Importing Birds from a Spreadsheet
Learn how to import your birds into Flockstar from a CSV spreadsheet. Migrate from another app, bulk-add new birds, and get your flock set up fast.
Got a spreadsheet full of birds?
Whether you're migrating from another app, moving data out of a notebook, or bulk-adding new birds, the CSV Import tool lets you bring up to 200 birds into Flockstar at once. This guide walks you through every step.
1. Prepare Your CSV File
The import tool accepts a standard CSV (comma-separated values) file. If you're working in Excel or Google Sheets, you can export your data as CSV before uploading.
Required Columns
Your CSV must include these three columns as a minimum. The first row should be column headers.
Name
3–25 characters. Each bird's name within a flock.
Flock
The flock this bird belongs to. Will be matched to your existing flocks.
Sex
Male, Female, or Unknown.
Optional Columns
Include any of these to bring in more detail with your birds.
Leg Band / Tag ID
Up to 20 characters.
Breed
Up to 25 characters.
Hatch Date
YYYY-MM-DD or MM/DD/YYYY format.
Active
"Active" or "Inactive" - defaults to Active if omitted.
Description
Up to 500 characters of free text.
Download the Template
Start with our pre-formatted spreadsheet. It has all the right headers and a few example rows you can replace with your own data.
Exporting from Excel or Google Sheets
Google Sheets
- Open your spreadsheet
- Go to File → Download → Comma Separated Values (.csv)
- The file will download to your computer
Microsoft Excel
- Open your spreadsheet
- Go to File → Save As → choose CSV UTF-8 format
- Click Save
Tip: Make sure your column headers are in the first row and match the expected names (Name, Flock, Sex, etc.). The importer is flexible with casing and common variations, but clear headers help avoid issues.
2. Upload Your File
The import tool is available on the web version of Flockstar. On mobile, you'll see a message directing you to app.flockstar.com.
- Navigate to Settings → Import Data → Birds & Flocks
- Review the field specifications on the Upload step to make sure your CSV matches
- Click Upload CSV File and select your file
200
Max birds per import
5 MB
Max file size
.csv
Required file format
Note: This tool is for importing new birds only. If you need to update birds that are already in Flockstar, use Bulk Update on the Birds tab instead.
3. Match Your Flocks
After your file is validated, Flockstar automatically tries to match the flock names in your CSV to your existing flocks. The matching is case-insensitive, so "Chicken" and "chicken" will both match an existing "Chicken" flock.
What if a flock doesn't match?
For any flock names that don't match an existing flock, you have two options:
Create a New Flock
Flockstar will create the flock for you during the import. A color will be assigned automatically.
Map to an Existing Flock
Choose one of your current flocks from a dropdown. Useful if the name in your CSV is slightly different from what you use in Flockstar.
Tip: If you're importing birds across multiple flocks, make sure the flock names in your CSV are consistent. Small typos like "Chickens" vs "Chicken" will be treated as different flocks.
4. Preview and Confirm
Before anything is created, you'll see a full preview of what will be imported. This is your chance to review everything and catch any issues.
The Summary
Shows the total number of birds being imported, broken down by flock. Any new flocks that will be created are clearly labeled.
Warnings
If the importer detects birds with names or leg bands that already exist in your account, they'll be flagged as warnings. You have two options:
Skip Duplicate Rows
The default. Duplicate rows are excluded from the import, and the summary updates to show only the birds that will be created. Choose this if you don't want duplicates.
Import Anyway
All rows will be imported, even if they share a name or band with an existing bird. You'll need to check an acknowledgement box to confirm.
Skipped Rows
Rows with validation errors (missing required fields, invalid formats) are skipped entirely and listed with the reason. To fix them, go back, update your CSV, and re-upload.
Good to know: Nothing is created until you click the Import button. You can go back to any previous step to make changes.
5. After Your Import
Once the import completes, your new birds are ready in Flockstar. Here are some things you might want to do next.
Verify in the Birds Tab
Head to the Birds tab to see your newly imported birds. Check that names, breeds, and flock assignments look correct.
Refine with Bulk Update
Use Bulk Update on the Birds tab to assign colors, traits, lineage, and other details that aren't part of the CSV import.
Add Photos
Visit each bird's profile to upload a photo and make them easy to identify at a glance.
Import More
Need to add more? Click "Import More" on the success screen to start another batch. There's no limit to how many times you can import.
6. Tips & Troubleshooting
Common Issues
"All rows were skipped"
Usually means your column headers don't match what the importer expects. Double-check that you have columns named Name, Flock, and Sex (not case-sensitive).
Date format issues
The importer accepts YYYY-MM-DD and MM/DD/YYYY. Other formats like DD/MM/YYYY are not supported to avoid ambiguity. If your dates aren't being recognized, reformat them in your spreadsheet before exporting.
Special characters or encoding
Save your CSV with UTF-8 encoding. This is the default in Google Sheets. In Excel, choose "CSV UTF-8" when saving.
Pro tip: Start with a small test file of 5–10 birds to make sure your format is correct before importing your full list.
Common Questions
Can I update existing birds with a CSV?
The CSV import is for adding new birds only. To update birds that are already in Flockstar, use the Bulk Update feature on the Birds tab.
What happens if I import a bird with the same name?
The importer will warn you about duplicate names. By default, those rows are skipped. You can choose to import them anyway, but you'll end up with two birds sharing the same name.
Can I import more than 200 birds?
Each import is limited to 200 birds, but you can run multiple imports back to back. After one import completes, click "Import More" to start the next batch.
Does import work on mobile?
CSV import is currently a web-only feature. Visit app.flockstar.com on a computer or tablet to use it.
Can I undo an import?
There's no single "undo" button, but you can delete individual birds from the Birds tab if needed. For large mistakes, contact support and we can help restore from a daily backup.
Next Steps
Now that your birds are in Flockstar, explore what you can track.
Explore More Guides
Check out our other comprehensive guides to get the most out of Flockstar
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