Cookie Policy

Last updated: June 2024

This Cookie Policy explains how CoopCrow ("CoopCrow," "we," "us," or "our"), accessible at coopcrow.com, uses cookies, localStorage, and similar tracking technologies when you visit our backyard chickens and homesteading review site. By continuing to browse coopcrow.com, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

What Are Cookies and Local Storage?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. LocalStorage is a similar browser technology that allows a website to store small amounts of data directly in your browser, without an expiration date, until it is manually cleared. CoopCrow uses both of these technologies, though sparingly, to operate our site and respect your preferences.

How CoopCrow Uses Cookies and LocalStorage

We keep our use of tracking technologies minimal and transparent. Here is exactly what we use and why:

Consent Preference (localStorage): When you first visit coopcrow.com, a consent banner appears asking whether you accept or decline non-essential cookies. Your choice (accept or decline) is saved directly in your browser's localStorage. This allows us to remember your preference so the banner does not reappear on every page you visit. No personal information is transmitted to our servers through this storage item – it stays in your browser.
Analytics Cookies (only if accepted): If you click "Accept" on our consent banner, we load a privacy-conscious analytics tool that places cookies in your browser. These cookies help us understand which articles, coop reviews, and homesteading guides are most useful to readers, how visitors navigate between pages, and general traffic patterns such as browser type, approximate location (country/region level), and device type. If you click "Decline," these analytics cookies are never loaded, and no analytics data is collected from your visit.
Essential Functionality: Aside from the consent preference stored in localStorage, CoopCrow does not use cookies that are strictly necessary for core site functionality, since our site does not require user accounts, shopping carts, or logins.

Third-Party Cookies

When you accept analytics cookies, a third-party analytics provider may set cookies on your device to collect anonymized or pseudonymized usage statistics. These third parties process data according to their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to review. We select analytics partners who are committed to minimizing data collection and respecting visitor privacy. We do not knowingly permit third-party advertising networks to place tracking cookies on coopcrow.com for behavioral advertising purposes.

You are always in control of your cookie preferences. If you previously accepted analytics cookies and wish to withdraw that consent, you can do so at any time by:

Clearing your browser's cookies and site data (often found under "Privacy," "History," or "Site Settings" in your browser menu) for coopcrow.com. This will remove both the localStorage consent record and any analytics cookies that were set.
Once your browser storage for coopcrow.com is cleared, the consent banner will reappear on your next visit, allowing you to make a fresh choice.
Alternatively, most browsers allow you to block all cookies and localStorage from specific sites through their privacy or content settings, which will prevent CoopCrow from storing any data in your browser, including your consent preference.

Please note that if you decline or block cookies entirely, some non-essential features (like remembering that you've already seen the cookie banner) will not function, and you may see the consent prompt on repeat visits.

Browser-Specific Instructions

Instructions for clearing cookies and site data vary by browser:

Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data > Cookies and other site data.
Mozilla Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data.
Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove for coopcrow.com.
Microsoft Edge: Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Clear Browsing Data.

Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Because there is no industry-standard interpretation of DNT signals, CoopCrow currently relies on our consent banner mechanism rather than DNT signals to determine whether analytics cookies should load. Declining consent via our banner has the same practical effect as honoring a DNT request.

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our own practices. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or how CoopCrow handles cookies and localStorage, please reach out to us through the contact page at coopcrow.com. We're happy to help clarify any part of our data practices, whether you're a seasoned homesteader or just getting started with your first flock.