52 Week Challenge?

You can also join the Okaloosa Saves program at http://okaloosasaves.org and participate in the America Saves Week Challenge beginning Feb. 24. At the end of the challenge, you may be a cash prizewinner.

Additionally, attend the EcoNomic Living Expo, Feb. 2, at the Emerald Coast Convention Center for exhibits, seminars, kids' activities and more. 

See more information at http://economiclivingexpo.com.

Brenda Smith is with the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Save money with the 52-week challenge

CRESTVIEW — "Dancing with the Stars'" Tony Dovolani will headline a gala night of ballroom dance spectacle when Fred Astaire Dance Studio presents its annual showcase with proceeds benefiting Covenant Hospice.

Crestview High School's Pearl Tyner Auditorium on Feb. 16 will transform into a dance palace of sound, light and swirling bodies, featuring the season 15 champion of ABC's “Dancing with the Stars: All Stars.”

Joining Dovolani and his partner, Chelsie Hightower, will be amateur and professional dancers from the local Fred Astaire studio and studios across the Emerald Coast, including Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Tallahassee.

"It's a big production," Crestview studio co-owner Erika Moreno said. "It's the big show for the Crestview studio. Each studio hosts its own big show and this is ours."

The Crestview Fred Astaire studio has a history of supporting Covenant's local programs, which include bereavement services, children’s support programs, chaplain services and indigent patient care, Covenant Development Manager Jenni Perkins said.

"I think David (Colón, co-owner) and Erika are extremely community-minded," she said. "They really look for opportunities to get involved with a good cause while showcasing their passion for dance and their skill. They have supported Dance for Life for the past three years and every year it just gets bigger and better and raises more money for us."

In addition to Dovolani, the evening will feature "a small 'battle of the dancing stars,'" including studio professional Aaron Stowell dancing with local attorney Muncelle Mitchell, Moreno said. They will face off on the dance floor with Fred Astaire dancer Hannah Kania, whose partner will come from the ranks of community, business or civic leadership.

"Every year the show gets better, so every year we can increase the amount we can give Covenant Hospice," Moreno said. "And this year we have Tony!"

"Tony is such a hoot!" Perkins said. "He's always joking around and doing unexpected stunts during the show. He's a blast to be around."

"He's the biggest name we've ever had come to Crestview," Stowell said. "For anybody who's ever seen the show ("Dancing with the Stars"), he's a household name."

"But it's not just about having Tony perform," Perkins said. "David and Erika's students, the local performers, are just phenomenal. Having taken dance lessons at Fred Astaire, I know the amount of work and sweat that goes into it.

"I always leave Dance for Life so pumped. I find myself wiggling and hopping around in my seat during the show. The dancing and music (are) so infectious. There's lots of good fun and energy going on."

A limited number of V.I.P. tickets are available for the evening and include reserved front-row seats and participation in an after-show party with the stars, complete with refreshments, an open bar and photo opportunities.

Tickets are available at the Fred Astaire studio.

Want to go?

"Dance for Life," a ballroom dance spectacle benefiting Covenant Hospice— featuring Tony Dovolani and Chelsie Hightower from "Dancing with the Stars" — is at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Crestview High School's Pearl Tyner Auditorium.

Tickets are $30 for general admission or $60 for V.I.P. reserved seats and an after-show party with the stars.

Tickets are available at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 301 N. Main St., or online at www.FredAstaireCrestview.com.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Dance for Life' brings TV champion Tony Dovolani to Crestview

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Chautauqua Theatre seeks actors who want to make a splash in the troupe's May production of the Disney stage musical "The Little Mermaid."

The theatre seeks high school, college and young adult actors for the production. The stage version features Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's Oscar-winning songs from the 1989 animated film, as well as new songs that Menken and Glenn Slater wrote for the stage. Memorable hits include "Under the Sea," Part of Your World" and "Kiss the Girl."

The familiar tale, based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, relates the efforts of Ariel, a mermaid, to escape the ocean depths and become human to win the charming Prince Eric's love.

Want to go?

"The Little Mermaid" auditions take place 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Florida Chautauqua Theatre, 840 Baldwin Road, in historic downtown DeFuniak Springs. Production dates are May 9-12.

Contact the theatre, 892-9494 or info@fcweb.org, for more information.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Chautauqua Theatre sets 'The Little Mermaid' auditions