The Way of the Hen: Zen and the Art of Raising Chickens

by Clea Danaan

Susan Orlean once wrote raising chickens was a ?do-it-yourself hobby at a moment when doing things yourself was newly appreciated as a declaration of self-sufficiency, a celebration of hand-work, a push-back from a numbing and disconnected big-box life.” Many of us long for a renewed connection with the earth and greater control over our food. One might even say we long for a more Zen existence. Chickens, in their simple scratches and pecks, call us back to our true nature.   The Way of the Hen explores the entertaining, rewarding, and?yes?enlightening art of raising chickens in an urban or suburban backyard. It examines why keeping chickens has become so popular as it addresses environmental issues, the locovore movement, and a shift in the way we want to live. How to fit hen-keeping into a busy lifestyle? Find out in The Way of the Hen .

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

My ecospiritual books grew out of a winding path, from my childhood in the Pacific Northwest and integral studies at Fairhaven College, on to massage school and Reiki training, and then graduate studies in Wisdom Traditions, somatic psychology, education, and creative writing. My dream is that all people would find their soul work, which heals people and our fellow earthlings on many levels. Visit me at CleaDanaan.com .

Reviews

[Alesya · Rating 3 out of 5]

está todo guay hasta que habla de reiki

[Martha☀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a chicken keeper and a bona-fida crazy chicken lady, I can attest that there is nothing that parallels the joy of raising backyard chickens. Personally, I can sit on my porch with a cup of tea and watch 'chicken TV' for hours. But Danaan has taken this kind of adoration a step too far in this book. Her "wealth of knowledge" about chickens comes from watching her three hens in her city-lot coop and she makes it all seem pretty ideal. Her daily chores are as simple as opening a door and sprinkling organic feed on the round. Everything else is apparently paradise.

But what about illness and predators? What about bumblefoot and internal lays? What about rooster antics and the aggressive pecking order? Where is the info about processing unwanted roosters and dealing with dead hens? There is chapter upon chapter of information that Danaan doesn't write because she simply doesn't know. Instead of writing practical information about the real work of keeping chickens, she fills the book with musings on gods, steps of meditation, yogi philosophies and other nonsense.

Yes, chickens are wonderful and their eggs are daily gifts. Yes, they need to be treated humanely and given a life where they can peck and scratch for seeds and grubs. But they also require keepers who can deal with eagles, owls, mink and racoons as well as impacted crops, bumblefoot surgery and nest abandonment. Danaan also needs to realize that, while chicken mating isn't pretty, it is part of the chicken life cycle. Although she has chosen to raise her flock without a rooster, roosters serve an important role in the safety and nourishment needs of a flock. It is important to include information about both sexes if you are writing a non-fiction book about a species!

Please do not use this as a reference book.

[James Tomasino · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn't much to mark this book as special, really. It had some interesting thoughts on our relationship with nature and homesteading, but the organization of the book felt as meandering as a chicken scratching at the ground. Toward the latter half of the book the author started losing her focus from the Way of the Hen into a general disorder of new age themed sentiments that didn't mesh with the message and detracted from her ability to connect on a wide scale.

One nice note is that for some reason my two year old son loved when I would read this to him. He didn't understand the words much, but he was always asking for the "bawk-bawk book". For that reason alone this will bring a smile to my face whenever I think of it.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has a lot to do with chicken (we have around 100), I thoroughly enjoyed the book because I found my own points of views in it. It was very entertaining to read because it's a different kind of chicken book. Perfect for someone who loves chicken and enjoys their company.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chicken-raising advice, anecdotes, quotes, and thoughts combined with Buddhist philosophy and meditations. A strange little book, but not unenjoyable. Bought it (used) for a friend, read it before passing along, and ended up skimming portions that were too much about children or were a little more woo-woo than I am.

[Roxerg · Rating 3 out of 5]

there are some good nuggets here and there, some of them being quotes from other books, but overall it was .
..ok. It made me want to touch grass a little bit.

[T. Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's nice to read a book by someone who really loves and appreciates chickens (like me!). Thought provoking. The sidebars are a little distracting. Ironically, I kind of rushed through it. I keep meaning to reread it more slowly.

[Rebecca Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author and I worked with a wonderful community to legalize chickens in our city. I'm grateful to say we succeeded and I read this sweet book after obtaining my own chickens. A worthy read for crazy chickens ladies (and men) alike!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't care how cute the cover is, if you're writing a book about chickens there should be pictures of chickens inside!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Backyard chickens crossing the path to enlightenment.