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Keeping Chickens: The Essential Guide to Enjoying and Getting the Best from Chickens
Introduces the physical characteristics, behavior, and life cycle of chickens and includes ideas for crafts and recipes using chickens' eggs.
159 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 2, 2021
This lovely book was loaned to me by my farming neighbour after she realized we had eight chickens. It is very informative and covers most of what you need to know if you have chickens. This is not our first go-round having chickens. In fact it was one of my husband’s “bucket list” items, and after three seasons of having chickens we had sold the coop we made and the run. Fast forward two years... and Covid-19 arrives. Returning early from our winter in warmer climates, we decided the likelihood of returning to warm weather for the next winter (like now) was slim to none.... so, we built a new and improved coop, and got ourselves eight chickens.
But back to the book... it lays out the considerations in raising chickens, whether for meat or eggs, provides great pictures and descriptions of breeds, speaks to feeding, cleaning, caring for, breeding and even showing your chickens. It also has a recipe section (for the eggs). Our chickens are layers, and they really are fun to have...for a while. We quite enjoy our chickens, as well as the eggs, but they are a commitment, so once we can travel again we’ll likely find them a new home. In the meantime, plenty of omelettes, quiche, cakes, soufflés, cheesecakes, and the accompanying workouts to wear off the calories!
We really do enjoy our chickens. This would have been a great book to have when we first started out with chickens.
But back to the book... it lays out the considerations in raising chickens, whether for meat or eggs, provides great pictures and descriptions of breeds, speaks to feeding, cleaning, caring for, breeding and even showing your chickens. It also has a recipe section (for the eggs). Our chickens are layers, and they really are fun to have...for a while. We quite enjoy our chickens, as well as the eggs, but they are a commitment, so once we can travel again we’ll likely find them a new home. In the meantime, plenty of omelettes, quiche, cakes, soufflés, cheesecakes, and the accompanying workouts to wear off the calories!
We really do enjoy our chickens. This would have been a great book to have when we first started out with chickens.
January 28, 2008
This is surprisingly entertaining, especially since there is NO WAY I am going to be keeping chickens any time soon. Chickens require accommodations other than an apartment building with no yard. Still, one can live vicariously, and the pictures of all the different breeds of chickens make me strangely happy.
May 23, 2024
Great information! Very thorough and helpful for those of us just getting started.
September 10, 2010
Written in UK - so not a lot of detail on breeds common in the US and the US climate. Nice pictures.
August 18, 2019
Excellent beginner's book. Clear, to the point, lovely pictures.
March 3, 2022
This is a very inviting introduction to the joys and work involved in raising a small flock from 0eep to pullet. (I would pair it with "City Chicks" by Patricia Foreman, a large tome that addresses factors more in depth than this lovely book. Or "Free-Range Chicken Gardens" by Jessi Bloom, which shares information and incorporating hens into a chicken-friendly yard.) The images and art work in this book are charming. There are recipes included as well as a few craft projects. As one who likes to dabble in painting, I enjoy the images very much. I adore my zen-hens very much and this book has helped me enrich their lives. - Ginn, Crazy Chicken Lady in SC
March 24, 2020
This is a very English guide to raising chickens. Very English.
THE BEST PART: I like to argue that there is an answer to ‘Which came first: The chicken? Or the egg?’ And this book not only agrees that the egg came first (like, duh!), but it argues for the same exact reasons that I do. I really like that there was practical info for raising chickens.... and that.
THE BEST PART: I like to argue that there is an answer to ‘Which came first: The chicken? Or the egg?’ And this book not only agrees that the egg came first (like, duh!), but it argues for the same exact reasons that I do. I really like that there was practical info for raising chickens.... and that.
January 23, 2022
My favorite part of this book was the photos! Great material and an easy read. Learned a lot.
Had information on show birds which wasn’t relative to what I was needing, but a good overview of breeds, how to, etc.
Had information on show birds which wasn’t relative to what I was needing, but a good overview of breeds, how to, etc.
April 18, 2019
Beautiful photos, lots of stuff I didn't know.
March 3, 2020
Learned more about taking care of chickens, and my research adventure shall continue.
April 6, 2020
Not a bad book but not the best. Gives descriptions of many breeds, discusses getting chickens, deciding on housing and what types of chickens, and age, you should get.
April 5, 2011
When I "inherited" two Aracauna hens, the 'easter-egg' chickens, to add to my little duck & goose family, I looked in a bunch of chicken books at the library to see how their care would differ from my waterfowl routine. Of them all I liked this book best. Colorful & helpful illustrations, practical advice, clearly divided into useful topical chapters- even a section on crafting and cooking with eggs. I will definitely buy a copy of this for my home reference shelf. I'm now rapidly getting used to seeing blue/green eggs in the fridge.
February 22, 2013
A starter book, suitable for middle school to adult reader with little or no experience with animals. Has some recipes and crafts that I added to my ever-growing file of what to do with eggs. Doesn't gloss over the downside of keeping chickens, including the trauma of causing accidental deaths of vulnerable chicks. I lowered the rating for this book due to its guidance toward total reliance on commercial feed.
October 18, 2013
This book had beautiful pictures of all types of roosters and chickens. I found it a little boring at times, because, it was more of just an information book. The style of writing just didn't appeal to me. The section about all the different breeds was the most helpful. This book explained when you are ready to get chickens and great breeds to start with. This book is recommended to all people getting chickens for the first time.
December 31, 2011
2010
Chicken Feed
I would give this book a 5 if it included recipes for chicken feed. Instead it says to buy feed because it is too complicated to make. Not.
Chicken Tractor
The most helpful part of the book is about building a chicken tractor (pages 57-62) that will house four bantams, three standard-size chickens, or two heavy breeds.
Chicken Feed
I would give this book a 5 if it included recipes for chicken feed. Instead it says to buy feed because it is too complicated to make. Not.
Chicken Tractor
The most helpful part of the book is about building a chicken tractor (pages 57-62) that will house four bantams, three standard-size chickens, or two heavy breeds.
July 16, 2011
Great chicken book! I liked the way they talked about the different breeds and found the comments helped in choosing a breed and knowing which one makes a good family laying chicken. This one is the best yet I think.
December 24, 2011
I liked it. Lots of good, but basic info. Also geared toward readers in the United Kingdom, so those of us here in the US will need to do some additional research. Still, not a bad primer, and the section on different chicken breeds is fantastic.
February 6, 2008
It's just like the title says; gives you a good idea about how to "keep chickens" with the benefits and drawbacks clearly defined. Beautiful pictures of several varieties of chickens.
July 23, 2008
soooo many different types of chickens!
September 10, 2008
helpful. covers lots of information and has good pictures
September 24, 2008
Lots of pictures, lots of practical information.
November 5, 2008
Lots of good info on chickens along with very good pictures.
March 21, 2009
Basically informative with beautiful pictures. Not enough detail to be a huge help, but plenty of facts and tidbits.
January 15, 2011
Even contains some egg crafts and recipes. Great pictures. Not very extensive on information on chicken raising. But I might consider buying just for the great pics.
January 15, 2010
The chapter on breed selection was nice. I found the notations about which birds were good for beginners useful.
July 5, 2010
Who knew - there are at least six different kinds of combs and waddles!
November 16, 2010
A basic overview, not a sole source of information. Each subject is glossed over without enough detail. I wouldn't feel comfortable getting chickens had I only this book as preparation.
March 5, 2011
Very helpful for my newest hobby.
November 25, 2011
Wow - if you're thinking about chickens this is the bomb. Lots of good pictures too.
December 31, 2011
2007
There is a 2010 edition that I have been been unable to locate.
Good pictures of different types of chicken houses.
There is a 2010 edition that I have been been unable to locate.
Good pictures of different types of chicken houses.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews