The Chicken Health Handbook

by Gail Damerow, Jeanne Smith (Foreword)

Healthy chickens are happy chickens. This one-of-a-kind reference book covers the health problems that plague chickens of all breeds and ages. Practical charts identify common symptoms and causes of infection, while an alphabetic listing of diseases provides advice on treatment. You’ll find helpful descriptions of troublesome ailments of all types, from poor egg production to crooked toe syndrome. Practical remedies and gentle preventative care measures will help your beloved flock stay happy, healthy, and safe.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Animals, Birds

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 1994

About the author

Gail Damerow and her husband operate a family farm in Tennessee where they keep poultry and dairy goats, tend a sizable garden, and maintain a small orchard. They grow and preserve much of their own food, make their own yogurt and ice cream, and bake their own bread. Gail has written extensively on raising livestock, growing fruits and vegetables, and related rural skills. She shares her experience and knowledge as a regular contributor to Backyard Poultry and Countryside magazines, as an occasional contributor to numerous other periodicals, and as the author or contributor to more than a dozen country skills how-to books.

Reviews

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and detailed book about all aspects of chicken healthcare. This book includes nutrition, common and not so common diseases, and methods for diagnosis, it also covers heat and cold stress, caring for young chickens, and what chicken diseases are transferrable to humans. This book is a must have on your shelf if you are very interested in having a reference non - Internet health manual written by a well respected chicken expert -- Damerow produces the Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. Having said this I found (at least) one contradiction in the book that prevents me giving it a 5 -- in one section parsley is listed as an herb good for chickens, and in another section the leaves are listed as being toxic for chickens. Also, you need to read all the sections covering using vinegar in your chickens' water- in some cases it is very helpful and preventative but during heat stress, vinegar probably should not be used. So, be sure to read the section When Not To Use Vinegar. This book is superior to many articles on the web, as they tend to gloss over the full perspective of topics ( I compared various Internet articles to topics in this book) using antibiotics, Diatomaceous Earth, Vinegar, etc. -- This book shows both sides of most the issues. And essential reference manual on your shelf!

[Diann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a reference book, so I haven't read it word for word. But I've perused enough to know that this is potentially to be extremely valuable for me, as a new raiser of chickens. I've also read some of her other books, and thus I am totally confident with Gail Damerow as a reliable information resource.

In the back of the book, is a Quick Guide to Diseases and Disorders, many of which she discusses in more depth in the front of the book.

This book contains helpful illustrations and a few photographs. Damerow discusses prophylactic as well as therapeutic measures to take to insure the health of your backyard flock. It's a sizeable book, but not dense nor dry. If you have chickens, I'd certainly recommend this one.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

My god, a book about chickens and chicken heath that's actually based on SCIENCE, and on EXPERIENCE! (Sorry, there are sooooo many shitty blogs and books and posts out there by people who care just cutting and pasting from other shitty blogs and books. Chicken keeping books worth anything at all are few and far between.)
This is the source for everything health-wise on chickens. Check here for the real scoop on adding vinegar to chicken water, what's up with garlic, diatomaceous earth, and thousands of other chicken topics/ailments/issues.
I feel a lot safer now keeping my backyard chickens healthy, and diagnosing issues, with this book on my shelf.

[Susan Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chicken Health

Chicken Health is the most detailed book that I've come across. The list of pathogens, bacteria, and viruses, there symptomolgy, both early and late, is extensive. I found this ebook so well done I'm considering purchasing hardback/paperback for my daughter since she's the chicken person.

[Adel Abdelrahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read some topics from this book, and I found it a good one. However, it isn’t an academic book, you can gain much information from it. For example, I discovered some useful pieces of information about garlic and vinegar.

[Alex Everette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, accessible, holistic, and generally scientifically sound. A little callous for something aimed at backyard keepers, who are more likely to be emotionally attached to their birds, so proceed with walls up. Keeping this one around for reference, no doubt.

[Jade (Prairiejewel1) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very informational and offers plenty of pictures and depictions to aid in understanding the information. I keep this to refer to when I have questions or am experiencing something new with my flock. I highly recommend this book if you have something to refer to.

[Ayah Istambouli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you have backyard chickens!

[SS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource on diseases/parasites of chickens

[Chantelle Vanderveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much helpful information regarding keeping a healthy & happy flock. One of those books that you need to own to reference back to as needed.

[Jen Farias · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want chickens and can read this end to end, you will have prepared your heart and mind for the trials and tribulations that come with these tiny dinosaurs.

[Teri Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my only go-to book when I need information about my chickens. The author is knowledgeable. I trust her information, and I've learned a lot.

[Tess Desire'e · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent reference book to have on a chicken keeper’s shelf! I have read numerous sections and just picked it up several times to double check information.

[Allosaurusrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book for chicken health. Has saved my butt on a few occasions. I own two copies.

[Filthy Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

A great book for chicken keepers from newbies to old timers. Easy to follow information. I will definitely recommend to everyone

[Brittany Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one I am so proud to own. I found out about it on the Chicken Chick's blog and then my friend needed a bit of advice (which I gave) and it worked so she bought me this book as a thank you! I couldn't believe it. I was completely flabbergasted. The topics were so in depth and clear. I also really like this author and I think I might need to get her book on hatching chicks (I have Storey's and the encyclopedia). I recommend this to anyone who has chickens or is thinking of getting chickens.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to face it, I'm never going to finish this book. Made it 2/3 through it and giving up. Filled with interesting information, but for the most part not useful for me. Information on how to identify the many things that can or will kill your chickens was just stressing me out and there was generally no information about what to do about it.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource to have on hand if you keep chickens. Don't let it freak you out if you're new to chickens, though. With good, clean management your birds will be just fine; this is a compendium of possbile problems and what you can do about them. Not an holistic book (natural rememdies) but great for information's sake.

[Tamara Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE most comprehensive chicken health book I have seen to date. It has so much great info and a very accessible format. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a definitive health care guide for poultry.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great resource for any chicken farmer!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every chicken keeper should have this book!

[Pam Camel · Rating 5 out of 5]

not a book I sat down and read cover to cover. great refrence book. If you raise chickens you will want this one for your library.

[Tricia MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to get through this book, but it is very informative. A must have for all chicken keepers who care about their birds' health. Its basically the Chicken Bible!