Customer Reviews

Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cattle

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Barnyard In Your Backyard is a decent introduction to animal husbandry. It contains enough basic information to get you started with any of the animals covered, but should really be supplemented with a book specific to the animal you are interested in. The emphasis here was definitely on breadth rather than depth. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

I did find the layout of the chapters a bit haphazard. For example, my interest is in ducks and chickens. When trying to figure out what size of run/pasture and sort of shelter would be required, I really had to carefully read both chapters, start to finish, to find all the relevant tidbits that were scattered throughout.

The later chapters (goats, sheep, and cows) looked to be a bit better organized, but I only scanned them as they weren't in-line with my interests.

The organization and lack of depth doesn't make it a particulaly good reference, but for an introduction to husbandry of several different animals, the authors have succeeded.

Excellent book for someone starting to raise livestock either for the first time or after a long absence. Basic information presented in an easy to read and understand format. Gives a good basic understanding of what is needed for the various types of livestock covered. Though I personally would have wished perhaps a bit more depth in some areas overall I found it to be an excellent read and well worth it as an reference book.

You can't get all-inclusive with this many species in one book, but this book comes awfully close. An amazing introduction to basic animal care. Definitely check this out *before* you bring home those cute chicks, or rabbits, or goats! Also excellent for cattle (beef and dairy) and more!

Over the past year, I have gotten into raising chickens, rabbits, and most recently, goats. I have used this book each time to learn about the basics of the species, housing requirements, feeding, and other issues. I am not an expert by any means (and was clueless when I started!) but this book has been a tremendous resource to get me going with animals.

I think that the organization of the book is great and the writing style is clear, interesting, and easy to follow. Overall, if you think you want to start raising any of the animals covered in this book (chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, sheep or cattle) I think this is a excellent, non-intimidating choice.

After 20+ years of horses, we decided to expand our little farm to include animals that pay their way. First came the dairy goats, then chickens & hogs. I have other Storey books, so I was really looking forward to receiving this and was so disappointed when it arrived! The information is VERY basic, pretty much excerpts from other Storey books (which you would then have to buy to get more detailed information). The part on goats, taken from YOUR GOATS: A KID'S GUIDE TO RAISING & SHOWING, was word for word, paragraph for paragraph. IT ALSO MADE LITTLE SENSE TO OMIT HOGS ENTIRLY, one of the more popular animals kept by small homesteads, yet include a large section on cattle, which generally require a little more than a "backyard." As for chickens, the information on egg layers was pretty good, although I would have liked to have seen at least basic plans for building a coop/nest-boxes. But that's a different Storey book (and another plug). But Damerow only touched lightly on broilers, with no information whatsoever on butchering (chickens or any other species), although she did plug yet another book for that. But for this book, killing/cleaning chickens was addressed in 2 sentences telling you to have an experienced friend or neighbor teach you. Not bad advice, but while you're at it, skip the book and just keep that same friend/neighbor close by...

My husband and I decided to buy 10 acres and leave the city life 3 years ago. We were like fish out of water. I am sure our new neighbors had a few chuckles. We were not able to decide on what we wanted to do with our new land so I purchased this book to study the different ideas. This book has been an excellent source of information. We were able to get started in raising Boer goats. The book explained everything we needed to get started including setting up the housing and fence. So far we have been successful in breeding and increasing our herd. We now have decided to start raising chickens and pulled out the book again to get prepared.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is looking into raising livestock. It is staple on our shelf and provides all of the information that we need.

I've gone from completely ignorant city girl to hobby farmer in one year using this book as my sole source of reference in caring for my rabbit, goat, and chickens. "BYB" is easy to read, nicely organized, has helpful illustrations, and uses up-to-date terminology and slang so you don't feel like an idiot when venturing into the farm store for the first time. Many people ask me how I know so much having been a first-time hobby farmer. I tell them about this book. My neighbor borrowed my "BYB" and immediately purchased her own. I just recently found out she quit her full-time job and came home to raise her 5yo twin children while bringing in the extra income with her 10 goats (milk), 17 chickens (eggs), duck, and goose (pets)- using this book as her primary guide. Thanks to BYB I cured my goat of lice in 24hrs, then called the previous owner, who's been raising goats for years and years, to give her advice on how to de-lice her own herd!!!

if you've just moved somewhere with a little land and are thinking of adding a few farm-type animals to your yard, this is a great book. It will tell you the demands that each of these little furry/fluffy/downy creatures will make on you, your property, and your bank account! The author gives a great overview of each of the animals mentioned in the title. BUT once you actually purchase the critters, you'll probably need a book that gives more in-depth information, especially in the health area. A great book to help you make educated decisions about what to toss in your ark!!

This book is simple enough for my 4 kids under 10 years old to use. They are using it for a 4H project. Yet it has more specific information that is good for adults to use as well.

This book is one that I refer to over and again. It gives a concise overview of livestock, breeds and care. It is the handbook that is essential to all new starter farmsteads.