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The Small-Scale Poultry Flock, Revised Edition: An All-Natural Approach to Raising and Breeding Chickens and Other Fowl for Home and Market Growers
The most comprehensive book on how to raise and breed your own poultry flock is now fully updated and expanded
“The ultimate book for those who want to know everything there is to know about raising poultry.”—Gene Logsdon, author of Letter to a Young Farmer
“There’s no better introductory reference on the joy of home-raising chickens.”—Booklist
The first edition of The Small-Scale Poultry Flock helped thousands of small-scale farmers and homesteaders successfully adopt a practical and integrative model for working with chickens and other domestic fowl based on natural systems. In this expanded and thoroughly revised edition, readers will find plenty of all-new material. Author Harvey Ussery introduces readers to his new favorite breed of chicken, Icelandics; describes how he manages his breeding flock using a clan mating system; presents detailed information on the use of trapnests and record-keeping spreadsheets for evaluating breeding hen performance; and provides step-by-step instructions for construction of an ingeniously designed mobile poultry shelter.
Readers will also find fully updated information and tips on all aspects of flock management,
Growing (and sourcing) feed on a small scale
Cultivating earthworms and grubs as high-protein poultry feed
Brooding (and breeding) at home
Implementing manure management
Using electric net fencing for ranging flocks
Using poultry as insect and weed managers in the garden and orchard
Enlisting your chickens as garden tillers and compost-makers
Protecting the flock from predators
Keeping the flock healthy
Working with mother hens
Ussery presents a sustainable and ecologically friendly model that can be adapted for use at a variety of scales. His advice and examples throughout the book will prove invaluable for beginner homesteaders, growers looking to incorporate poultry into their farm, or experienced flocksters seeking to close their loop.
“The ultimate book for those who want to know everything there is to know about raising poultry.”—Gene Logsdon, author of Letter to a Young Farmer
“There’s no better introductory reference on the joy of home-raising chickens.”—Booklist
The first edition of The Small-Scale Poultry Flock helped thousands of small-scale farmers and homesteaders successfully adopt a practical and integrative model for working with chickens and other domestic fowl based on natural systems. In this expanded and thoroughly revised edition, readers will find plenty of all-new material. Author Harvey Ussery introduces readers to his new favorite breed of chicken, Icelandics; describes how he manages his breeding flock using a clan mating system; presents detailed information on the use of trapnests and record-keeping spreadsheets for evaluating breeding hen performance; and provides step-by-step instructions for construction of an ingeniously designed mobile poultry shelter.
Readers will also find fully updated information and tips on all aspects of flock management,
Growing (and sourcing) feed on a small scale
Cultivating earthworms and grubs as high-protein poultry feed
Brooding (and breeding) at home
Implementing manure management
Using electric net fencing for ranging flocks
Using poultry as insect and weed managers in the garden and orchard
Enlisting your chickens as garden tillers and compost-makers
Protecting the flock from predators
Keeping the flock healthy
Working with mother hens
Ussery presents a sustainable and ecologically friendly model that can be adapted for use at a variety of scales. His advice and examples throughout the book will prove invaluable for beginner homesteaders, growers looking to incorporate poultry into their farm, or experienced flocksters seeking to close their loop.
- GenresAnimals
413 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
24 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 6, 2023
The "chicken man" Harvey Ussery delivers this updated chicken "bible" for hobby to small-market growers.
June 8, 2024
This is a really, really good book, absolutely brimming with useful information. The best chapters, for me, are the ones on integrating chickens into the garden and feeding chickens. I was already thinking of raising black soldier fly larvae for them, but the chapter on "Cultivating Recomposers for Poultry Feed" goes beyond that, getting pretty deep into worm farming for chickens' benefit. I already have several worm colonies, but the book was provocative in suggestive ways I could take it further.
Most of the book is not just informative, but fun to read. Some parts I skimmed (butchering, which is not a horror I find myself needing to know about at this stage in my life), but others I found myself riveted by. Ussery's many stories about his long history raising chickens make this something a bit more than a reference book or how-to manual. Highly recommended for anyone with any degree of chicken experience who wants to take their backyard or farm system to the next level.
Most of the book is not just informative, but fun to read. Some parts I skimmed (butchering, which is not a horror I find myself needing to know about at this stage in my life), but others I found myself riveted by. Ussery's many stories about his long history raising chickens make this something a bit more than a reference book or how-to manual. Highly recommended for anyone with any degree of chicken experience who wants to take their backyard or farm system to the next level.
July 26, 2023
Brilliant. Tons of information on poultry from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews