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Once Upon a Flock: Life with My Soulful Chickens
When longtime illustrator and lover of power tools Lauren Scheuer was looking for a project, she got the idea to raise backyard chickens. Her husband and teenage daughter looked on incredulously as coop sketches and chicken-raising books filled their New England home. But when the chicks arrived, the whole family fell in love with the bundles of fluff and the wild adventures began. Once Upon a Life with My Soulful Chickens stars Scheuer’s backyard chickens—with their big personalities, friendships, rivalries, and secrets—and the flock’s guardian, Marky the terrier. The flock includes Hatsy, the little dynamo; Lil’White, the deranged and twisted Buff Orpington; Pigeon, the fixer-upper chicken; and Lucy, the special-needs hen who bonds with Lauren and becomes a fast friend. This charming story of Lauren’s life with her quirky flock is filled with moments of humor and When Lucy is afflicted with a neurological disease, Lauren builds Lucy a special-needs coop. When Lucy’s nesting instinct leads Lauren to act as a chicken midwife of sorts, Lauren hatches a chick in her home. And when Lucy’s best friend Hatsy falls ill, Lauren finds an unlikely friend for Lucy in a chicken named Pigeon, who requires an emergency bath and blow-dry. Enthusiastically immersing herself in the world of her flock, Lauren discovers that love, loss, passion, and resilience are not only parts of the human experience, but of the chicken experience as well. Throughout it all, Lauren documents the laughter and drama of her flock’s adventures with her own whimsical photos and illustrations. At once humorous, poignant, and informative, Once Upon a Flock is a feathered tale like no other.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2013
15 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
January 25, 2019
3.5 stars --ONCE UPON A FLOCK is the mostly happy memoir of the author’s experience sharing her life with a small flock of chickens. These little birds have outsize personalities, and they are emotional, showing just as much range of sensitivity as animals readers are far more likely to be acquainted with. (Indeed, the hens’ blend of bravery, compassion, neediness and territoriality distinctly reminded me of my cats.)
It is so nice to see an animal who is thought of by so many as just an ingredient, as the sentient individuals they actually are. Although the author doesn’t speak much of her own family’s diet in the book, I do hope that they no longer ate chickens after falling in love with their hen friends, just as I hope that omnivorous readers who enjoy this book will be inspired to re-think their choice to eat chickens.
Although some of the author’s choices are likely to make seasoned animal advocates wince, it is still wonderful and refreshing to see a chicken-based book in which the author loves, values, and protects the lives of her charges, and which never concludes with the animals’ slaughter. There are so many “small farm” books out there right now that revel in and even fetishize killing and eating animals—one bestseller even has its famous author referring to farmed animals as “crops that blink their eyes.” Kudos to the author for understanding that chickens and other animals are not objects but what should be obvious—dynamic, thinking beings.
Further thoughts:
-The author is well aware that factory farming produces the majority of eggs sold in grocery stores, which is one reason she wanted to raise her own hens. One of the hens, Hatsy, is a “production hybrid,” and she lays earlier and much more frequently than her heritage breed sisters. Despite being the smallest hen, she also lays the largest eggs. Hatsy was bred for the punishing production scale of the factory farm, and she pays the ultimate price when her body simply gives out at a tender age. (Don’t ever let Big Ag convince you their animals produce because they’re “happy”—they produce because they’ve been intensively bred to do so, despite their surroundings. These animals are essentially prisoners of their own bodies, as well as the factory farm.)
-Despite being a “production animal,” Hatsy has her own personality—she is intelligent and amazingly empathetic when one of her flockmates falls ill. They are all clearly thinking creatures; prepare to be amazed by this book’s insights even if you already share a bond with animals.
-Although the author embarks upon the adventure of raising her own hens to avoid supporting the industrial egg industry, she unwittingly ends up supporting another—the hatchery industry. Hatcheries supply factory farms just as they supply backyard hobbyists, and they ship day-old chicks through the mail— which is how the chicks arrive at the author’s residence. When the book later describes the care and tenderness with which a hen raises a chick, we should truly consider how the cold, industrial process of the hatchery and complete separation of hen and chick affects these baby birds.
-The author rescues a timid hen from a farmer who is keeping her in a small cage where she is being slowly pecked and clawed to death by her more aggressive cagemates. The hen was a former “pet chick,” raised by a child, and banished when she grew up. This and worse are the fates of most Easter and classroom-hatching-project chicks when they “go to a nice farm.”
-The author’s experience with roosters mirrors a crisis brewing with the backyard chicken movement. Roosters are loud and territorial, and most people don’t want them—out of respect for their neighbors or simply because laws often forbid them. So, roosters are pariahs. Hatcheries supplying the egg layer market toss them into industrial grinders. Individuals who end up with roosters desperately try to rehome them, surrender them to animal shelters, and outright abandon them. The author dreads accidentally hatching a rooster, and when she does, she makes desperate pleas on Craigslist, chicken forums, and bulletin boards for a good home who won’t put “Jenny” on the chopping block. It’s nearly impossible, and when she finally does find a chicken farmer willing to take Jenny, it’s pretty much impossible to vouch for his fate afterward.
It is so nice to see an animal who is thought of by so many as just an ingredient, as the sentient individuals they actually are. Although the author doesn’t speak much of her own family’s diet in the book, I do hope that they no longer ate chickens after falling in love with their hen friends, just as I hope that omnivorous readers who enjoy this book will be inspired to re-think their choice to eat chickens.
Although some of the author’s choices are likely to make seasoned animal advocates wince, it is still wonderful and refreshing to see a chicken-based book in which the author loves, values, and protects the lives of her charges, and which never concludes with the animals’ slaughter. There are so many “small farm” books out there right now that revel in and even fetishize killing and eating animals—one bestseller even has its famous author referring to farmed animals as “crops that blink their eyes.” Kudos to the author for understanding that chickens and other animals are not objects but what should be obvious—dynamic, thinking beings.
Further thoughts:
-The author is well aware that factory farming produces the majority of eggs sold in grocery stores, which is one reason she wanted to raise her own hens. One of the hens, Hatsy, is a “production hybrid,” and she lays earlier and much more frequently than her heritage breed sisters. Despite being the smallest hen, she also lays the largest eggs. Hatsy was bred for the punishing production scale of the factory farm, and she pays the ultimate price when her body simply gives out at a tender age. (Don’t ever let Big Ag convince you their animals produce because they’re “happy”—they produce because they’ve been intensively bred to do so, despite their surroundings. These animals are essentially prisoners of their own bodies, as well as the factory farm.)
-Despite being a “production animal,” Hatsy has her own personality—she is intelligent and amazingly empathetic when one of her flockmates falls ill. They are all clearly thinking creatures; prepare to be amazed by this book’s insights even if you already share a bond with animals.
-Although the author embarks upon the adventure of raising her own hens to avoid supporting the industrial egg industry, she unwittingly ends up supporting another—the hatchery industry. Hatcheries supply factory farms just as they supply backyard hobbyists, and they ship day-old chicks through the mail— which is how the chicks arrive at the author’s residence. When the book later describes the care and tenderness with which a hen raises a chick, we should truly consider how the cold, industrial process of the hatchery and complete separation of hen and chick affects these baby birds.
-The author rescues a timid hen from a farmer who is keeping her in a small cage where she is being slowly pecked and clawed to death by her more aggressive cagemates. The hen was a former “pet chick,” raised by a child, and banished when she grew up. This and worse are the fates of most Easter and classroom-hatching-project chicks when they “go to a nice farm.”
-The author’s experience with roosters mirrors a crisis brewing with the backyard chicken movement. Roosters are loud and territorial, and most people don’t want them—out of respect for their neighbors or simply because laws often forbid them. So, roosters are pariahs. Hatcheries supplying the egg layer market toss them into industrial grinders. Individuals who end up with roosters desperately try to rehome them, surrender them to animal shelters, and outright abandon them. The author dreads accidentally hatching a rooster, and when she does, she makes desperate pleas on Craigslist, chicken forums, and bulletin boards for a good home who won’t put “Jenny” on the chopping block. It’s nearly impossible, and when she finally does find a chicken farmer willing to take Jenny, it’s pretty much impossible to vouch for his fate afterward.
June 1, 2024
Lauren Scheuer’s Once Upon a Flock: Life with My Soulful Chickens is a very sweet book about owning a small flock of chickens. This isn’t a how to, although anyone thinking of getting chickens is likely to find some useful information in it.
Scheuer really captures the personalities of the six chickens featured in her book. It helps that she is an illustrator who draws absolutely adorable pictures of her chickens and her family, often putting cute little drawings into photos.
Scheuer lives in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter. In addition to being an illustrator, she is handy with a tool. She envies her friend Patricia: “In her yard, children frolic, sheep graze, and colorful chickens drift in and out of her garden. In Patricia’s yard, the sun shines brighter and the grass is always greener.” (p. 5) Scheuer decides to put her skill to use by making a chicken coop and buying some chicks to use it.
The text is littered with sketches. I particularly enjoyed the many creative designs for her chicken coop, including a Trojan Chicken of sorts and a chicken Taj Mahal. The author has a whimsical way with words that tickled me. She explains her reasoning for picking out the four chicken types: “Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock originated here in the Northeast. They would know how to handle the harsh winters. My Black Australorp would glimmer in the sunshine like an iridescent beetle. And the Buff Orpington? Well, I just wanted a reason to say ‘Buff Orpington’ every day. Buff Orpington, Buff Orpington, Buff Orpington.” (p. 13)
Scheuer accidentally received a “production breed” chicken instead of her Rhode Island Red. This is a hybrid chicken designed for maximum efficiency. Hatsy lived a short but wonderful life, a dynamo of activity who was the leader of her flock in addition to the top egg producer. It made me sad to think about the horrible lives of factory chickens (although Scheuer does not write about that).
Once Upon a Flock is a quick and delightful read. If you enjoy animal stories, Once Upon a Flock will put a smile on your face.
Reread in 2024. Just as good the second time.
Scheuer really captures the personalities of the six chickens featured in her book. It helps that she is an illustrator who draws absolutely adorable pictures of her chickens and her family, often putting cute little drawings into photos.
Scheuer lives in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter. In addition to being an illustrator, she is handy with a tool. She envies her friend Patricia: “In her yard, children frolic, sheep graze, and colorful chickens drift in and out of her garden. In Patricia’s yard, the sun shines brighter and the grass is always greener.” (p. 5) Scheuer decides to put her skill to use by making a chicken coop and buying some chicks to use it.
The text is littered with sketches. I particularly enjoyed the many creative designs for her chicken coop, including a Trojan Chicken of sorts and a chicken Taj Mahal. The author has a whimsical way with words that tickled me. She explains her reasoning for picking out the four chicken types: “Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock originated here in the Northeast. They would know how to handle the harsh winters. My Black Australorp would glimmer in the sunshine like an iridescent beetle. And the Buff Orpington? Well, I just wanted a reason to say ‘Buff Orpington’ every day. Buff Orpington, Buff Orpington, Buff Orpington.” (p. 13)
Scheuer accidentally received a “production breed” chicken instead of her Rhode Island Red. This is a hybrid chicken designed for maximum efficiency. Hatsy lived a short but wonderful life, a dynamo of activity who was the leader of her flock in addition to the top egg producer. It made me sad to think about the horrible lives of factory chickens (although Scheuer does not write about that).
Once Upon a Flock is a quick and delightful read. If you enjoy animal stories, Once Upon a Flock will put a smile on your face.
Reread in 2024. Just as good the second time.
May 9, 2013
A wonderful book with adorable illustrations. If you are an animal lover you will love this book.
Oh man, I can't wait to get my own chickens!!!!
Oh man, I can't wait to get my own chickens!!!!
July 24, 2019
I picked this up last year when it was offered for free. I mostly picked it up because I loved Sy Montgomery's work.
While Scheuer may not be as a good writer as Montgomery, this is an enjoyable, quick read about a woman who tends to chickens. While you might wonder if the family is a bit sudden or flighty in its new interest, they do seem to step up to the plate.
The book is fun because of the artwork and photos that are included as well as the fact that Scheuer seems able to laugh at herself.
Enjoyable.
While Scheuer may not be as a good writer as Montgomery, this is an enjoyable, quick read about a woman who tends to chickens. While you might wonder if the family is a bit sudden or flighty in its new interest, they do seem to step up to the plate.
The book is fun because of the artwork and photos that are included as well as the fact that Scheuer seems able to laugh at herself.
Enjoyable.
June 17, 2013
Lauren Scheuer is an artist and blogger (Scratch & Peck) who decided to raise chickens after visiting a friend’s small farm – she needed a new project for the yard. She researched different breeds and designed and built her own chicken coops/enclosures and ordered her first 4 chicks – all different breeds – to arrive in the spring. Although she’d had the chicks expertly sexed before their delivery, one of them turned out to be a rooster and had to be rehomed (roosters can be a noisy nuisance). Lauren was delighted to discover that her hens each had her own personality and habits. The ladies quickly established a pecking order among themselves, but other issues arose – Lucy contracted a disease which left her weak and somewhat disabled (then she went broody), Hatsy began producing oddly-shaped eggs which caused her a great deal of pain to pass, and Lil’White could be kind of a terror – to human AND chickenkind. Lauren also had to train her terrier, Marky, to accept the chickens. Lauren’s experience with her small flock, however, has been both fascinating and delightful – despite trials and tribulations. This journal of her experiences is filled with Lauren’s photographs and illustrations (I adore her chicken drawings). It’s easy to see how much she loves her feathered friends. Fun and quick read for those considering a relationship with chickens (or for those who just want to live vicariously).
July 16, 2018
Three and a half stars.
This is not a book that will teach you how to care for your chickens. In fact, at a couple of points I wondered why this woman took quite so many days to take an obviously ailing bird to a farm vet and find out just what was up! But some people are like that, even farm folk--their general line with small animals like chickens and farmed rabbits seems to be, "either it'll get better or it'll die, either way ain't much sense in spendin' money on doctorin'."
The authoress at least avoided the temptation to jerk the old tears (at least, not very hard) or to go all cutesy-poo. But if she found her birds so soulful and affectionate, I did wonder why her medical care tended to be quite so scanty, particularly as she claims to have obsessed about all things chicken--unless she considers herself a ten-minute expert.
A fast, light, easy read. I enjoyed the part about the chickens' personalities, but found myself annoyed by their owner at times. She's a "blogger"--which in part explains the preponderance of photos and drawings and the paucity of text. I might have wondered about her less if chicken keeping weren't quite the fad it is nowadays. One wonders how long her self-described "obsession" will last and hopes the chickens won't suffer for it.
This is not a book that will teach you how to care for your chickens. In fact, at a couple of points I wondered why this woman took quite so many days to take an obviously ailing bird to a farm vet and find out just what was up! But some people are like that, even farm folk--their general line with small animals like chickens and farmed rabbits seems to be, "either it'll get better or it'll die, either way ain't much sense in spendin' money on doctorin'."
The authoress at least avoided the temptation to jerk the old tears (at least, not very hard) or to go all cutesy-poo. But if she found her birds so soulful and affectionate, I did wonder why her medical care tended to be quite so scanty, particularly as she claims to have obsessed about all things chicken--unless she considers herself a ten-minute expert.
A fast, light, easy read. I enjoyed the part about the chickens' personalities, but found myself annoyed by their owner at times. She's a "blogger"--which in part explains the preponderance of photos and drawings and the paucity of text. I might have wondered about her less if chicken keeping weren't quite the fad it is nowadays. One wonders how long her self-described "obsession" will last and hopes the chickens won't suffer for it.
March 2, 2013
I just read Once Upon a Flock by Lauren Scheuer, cover to cover in about 3 hours. This book is SO GOOD! I never would have thought that chickens could have such big personalities! Complete with pictures of her fun little flock - and Marky the terrier! - this is a quick, fun read that will make you think twice before ordering chicken at a restaurant ever again :)
June 29, 2014
All backyard chicken owners -- and everyone else who has ever loved someone of another species -- will relate to Lauren Scheuer's amazing book. I haven't read any other books this woman has illustrated, but the pictures in this one are perfect and enhance the story wonderfully. She has a simple-looking style that allows the chickens to express so much while still looking like real chickens. Her photos are also great and show off how ADORABLE her flock is. The book is an easy read and has a cute, whimsical feel to it despite being a true story.
Now, to the actual story...I'll try not to spoil anything, but I think most people know that the book is about someone who buys some chickens. Scheuer introduces the reader to each of her chickens, immediately showing them their distinct personalities. As a chicken owner myself, I noticed from day one with my 7-chicken flock that all chickens are individuals who have a wide range of emotions. They all have different personalities ranging from sweet and to downright psychotic.
The author captures the spirit of the chicken perfectly, telling the story of her flock in a simple yet powerful way that allows the reader to get to know Lil'White, Lucy, Hatsy, and Marky as if they were characters in a fictional adventure book. She gives us a brief but beautiful glance at chicken (and dog) keeping with the ups, downs, laughs, tears, and frustration pet owners' experience.
The book itself is very short, with pictures taking up a lot of room on the page. Scheuer's writing style is simple and easy to read. I didn't mind it at all, but some people may be bothered by it. It's a quick read; a breezed through it in a matter of hours. I do wish I had it in paperback, but I stand by my decision to pay $23 for it as a good one.
Once Upon a Flock is a small, simple, and touching story. I'd recommend it to anyone who has animal friends and/or a heart capable of feeling. Definitely not just a book for crazy chicken ladies like me!
Now, to the actual story...I'll try not to spoil anything, but I think most people know that the book is about someone who buys some chickens. Scheuer introduces the reader to each of her chickens, immediately showing them their distinct personalities. As a chicken owner myself, I noticed from day one with my 7-chicken flock that all chickens are individuals who have a wide range of emotions. They all have different personalities ranging from sweet and to downright psychotic.
The author captures the spirit of the chicken perfectly, telling the story of her flock in a simple yet powerful way that allows the reader to get to know Lil'White, Lucy, Hatsy, and Marky as if they were characters in a fictional adventure book. She gives us a brief but beautiful glance at chicken (and dog) keeping with the ups, downs, laughs, tears, and frustration pet owners' experience.
The book itself is very short, with pictures taking up a lot of room on the page. Scheuer's writing style is simple and easy to read. I didn't mind it at all, but some people may be bothered by it. It's a quick read; a breezed through it in a matter of hours. I do wish I had it in paperback, but I stand by my decision to pay $23 for it as a good one.
Once Upon a Flock is a small, simple, and touching story. I'd recommend it to anyone who has animal friends and/or a heart capable of feeling. Definitely not just a book for crazy chicken ladies like me!
April 15, 2013
I had brought home a stack of interesting-looking books from the library and thought I'd spend a Sunday afternoon perusing them. I never got past this book; I read it cover-to-cover. It is just delightful. The author is an artist and has made a sort of picture book for grown-ups, with clever illustrations on nearly every page. I really like her method of placing her quirky little drawings on top of real photos. She lives in a rural area of Massachusetts in a beautiful setting. Apparently, while her daughter was young, the two had many adventures with nature in this yard. Now that her daughter is a teen though, the author was feeling at loose ends. A nearby friend had chickens, so the author did some research and procured a small flock. She informs us that a proper flock is at least three hens, and that is what she acquired. She raised them from little day-old chicks to mature "girls" (as she calls them). Each bird has a name and a personality. The family terrier enters into the story line at points and the little rascal looks very much like a terrier I once had (who recently left this earth for the great doggie beyond). I was in awe of how well-trained the little fellow was. I was also in awe of the author's mechanical abilities in building her various chicken houses. This is a very enjoyable read for you animal lovers out there.
May 16, 2013
What a great little book! It caught my eye, of course, because it was about chickens! The author is also the illustrator and there is a great mix of drawings and photos documenting her first start into chicken keeping. Through the highs and lows of her experiences I couldn't put the book down. I finished it in about 3 hours and did not want to stop reading, but had to force myself to go to bed! This was an easy read and I am going to see if my 10 year old would like to read it before it goes back to the library.
March 28, 2013
I love this book so much that I bought it even though I read almost all of it at the bookstore. The stories are funny and dear, and Lauren's wonderful illustrations grace every page.
June 26, 2020
As a fellow chicken lover, this was a delightful book to read both alone and with my young son who also loves our chickens.
January 22, 2018
What an adorable little book.
I work at a library and this book had been damaged. I had wanted to read this book, so I decided to do that before I withdrew it from our collection. But now I am going to try to get a replacement copy.
I used to have chickens, and this brought back memories of raising them and all the odd quirks they had and all the little sounds that they would make when talking to you. I had names for all of mine, too, except for a trio of stand-offish Rhodies that looked like triplets.
Cute little drawings and pictures accompany the story and I highly recommend this book to all animal lovers. The author has a blog (sadly not updated for the last few years), but is active on Facebook, and it was fun going through and reading about new and past chickens that I had gotten to know from the book.
I work at a library and this book had been damaged. I had wanted to read this book, so I decided to do that before I withdrew it from our collection. But now I am going to try to get a replacement copy.
I used to have chickens, and this brought back memories of raising them and all the odd quirks they had and all the little sounds that they would make when talking to you. I had names for all of mine, too, except for a trio of stand-offish Rhodies that looked like triplets.
Cute little drawings and pictures accompany the story and I highly recommend this book to all animal lovers. The author has a blog (sadly not updated for the last few years), but is active on Facebook, and it was fun going through and reading about new and past chickens that I had gotten to know from the book.
February 17, 2018
If you like chickens or you want to get or have chickens this is a cute book to read. The author buys four chicks and tells us her experiences in raising them for the first time. She uses her sketches and pictures throughout this fun little book. I liked reading about the individual personalities of her girls.
January 15, 2020
Such a delightful book! I highly enjoyed this quick read. The illustrations and photos are wonderful. As a lover and aspiring owner of chickens, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned about chickens. They have more individual personality than I ever thought possible. Would recommend this book to anyone interested in chicken-keeping but looking for a fun read rather than a textbook.
March 28, 2014
I totally want to hang out with Lauren Scheuer and her chickens. She is hilarious and a whole lot nicer than I am. Whereas I jailed, sentenced, and executed my murderous Buff Orpington, she carefully separated chickens who didn't like each other, rehabilitated sick chickens, and even found a way to keep a noisy rooster around.
Her photos and illustrations (she's an artist by trade), make the book even better, adding to the humor and warmth.
I especially love her coop ideas:
Her sketches of chicken breeds:
Her drawings and photos of her chicks:
And her integration of photos and sketches:
I've never read her blog, Scratch and Peck , but will start following it now, especially since it looks like it picks up after the events in the book.
Added bonus: although intended for an adult audience, this book is appropriate and appealing to my 7-year-old, who is even more of a chicken aficionado than I am.
Her photos and illustrations (she's an artist by trade), make the book even better, adding to the humor and warmth.
I especially love her coop ideas:
Her sketches of chicken breeds:
Her drawings and photos of her chicks:
And her integration of photos and sketches:
I've never read her blog, Scratch and Peck , but will start following it now, especially since it looks like it picks up after the events in the book.
Added bonus: although intended for an adult audience, this book is appropriate and appealing to my 7-year-old, who is even more of a chicken aficionado than I am.
February 6, 2013
I enjoyed this light hearted memoir of Lauren Scheuer’s backyard flock. Keeping chickens is in vogue at the moment and Lauren throws herself into providing them with a distinctive and luxurious coop, it helps that she has a penchant for both design and power tools. The family dog is a bit confused as to his role with the chirping birds in his yard. Peace is negotiated and he becomes their protector, even refusing to play with his former dog pals in the backyard where the chickens forage for tasty grubs. The chickens do their part to make the story interesting too; they each have very independent personalities. If you are in the mood for something light this is an amusing and entertaining story.
April 22, 2015
With color photographs and/or illustrations on every page, colored text, semi-glossy pages and a compact size, this book is an artistic treasure. And while it seems light on text, every word is so enchanting and paints such a whimsical picture of chicken ownership (hens who are best friends! a terrier who protects the flock like a sheepdog!) that it's nothing but sheer joy from cover to cover, albeit with one sad part. I'd say it's for any age that can grasp the vocabulary.
This book also reinvigorated my childhood dream of having pet chicken. My best friend once had a flock of Barred Rocks like Lucy, and these stories brought me back to the happy days of having a plump hen slowly nod off to sleep in your lap like a cat if you petted her long enough.
This book also reinvigorated my childhood dream of having pet chicken. My best friend once had a flock of Barred Rocks like Lucy, and these stories brought me back to the happy days of having a plump hen slowly nod off to sleep in your lap like a cat if you petted her long enough.
January 15, 2016
Wonderfully,fun read,made me wish even more that I had owned my own flock of chickens.I believe the author had the right idea to only have a flock of three!Not so overwhelmed by the messy part that way.
Plus it is much easier to get to know and observe your 'girls' as individuals that way than if you have a large flock.
It was a joy reading about each of the hens,and the author's experiences with them from chickhood. Would be flock owners can learn much from this book,and an added bonus is the photos and illustrations.
Highly recommended for everyone who has an interest in chickens.
Plus it is much easier to get to know and observe your 'girls' as individuals that way than if you have a large flock.
It was a joy reading about each of the hens,and the author's experiences with them from chickhood. Would be flock owners can learn much from this book,and an added bonus is the photos and illustrations.
Highly recommended for everyone who has an interest in chickens.
March 20, 2013
First book I've read in 2013 that will definitely be going on my Best Books of the Year list. So adorably cute and funny and heartbreaking - it's the best story of how chickens really are that I've been able to find. The illustrations are perfect; both the photographs and the drawings. Love, love, love this book, and I'm absolutely buying my own copy!
June 2, 2013
What a wonderful book. I'm an animal lover, but I never realized chickens had so much personality. I got this book on a Friday night, spent most of Saturday squeezing in a chapter here and there and finished it by late Sunday morning. Now if I can only resist the urge to build a chicken coop. Someone help me if she starts raising rabbits and writes a book about them. I'll be sunk.
June 17, 2013
Illustrations are perfect! Stories are right there. If you own chickens, thinking about owning chickens and just enjoy them this book is for you. It is perfect in every way and the stories are rather endearing. Enjoyed this immensely and the best Mother's Day present ever.
March 28, 2013
Heart warming and a joy to read!
April 4, 2013
I loved this book!
April 4, 2013
A quick, entertaining, heart-felt read. Perfect choice for urban farmer wanna-bes.
June 15, 2013
Delightful and charming read!
May 5, 2013
You think you won't cry over chickens? Think again.
May 16, 2013
Entertaining and to the point with lots of illustrations, this reads more like a picture book than what the term "non-fiction" brings to mind.
May 20, 2015
Very light read. Finished in a day. Interesting stories but maybe not a template for anyone planning to raise egg layers.
February 18, 2016
Cute, very entertaining w/o being sappy. Love the little illustrations throughout.
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