MiniEncyclopedia of Chicken Breeds and Care 1st (first) edition Text Only

by Frances Bassom

A comprehensive and richly illustrated guide to keeping chickens.Chickens kept as pets are increasingly popular, even in urban environments, as more and more people discover it is easy to keep chickens, even in a small backyard. They make excellent pets and offer the immeasurable benefit of a free and ready supply of fresh eggs.The expert author alerts the many newcomers to chicken-keeping to the amazing variety of breeds available -- more than 100 registered pure breeds and bantams, as well as many hybrids.This beautifully illustrated reference provides essential advice about the housing and care of chickens, as well as profiles of more than 70 of the most popular breeds, with details such and origins Weight ranges Egg characteristics Physical appearance Behavior.The "Mini Encyclopedia of Chicken Breeds and Care" provides an unrivalled depth of practical information, and it features more than 500 specially commissioned color photographs. From the plump, cushionlike beauty of the Buff Orpington to the extravagantly ornamental bantams, readers will discover there is a chicken breed that ideally suits them.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

Reviews

[Kala Svensson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 13 year old daughter has wanted this book for sometime and of course as a book lover I also had to have my turn. It has a lot of great information about chickens especially if your just getting started not a book someone with a lot of experience raising chickens would find as helpful as the information is more beginner based I feel. It is mostly the types of breeds and pictures of them. If your looking for that this is the book and that is what my daughter was after as it was the perfect gift for a beginner chick lover.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book, packed with info and beautiful photos. Not many popular cold-hardy breeds listed, however.

[Isabel Hinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, thorough, and complete.

[Keira Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I’d recommend this book to anyone with chickens

[Carrie Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was more history about each breed rather than information to help me decide which breed to get.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great resource to my chicken research.

[Kieran Telo · Rating 3 out of 5]

About one quarter basic advice on chicken rearing and the rest is on breeds - which I skipped. The relevant first quarter includes stuff on hatching eggs and breeding hens etc, again of no interest to us. But the couple of dozen general pages were quite useful and since this was borrowed from the library at no cost I can safely say it was worth every penny. For a novice hen-keeper, however, I wouldn't shell out for this (pardon the pun).

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative. Even though I've read a ton on chicken books I still learned something, like about chicken lice! One thing he did say that annoyed me was about how many chicken breeds have looked the same for hundreds of years, but then he didn't give any examples of what he meant. I guess he didn't have to, but since he mentioned it, an example would've been nice.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book to get one started with chickens. It gives the basics of care, housing, feeding, breeding and showing and introduces the breeds. The information is well done and accurate.

[4C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this book 4 and a half stars, because it was easy to read and very basic, and great for people getting into chickens, I highly recommend this book because it is very detailed, for example it taught me that pekins are one of the most if not the most loved breed of the bantams.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light on details, but throughly interesting. This is clearly aimed at those who wish to breed and show a few strains. Not much practical advice for choosing laying stock.