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Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple: A Fun, Friendly Guide to Backyard Chicken Keeping
Get started keeping chickens in your own backyard with this down-to-earth guide by popular chicken-fluencer Nikki Husted (@purelychickens).
Keeping chickens can look almost glamorous online. It’s all beautiful chickens, cute baby chicks, and coops that look nice enough to spend the night in. The reality is that keeping chickens is rewarding—but also a lot of work and, well, poop cleanup. If you follow her online, you already know that Nikki shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of this popular hobby. In her first book, she remains unfiltered while she shares the essential techniques and helpful stories from her own experience with backyard chickens. That’s you can learn from her own successes and mistakes! Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple
Where to What are the rules for keeping chickens in your area? What do you need to get started? How many chickens do you need? (Be wary of chicken math!) And more considerations to both stoke and temper your excitement. Giving chickens what they There are serious things you should consider before you start raising your chickens, from monthly costs to time requirements. Do you have what it takes? Eggs, chicks, pullets, and hens Deciding between eggs, chicks, pullets, or hens as your starting point is about more than just cute baby chicks (though don’t we all love cute baby chicks?). The bonding Learn how to raise your chickens and integrate them with your family, including kids! What to do with all the A handful of recipes for making the most of your bounty, including water glass eggs, pickled eggs, and a few family favorites for breakfast and dinner. All about the How to set up and maintain a coop, including the process of cleaning. Medical needs: Dealing with common injuries, common pests/parasites, and advice from a vet.
With instructive photos and helpful tips throughout, this is the perfect book whether you’re just getting started with chickens or still dreaming of your first flock!
Keeping chickens can look almost glamorous online. It’s all beautiful chickens, cute baby chicks, and coops that look nice enough to spend the night in. The reality is that keeping chickens is rewarding—but also a lot of work and, well, poop cleanup. If you follow her online, you already know that Nikki shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of this popular hobby. In her first book, she remains unfiltered while she shares the essential techniques and helpful stories from her own experience with backyard chickens. That’s you can learn from her own successes and mistakes! Chicken Keeping Pure and Simple
Where to What are the rules for keeping chickens in your area? What do you need to get started? How many chickens do you need? (Be wary of chicken math!) And more considerations to both stoke and temper your excitement. Giving chickens what they There are serious things you should consider before you start raising your chickens, from monthly costs to time requirements. Do you have what it takes? Eggs, chicks, pullets, and hens Deciding between eggs, chicks, pullets, or hens as your starting point is about more than just cute baby chicks (though don’t we all love cute baby chicks?). The bonding Learn how to raise your chickens and integrate them with your family, including kids! What to do with all the A handful of recipes for making the most of your bounty, including water glass eggs, pickled eggs, and a few family favorites for breakfast and dinner. All about the How to set up and maintain a coop, including the process of cleaning. Medical needs: Dealing with common injuries, common pests/parasites, and advice from a vet.
With instructive photos and helpful tips throughout, this is the perfect book whether you’re just getting started with chickens or still dreaming of your first flock!
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2023
87 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 23, 2024
am I allowed to count a book about chicken keeping towards my yearly book goal? I say yes. anyways, very helpful book. going to buy a physical copy to keep on handy for any future referencing.
May 10, 2023
A super handy and very down-to-earth beginner-friendly book about how to keep chickens!
I've just recently started looking into keeping chickens but have no clue what it will require. This book gave me a very good understanding of all the basic understanding of my respo0nsiblities and what it's like to keep chickens. It gives great details about how to get started, what costs there will be (including one off and on going costs), coop options and suggestions, options in bringing chicken home, reality of bonding with chickens and egg laying, the importance of having a clean coop, and general troubleshooting (like dealing with injuries and illnesses including pests and parasites). And bonus egg recipes as well as ways to preserve eggs!
Basically, this books tells you all the pros and cons about chicken keeping by keeping it real, and I cannot be more thankful for that.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley (thank you!), and this is my honest review.
I've just recently started looking into keeping chickens but have no clue what it will require. This book gave me a very good understanding of all the basic understanding of my respo0nsiblities and what it's like to keep chickens. It gives great details about how to get started, what costs there will be (including one off and on going costs), coop options and suggestions, options in bringing chicken home, reality of bonding with chickens and egg laying, the importance of having a clean coop, and general troubleshooting (like dealing with injuries and illnesses including pests and parasites). And bonus egg recipes as well as ways to preserve eggs!
Basically, this books tells you all the pros and cons about chicken keeping by keeping it real, and I cannot be more thankful for that.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley (thank you!), and this is my honest review.
April 24, 2023
A wonderful entertainingly written starter guide to those who are considering keeping their own chickens!
Having looked after chickens for a number of years I am very impressed with the amount of useful tips and tricks given in this book. This is both entertaining and visually appealing (thanks to all the gorgeous images of the authors pride and joy!). The passion of the author really shone through and made for an interesting and informative read.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
Having looked after chickens for a number of years I am very impressed with the amount of useful tips and tricks given in this book. This is both entertaining and visually appealing (thanks to all the gorgeous images of the authors pride and joy!). The passion of the author really shone through and made for an interesting and informative read.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
April 17, 2023
This book is an excellent place to start if you are considering raising chickens. It answers many questions you will have and answers some you probably haven’t thought of asking.
It’s plainly written and has excellent pictures. I had never heard of some of the types shown.
Ms. Husted explains how it’s possible to make it a family project as well as a money maker/saver.
I requested and received a NetGalley gratis, am reviewing in the same, and highly recommend it for answers to see if raising chickens is right for you.
It’s plainly written and has excellent pictures. I had never heard of some of the types shown.
Ms. Husted explains how it’s possible to make it a family project as well as a money maker/saver.
I requested and received a NetGalley gratis, am reviewing in the same, and highly recommend it for answers to see if raising chickens is right for you.
May 31, 2023
This amazingly thorough guide to keeping chickens is well-written, packed with useful information, and illustrated with lovely full-color photos. The author shares her enthusiasm for chicken-keeping in a friendly and encouraging way, and although she keeps chickens for eggs and as pets, she mentions important considerations for people who keep chickens as livestock and isn't at all condescending or judgmental about people's different choices.
The author's expertise comes through clearly in each well-organized section, and she is honest about the hard things that people don't like to talk about, such as dealing with different diseases and problematic chicken behavior. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is considering getting chickens, especially because it gives them the chance to decide if that's too much for them before they sink a lot of time, money, and sweat equity into the project. This is also great for people who already have chickens who are looking for advice, and for chicken fans who want to learn more about the animal and enjoy the author's delightful photos.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
The author's expertise comes through clearly in each well-organized section, and she is honest about the hard things that people don't like to talk about, such as dealing with different diseases and problematic chicken behavior. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is considering getting chickens, especially because it gives them the chance to decide if that's too much for them before they sink a lot of time, money, and sweat equity into the project. This is also great for people who already have chickens who are looking for advice, and for chicken fans who want to learn more about the animal and enjoy the author's delightful photos.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2023
I think that I am too old to start having chickens anymore at the age of 77. I had the experience of raising chickens from eggs back in 1972 and it has been one of the most rewarding ones in my life. I was pregnant with my son, my flower garden was thriving and everything felt in bloom.
Reading this book brought back many happy memories including feeding my grandmother's chickens, gathering eggs, and eating the best eggs in the world. It has a lot of great advice that I did not have when I told my animal psychology professor that I wanted to take them home and not let them be put in the gas chamber.
Until I read the book, I did not know that it was unusual for every egg to hatch and survive to grow up. We drove to the psych lab and I rotated the eggs. When I took them home, I felt like a true mother hen.
Great chicken advice and ideas for chicken coops and lovely pictures of roosters and hens. This is one of the books that you want to hug to your chest!
Reading this book brought back many happy memories including feeding my grandmother's chickens, gathering eggs, and eating the best eggs in the world. It has a lot of great advice that I did not have when I told my animal psychology professor that I wanted to take them home and not let them be put in the gas chamber.
Until I read the book, I did not know that it was unusual for every egg to hatch and survive to grow up. We drove to the psych lab and I rotated the eggs. When I took them home, I felt like a true mother hen.
Great chicken advice and ideas for chicken coops and lovely pictures of roosters and hens. This is one of the books that you want to hug to your chest!
April 28, 2023
As someone who likes gardening and homesteading books, I have to say that Chicken Keeping Pure & Simple is one of the most helpful and entertaining books I have read this year. Along with beautiful images, it has a very practical approach to raising chickens, making it approachable to anyone considering. Most importantly, it is brutally honest, letting people know it isn’t just sunshine and roses, talking about pecking order, socializing, integration, feeding, fighting, and other common issues for chicken keeping.
The author’s humor, though, keeps this from being a dry read, giving you the feeling you have a homesteading mentor next to you during your first adventure with chickens. Overall, I consider this book a must for anyone considering having backyard chickens.
The author’s humor, though, keeps this from being a dry read, giving you the feeling you have a homesteading mentor next to you during your first adventure with chickens. Overall, I consider this book a must for anyone considering having backyard chickens.
July 29, 2025
This was a fantastic resource to quickly and easily learn the basics for backyard chicken keeping. Also covered some more in depth topics without boring you with unnecessary facts. Most recommend this to the person who is interested in keeping chickens 60% for the eggs and 40% for a unique pet. Best for the chicken keeper that’s just a liiiitle bit bougie and will be giving their hens a decorative curtains over their nesting boxes, for example. Nikki treats her chickens with love and dignity and I enjoyed her little antidotes about her own hens.
March 7, 2024
This is a must-have book for anyone even thinking about raising chickens! I was strongly considering the idea of raising a few chickens until Nikki made it abundantly clear how much DAILY attention these little beasts require. I know that I would be a lousy, fair weather-only, chicken Dad, so I'll save the birds, and pass on this endeavor. Nonetheless, this little book was super-informative, contained fantastic pictures, and was very entertaining.
June 6, 2023
This is a great starter manual for anyone looking to add backyard chickens to their lives. It covers the basics of coops, what chickens to buy, how to add chicks to existing chickens, what to watch out for and how to care for chickens of all ages. Also, it has great photographs and examples of chicken keeping all year round.
May 31, 2023
Very easy read with lots of details and information to help get started chicken keeping. Purelychickens also has a strong social media presence where she answers question on weekends to help anyone interested in these lovely animals. This is a MUST HAVE if you are just getting started.
May 18, 2023
Great resource! This books makes starting a chicken coop not seem so intimidating. I look forward to using the knowledge from this book to help me with my own chickens.
December 30, 2023
fun and easy
Very simple read and straightforward! Read it in a day and learned so much and started already coming up with plans to change some things in my run and coop!
Very simple read and straightforward! Read it in a day and learned so much and started already coming up with plans to change some things in my run and coop!
January 10, 2024
Kindle unlimited
For a honest review in my own words . this was very educational and interesting . I found this was very helpful.
For a honest review in my own words . this was very educational and interesting . I found this was very helpful.
May 14, 2024
A fine overview. Looks like rewarding work!
August 29, 2024
Read most of it as soon as I got the package. Lots of great info as I prepare to have chickens in the coming months.
March 13, 2025
Fantastic book for first time chicken owners. Full of great information on all things chicken: coops, feeding, caring for, etc. Highly recommend to anyone who is interested in chicken care taking.
May 3, 2025
very informative
This is a very easy to read book and provides helpful information for first time chicken owners. A must read!
This is a very easy to read book and provides helpful information for first time chicken owners. A must read!
June 9, 2025
The title says it all - this is a quick, easy guide to taking care of chickens! I'd highly recommend this book to newbie chicken keepers, like myself.
April 28, 2024
4 1/2⭐️ rounded up. Very helpful book as I embark on my life with chickens era. Easy to read and her voice is great! I always wish there was a little more step by step in books like this, but I get there’s not one answer for all chicken keepers.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews