In this charming book, the authors provide a nice overview of the
basics of poultry keeping for those new to the hobby. Breaking down
the life of the chicken and chicken husbandry into 10 chapters,
the text covers the essentials of each aspect of keeping poultry.
The discussion of which type to raise goes over the differences
between breeds raised primarily for eggs or meat but also points
out the aesthetics of the different colors and markings of chicken
plumage. The designs of chicken coops, roosts, runs, nest boxes,
and feeders are explained, along with how and what to feed the birds.
Sections on how to hatch eggs, raise chicks, and buy adult chickens
will get the poultry keeper started, and segments on handling eggs
and butchering adult chickens assist in dealing with the produce
from the flock.
A glossary, bibliography, list of resources, and catalog of chicken
breeds round out the text. Beautiful color photographs throughout
demonstrate the appeal of chickens, adding to the value of this
nice primer on backyard chicken keeping.
In irresistibly strange, undeniably beautiful portraits, photographer
Tamara Staples celebrates the finely-feathered champions of the
American poultry show circuit, the beauty pageant of the barnyard.
Location and detail photography, quotes from poultry farmers, insights
into the judging process, and an essay by Ira Glass of public radio's
"This American Life" complement these high fashion photographs
to provide a full appreciation for this most noble of birds.
An introduction includes quotes by breeders, followed by an explanation
of the poultry world's bible, The Standard of Perfection, including
excerpted text and visual aids on judging, breeding, and characteristics
from the feathers to wattles of the perfect fowl. 35 posed, full
page portraits of exceptional chickens are accompanied by basic
information on the breed.
This is a do-it-yourself guide to building poultry houses and allied
equipment. It discusses the needs of the various types of fowl,
and gives detailed plans and material lists for building coops,
nest boxes, runs, arks, folds, a show box and a "poultry palace".
This is a nice, easy to read beginner book on raising poultry for
meat and eggs in three parts: chickens, ducks and geese. It discusses
different breeds, where to buy your poultry, egg incubation, housing
requirements, feeding, watering, brooding management, as well as
butchering and preparation for freezing. It is greatly recommended
if you want to raise your own poultry or eggs. (Text amazon.de)
Tells how to select, house, feed, and care for bantams, describes
different varieties, and discusses breeding, nutrition, and common
ailments. (Text amazon.de)
Backyard farmers interested in having a readily available source
of eggs and meat are provided with nontechnical information on housing,
feeding, raising and butchering chickens. (Text amazon.de)
Discusses the different illnesses which can attack chickens, describing
their causes, symptoms, and treatments.
The editor of Rural Heritage has written a first-rate guide for
the small producer interested in healthful meat and eggs as well
as the exotic breed fancier raising birds for show. Having published
a number of general guides to backyard poultry, including one for
children, Damerow here concentrates on everything that can go wrong:
diseases; problems associated with keeping birds in close quarters
or caging them; litter; cannibalism; vitamin deficiency, resulting
in poor molting; incubators that are too hot or too cold; predators;
and the invasions of rats. She stresses that the best preventative
measures involve protecting one's flock against outside influences
(such as wild birds or other chickens), careful culling, and balanced
nutrition.
Damerow is a good writer, carefully walking the line between insulting
the reader's intelligence, a flaw with many books of this sort,
and giving more technical information than growers need. Her discussion
of how one keeps straight which chick came from which mating--which
involves the injection of food dyes into fertilized eggs, and carefully
marking the webbings of feet--is downright ingenious. Flawless.
John Mort