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My Pet Chicken Handbook: Sensible Advice and Savvy Answers for Raising Backyard Chickens
The backyard chicken is the new "it" pet—and with good reason: These birds are personable, beautiful, and (mostly) low maintenance. But they’re not without their quirks and sometimes puzzling behaviors.That’s where the experts at MyPetChicken.com have a beak up on the competition—they hear from chicken keepers daily and offer advice about common mistakes and pitfalls that occur when raising a flock of chickens in the backyard. And customers tell them that the advice they most appreciate is actually how not to raise chickens, what not to do, and why not to panic.The handbook helps potential chicken owners decide whether chicken keeping is right for them, how to make the best choices for their situations, how to start planning for the new pets, and—most importantly—how to head off potential trouble before the chicks arrive. Detailed care instructions for baby chicks and mature hens help to ensure a friendly and enjoyable flock. Covering both the good and the "oh no" experiences that beginners and avid backyard farmers experience, topics include choosing coops, planning a daily routine, learning about sanitation practices, and discovering signs of distress. Then the joy of chicken keeping comes full "ovoid" with 50 recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, featuring the incredible and versatile egg, from homemade egg noodles and sesame mayonnaise to a vegetable frittata and caramel custard.
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2014
4 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 13, 2016
I've had an odd fascination with chickens ever since living in Hawaii. On Oahu, chickens roam wild. You can see them as you drive down the road, pecking in the underbrush beside the roads with their chicks. I live on the mainland now, and I don't get to see many chickens living in a townhouse in the city. But I do enjoy reading about chickens. I browse magazines and books, feeding the fantasy of one day having a plot of land where I can have a few free range chickens. This book is great food for thought. The information is easy to read and the pictures are great. I love books with lots of pictures, mainly because when I'm "doing it myself" and learning from a book, it helps to see examples of what I'm learning about. And I loved reading this book.
February 4, 2014
This book hits the ground running as far as chicken maintenance goes! We are bought into the world of raising chickens – a pastime that becomes way more enjoyable and compulsive than you might first think.
Being a chicken owner myself, I found plenty of advice I probably should have read before purchasing my first few hens. I also found loads of information that was completely new to me – as well as a chicken website I never previously knew existed. (Go to MyPetChicken.com – it’s an AWESOME site!)
The authors of this handbook have plenty to say and manage to get all the information to the reader in an enjoyable way. Never once did I find myself yawning or skipping over bits in a bid to get to more interesting fodder. Even when the subject matter was an area I was fairly well versed in, I still found the writing engaging enough to keep me going.
However, at times I did feel like perhaps there was a little too much information included. While I can understand that the authors are trying to cover all aspects of chicken ownership (it is a handbook after all), there were times when it just felt too much like they were trying to put the fear of god into the reader, especially at the start when they were discussing whether chicken ownership is the right thing for an individual. I find this happens quite often also in non-fiction subjects like organic gardening, it seems like the expert is making a mountain out of a molehill. Chicken rearing, it appears, is the same.
But don’t let this criticism get to you when thinking about selecting this book, since there is so much more to be found between the pages that will enrich your life with chickens.
Overall I am giving My Pet Chicken Handbook by Lissa Lucas and Traci Torres 4 out of 5 stars.
Being a chicken owner myself, I found plenty of advice I probably should have read before purchasing my first few hens. I also found loads of information that was completely new to me – as well as a chicken website I never previously knew existed. (Go to MyPetChicken.com – it’s an AWESOME site!)
The authors of this handbook have plenty to say and manage to get all the information to the reader in an enjoyable way. Never once did I find myself yawning or skipping over bits in a bid to get to more interesting fodder. Even when the subject matter was an area I was fairly well versed in, I still found the writing engaging enough to keep me going.
However, at times I did feel like perhaps there was a little too much information included. While I can understand that the authors are trying to cover all aspects of chicken ownership (it is a handbook after all), there were times when it just felt too much like they were trying to put the fear of god into the reader, especially at the start when they were discussing whether chicken ownership is the right thing for an individual. I find this happens quite often also in non-fiction subjects like organic gardening, it seems like the expert is making a mountain out of a molehill. Chicken rearing, it appears, is the same.
But don’t let this criticism get to you when thinking about selecting this book, since there is so much more to be found between the pages that will enrich your life with chickens.
Overall I am giving My Pet Chicken Handbook by Lissa Lucas and Traci Torres 4 out of 5 stars.
June 6, 2017
I do not and have never owned chickens.
... yet.
This text is firm, inspiring, practical, and reassuring. It seems like a very good depth to breadth ratio for a chicken noob.
The breed chart is valuable. I do wish that it included footnotes, or gave page number references to relevant text (e.g., the authors make a note in one part of the text about why a particular breed was given a particular rating in a particular category in the chart -- an exception to their general rating methods, but you're blind to that information when looking at the chart).
Get again.
... yet.
This text is firm, inspiring, practical, and reassuring. It seems like a very good depth to breadth ratio for a chicken noob.
The breed chart is valuable. I do wish that it included footnotes, or gave page number references to relevant text (e.g., the authors make a note in one part of the text about why a particular breed was given a particular rating in a particular category in the chart -- an exception to their general rating methods, but you're blind to that information when looking at the chart).
Get again.
May 26, 2021
Plenty of useful information here, but it does tend to assume that people will be getting their chooks as chicks (possibly because the authors' website sells chicks). So there's a lot of stuff about brooders and ordering newly hatched chicks by mail which may not be useful to some readers.
I found the breed comparison tables most helpful.
I found the breed comparison tables most helpful.
November 28, 2018
I bought this one for a reference. Now to get the chickens...
January 31, 2019
Very informative and entertaining. I liked the notes/musings from both authors. If you're serious about getting chickens I would rad some other books besides this one.
May 20, 2022
Easy top read with lots of information for new chicken parents.
November 30, 2017
really great information on starting your own flock. such as, questions to ask when deciding housing set-up, what breeds to pick, caring for your chickens, and what is considered 'normal' behavior/health. there were just so many great tidbits of information i found fascinating. there was a blurb on how to train your dog to behave around your chickens. who knew chickens had manners?! which explains a lot of actions i never gave much thought about. (now i know why the sikies kept coming inside, liked to be carried in/out, and got picked on). the break down of the many different housing options and their pros/cons would be helpful for first time owners or new options for established owners. i loved the chart on the typical characteristics of the different breeds. this is just a sampling with much more found within.
the pictures throughout the book were gorgeous. also, the book includes recipes. there is a chart on egg size and ratios i.e. 2 jumbo eggs = 3 large eggs, etc. i loved the recipe that used ramps as an ingredient!(if you're not from west virgina you probably won't understand). there are not only recipes for humans but also treat recipes for chickens. these are just a few of the new bits of knowledge i gained from this book.
overall, this book had great information for first time owners as well as insight for current owners. i can't wait to try more of the recipes both for myself and the chickens.
(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)
the pictures throughout the book were gorgeous. also, the book includes recipes. there is a chart on egg size and ratios i.e. 2 jumbo eggs = 3 large eggs, etc. i loved the recipe that used ramps as an ingredient!(if you're not from west virgina you probably won't understand). there are not only recipes for humans but also treat recipes for chickens. these are just a few of the new bits of knowledge i gained from this book.
overall, this book had great information for first time owners as well as insight for current owners. i can't wait to try more of the recipes both for myself and the chickens.
(Received free through Goodreads First Reads)
February 12, 2014
I received a copy of this via firstreads. I have been intrigued by this concept since I was younger and my neighbors had chickens. I was jealous of their never-ending supply of eggs. To be honest I had been nervous after reading the title that this would be a fluff piece for children about how amazing pet chickens are, but I was impressed. This book had an amazing amount of information for it's size. Don't get me wrong, you can tell the authors love their chickens, but they cover ever possible topic and do not avoid anything not even the decision whether to kill and eat older hens past their prime or not. I was also impressed by how they covered every option while including their recommendation and the pros and cons of all options. The reader knew what the authors would do in any situation and why, but felt free to make their own decisions and were left capable of that because the authors gave then the information needed to choose a different path. I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking about getting chickens or anyone wishing they knew a bit more of what was going on with their flock.
March 4, 2014
Alright, I don't raise chickens. I've never raised chickens. It is unlikely that I'll ever raise chickens. I predominantly entered this goodreads.com giveaway because my quirky daughter-in-law loves chickens. I thought it would be fun to learn more about chickens so that we would have something else to talk about I also that thought I could gift her with this book.
What I did not expect was to enjoy this book about chickens. The photography was great. Not that I have a great wealth of knowledge with which to judge this, but the how-to sections seemed to make sense and were well written. Toward the end of the book there is a section called Reward Time. These are the recipes that make use of all of those eggs you are blessed with if you are good at raising chickens. It is with deep sadness that I admit I'll never be able to eat any of these delicious sounding foods because I have an egg allergy. The photo of the red pickled eggs almost made me cry. I miss them so much. There are a few other recipes that I am going to try, leaving out the egg, just because they looked so darn tasty.
If you have any interest in chickens, or perhaps just love eggs, check out the book.
What I did not expect was to enjoy this book about chickens. The photography was great. Not that I have a great wealth of knowledge with which to judge this, but the how-to sections seemed to make sense and were well written. Toward the end of the book there is a section called Reward Time. These are the recipes that make use of all of those eggs you are blessed with if you are good at raising chickens. It is with deep sadness that I admit I'll never be able to eat any of these delicious sounding foods because I have an egg allergy. The photo of the red pickled eggs almost made me cry. I miss them so much. There are a few other recipes that I am going to try, leaving out the egg, just because they looked so darn tasty.
If you have any interest in chickens, or perhaps just love eggs, check out the book.
December 19, 2013
The One Must-Have Book!
Having had chickens since childhood I have read many how-to manuals – this is the best one! Absolutely filled with facts and thoughts to ponder. With chickens quickly gaining in popularity there are many considerations and decisions to make before you bring home the chicks – Lisa Lucas and Traci Torres ask all the right questions – and help you with the answers. Written in an easy to read manner this book is fantastic! Even this old chicken momma learned a few new facts. Well written, fast paced and informative! Buy this book for anyone considering owning this amazing pet! Cheers – no - cock-a-doodle do to both of you for a job well done! Enjoy! NetGalley and Rodale Inc provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Having had chickens since childhood I have read many how-to manuals – this is the best one! Absolutely filled with facts and thoughts to ponder. With chickens quickly gaining in popularity there are many considerations and decisions to make before you bring home the chicks – Lisa Lucas and Traci Torres ask all the right questions – and help you with the answers. Written in an easy to read manner this book is fantastic! Even this old chicken momma learned a few new facts. Well written, fast paced and informative! Buy this book for anyone considering owning this amazing pet! Cheers – no - cock-a-doodle do to both of you for a job well done! Enjoy! NetGalley and Rodale Inc provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2014
I have two criticisms for this book. The first - that it wasn't around ages ago when my family started raising chickens. The second - that it made me desperately miss keeping chickens!
"My Pet Chicken" is a fantastic resource for chicken newbies, as it covers all aspects of caring for and living with these fascinating birds. It's a good read for experienced chicken caretakers too - the Breed Selector Guide and the tips for identifying illnesses and predators are great references to have on hand. Not to mention all the egg-centered recipes at the end!
"My Pet Chicken" is a fantastic resource for chicken newbies, as it covers all aspects of caring for and living with these fascinating birds. It's a good read for experienced chicken caretakers too - the Breed Selector Guide and the tips for identifying illnesses and predators are great references to have on hand. Not to mention all the egg-centered recipes at the end!
April 11, 2014
I won this wonderful little book on Goodreads and it has been way more than I expected. It will be a very helpful book as I venture into the growth of raising my own food and small livestock. I really enjoyed this and will reread this many times.
November 17, 2014
I've got chickens on the brain. This book was really informative, but my decision is still shaky. It seems chickens are simultaneously easy and difficult to raise.
August 25, 2015
Wonderful book! Loads of helpful information; not overly simplified or too complex. Beautiful pictures. I will definitely be buying a copy of this one.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews