Chickens: Tending A Small-Scale Flock For Pleasure And Profit

by Sue Weaver

Hobby Farms Chickens: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit is geared toward the hobby farmer looking to begin his or her own flock of chickens on a small farm or even backyard. Author Sue Weaver, who keeps various exotic breeds and countless barnies on her farm, is an expert on all things livestock and an avowed chicken fanatic. This photo-filled guide begins with “Chickens 101” and details the physiology of chickens, members of the Phasianidea family, providing beginning hobby farmers with a basic education in the chicken’s unique physical makeup (from wings and feathers to beaks and digestive tracts), behavior, mating, and its unexpected high intelligence. The author offers advice on choosing the right types of chickens to get started: meat, egg, or dual purpose, or maybe even “just for pets.” The book is an excellent resource for selecting which breed of chicken is best for the hobby farmer based on the birds’ traits, such as aggression, personality, noise factor, tolerance for heat, confinement, cold, etc. Chickens also provides information on selecting or building a suitable chicken coop for the hobby farmer’s brood, outlining the basic requirements (lighting, ventilation, flooring, waterers, insulation, safety, and so forth). A detailed chapter on feeding chickens offers essential guidance on nutrition, commercial feeds, supplements, and water requirements. For the chicken hobby farmer looking to start with a clutch of baby chicks (from his own hen or an outside source), the author provides excellent info on incubators and hatching as well as all of the accommodations and preparation required for hens in the nest box. A chapter on selling eggs and broilers provides timetables, requirements, and dos and don’ts to get a hobby farmer’s business off on the right foot. All chicken keepers will find the chapter on health of particular value, with expert advice on preventing common problems and dealing with various maladies and diseases. Much detailed information about all of the topics in the book is encapsulated in sidebars. A glossary of over 125 terms plus a detailed resource section of chicken and poultry associations, books, and websites complete the volume. Fully indexed.

Genres: Nonfiction, Agriculture, Education, Reference, Gardening

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Sue Weaver has written hundreds of articles and ten books about livestock and poultry. She is a contributing editor of Hobby Farms magazine and writes the “Poultry Profiles” column for Chickens magazine. Sue lives on a small farm in Arkansas, which she shares with her husband, a flock of Classic Cheviot sheep and a mixed herd of goats, horses large and small, a donkey, two llamas, a riding steer, a water buffalo, a pet razorback pig, guinea fowl, and Buckeye chickens.

Reviews

[Shane Westfall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one, I really did. I have enjoyed many of the authors articles. This book, however, has lots of pretty pictures and way to little info in my opinion. Perhaps it might make a nice read for one who is mildly curious about chickens, but for any novice who is seriously considering raising them I suggest skipping this one and just buying the Storey guide.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't help it. I love Sue Weaver's books. I've read two of her goat books and really enjoyed them. I also love her articles in Hobby Farms. I liked this book even more.

I started this book thinking, what can this book have that all the other chicken references don't? I was immediately drawn in by her description of the history of fowl domestication. I learned quite a few things too.

The majority of the book is practical information on raising a backyard flock. Nothing earth-shattering, but all presented in a clear way. The side bars and photos are nice. Though the Kindle formatting can be a bit wonky sometimes.

Ms. Weaver told an interesting story here that I haven't seen in any other poultry book. "Years ago, we raised chickens for meat. Just one batch, as it turned out. Our mistake: we ignored the age-old adage -- don't give your food names. We made pets of our boisterous young cockerels and when procssing day rolled around, we could only bring ourselves to kill a few. We gave the rest away, and two weeks later, we were vegetarians."

Terrific book.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does exactly what it sets out to do: to educate rookies and chicken mavens, alike (although its primary target is for beginners). Full of information on life-cycle, habitats, diet, and other topics of importance for the hobby farmer, this book should be ready at hand before you bring your chicks home, and will likely be used many times during the life of your hen-house. Covering topics from breed selection for your climate, to constructing various coops, to prevention of illness, Chickens will undoubtedly be utilized. Unlike other books of this genre, Chickens even talks about incubation and breeding, though these topics are less likely to interest suburbanites with very small flocks.

[D.K. Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Weaver brilliantly explains the basic ins and outs of chickens and their needs. This book is simply written and makes the prospect of raising a flock seem less daunting than other literature of the same genre. It is by no means a comprehensive encyclopedia of poultry knowledge, but it provides a clever introduction for interested hobbyists. This book will supplement your collection of chicken books quite well.

It covers topics such as chicken coops, basic incubation techniques, common fowl diseases, care for young chicks, understanding of breeds and varieties, and raising chickens for eggs, meat, and/or breeding.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of good information in this book. No breeds listed but that's ok. I liked the chapters on raising the chicks and the housing requirements. The author adding charts with the basic info was helpful for pulling everything together in one spot but then you can also read the chapter for more details.

[Nova · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good primer on chicken care for beginners with lots of nice pictures and several lists of good resources. It could have gone into more detail on topics but at least it gives you a good place to start. I found it easy to read, enjoyable and informative.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good starter book with a little more info than the rodale publication. This woman speaks from experience, mainly, though lacking in much natural info, as well.

[Jo Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great photos! Nice, easy to read information. A good beginning book. I'd like to own it just for the photos!

[CFAITC]

An instructional guide that directs new and experienced farmers through the nuances of tending a small-scale flock.

[Mark Kricheff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting ready to get our Cornish cross meat and Buff Orpington dual-purpose chicks for free-ranging at the Lazy K Farm.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

good info section on breeds, but otherwise just kind of ok. kind of small and pamphlety, if you want to judge a book by its cover.

[Maureen Mantrop-utterback · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it!! Its great to read about something that really matters to you. Also good to know I've been doing it right all along, but got some helpful ideas and lots of questions answered.

[Krystal 🦢 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good resource for beginners who want to raise chickens.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful little book chocked full of good advice. While I am considering chickens, I wondered about the "How." This book gives me some ideas if I ever do want to raise chickens.