Home Farm Handbook

by Peter Ford

Here's a comprehensive guide to keeping farm animals in backyards, paddocks, or on larger tracts of land. The book is divided into separate sections that present basic facts and advice on raising and keeping chickens, ducks, geese, beehives, sheep, and goats. Information includes breeding poultry for eggs, and goats for milk and cheese--in short, raising animals the way that farmers do, for the owners' economic benefit. Advice touches on all aspects of animal husbandry, choosing and breeding, providing shelters and housing, feeding, routine care, and disease prevention. The book features more than 120 full-color illustrations, sidebars, and quick-reference tables.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2000

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

Reviews

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlike so many of the farm "guide" books out there, the author lets their love peek through the essential knowledge bits. You get a real sense that Mr. Ford both has had REAL experiences with these farm animals but also has formed a respectful relationship with them- not that of a pet lovers blind devotion, nor a cold hard stare of someone who only sees meat, but a fabulous middle ground where I actually found myself laughing out loud at little snippets, and nodding in agreement at some common sense issues. For example some very sound advice - don't get a goat if you are planning on tethering it. Excellent real world, animal advocate and farmers benefit, advice.