Do you want to keep chickens but don't have much land? In this comprehensive and entertaining handbook, Barbara Kilarski shows you how you can successfully keep chickens in small urban and suburban spaces. She tells you which breeds are happiest in small spaces, shows you how to feed and care for your birds, lists the equipment you'll need, discusses coop design, explains how to gather eggs, and much more.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Chickens are hot right now, as attested by articles on backyard chickens in the Wall Street Journal and House and Garden (not to mention Martha Stewart and her palatial henhouses). Kilarski is a self-proclaimed "city chick," and her approach to chicken keeping reflects this background. This is a book for people who want to keep chickens in the city or suburbs, not for those with large flocks in the country. Kilarski also makes an important point--keeping chickens in this context really means keeping hens, as roosters with their crowing are generally illegal in urban areas. In eight short chapters, the author covers the basics of chicken keeping, including feeds and feeding, coop and henhouse design, breeds that are suitable for backyard flocks, and recipes featuring the fresh eggs that the hens will provide. Sidebars offer factoids about chickens and poultry keeping. The text is profusely illustrated with period advertisements and includes a color gallery of hens and coops. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
..".the pet of choice...could well be the lowly chicken. From Washington State to Martha's Vineyard, upscale homeowners are placing orders for fancy chickens, hatching their own chicks, and signing up for classes on raising the birds."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ok, I have to be honest. I don't own any chickens.... yet. I plan on building a coop this spring and getting some though. I have been reading lots of books on chickens and I recommend this one for the small flock owner along with Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens.
For one thing Keeping Chickens is more warm fuzzy, pro-chicken as pets kind of book than any of the other books I have read. Some of the other books get a little dry especially in the "processing" chapter. I can only have three hens and they are going to be pampered pets so the "processing" parts don't interest me.
It has some nice color pictures in the middle and lots of good chicken advice throughout. I was dissapointed by the lack of more detailed coop design although she gives lots of good tips and advice on building one.
I do have one bone to pick with the author though. The book lists some of the major cities and their chickens laws and it got Juneau's wrong. She listed that there were no rules and cited the animal control ordinances as proof. Actually, there are rules and they are in title 49 of the zoning and planning ordinances. Be warned, check your local laws for yourself. Call Animal Control, the Humane Society or the City and double check!
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
a really nice book! but watch out for one dangerous piece of advice
January 31, 2006
By N. Ferguson
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a nice introduction for those thinking about keeping a few pet chickens. An easy, quick, and fun read. The author's enthusiasm is infectious. She helps you to feel that you, too, can keep chickens! :)
I was disappointed by one part of the book, though. The author strongly advocates using rat poison to deal with the rodents that inevitably want to dip into chicken feed and invade chicken coops. She states that using a box for the poison which has a small entry hole will prevent cats and dogs from being poisoned. Don't count on it! Rat poison is an anticoagulant which slowly kills rats and mice by causing massive internal bleeding. When cats or dogs catch and eat these sick, miserable rodents (or scavenge dead rodents) they are inevitably killed, too-- there is no effective treatment. I personally know of two dogs and two cats which died horrible deaths after ingesting poisoned rodents. So... unless you want to risk killing your own pets and your neighbor's pets, avoid rat poison. There are plenty of other alternatives on the market.
All of the chicken books I have read have the same advice regarding poison, so this isn't a downside for this particular book. (The Storey Guide by Gail Damerow has a little more guidance about which poisons are the most dangerous, but still advocates using poison.) Overall, it was a great book!
I was disappointed by one part of the book, though. The author strongly advocates using rat poison to deal with the rodents that inevitably want to dip into chicken feed and invade chicken coops. She states that using a box for the poison which has a small entry hole will prevent cats and dogs from being poisoned. Don't count on it! Rat poison is an anticoagulant which slowly kills rats and mice by causing massive internal bleeding. When cats or dogs catch and eat these sick, miserable rodents (or scavenge dead rodents) they are inevitably killed, too-- there is no effective treatment. I personally know of two dogs and two cats which died horrible deaths after ingesting poisoned rodents. So... unless you want to risk killing your own pets and your neighbor's pets, avoid rat poison. There are plenty of other alternatives on the market.
All of the chicken books I have read have the same advice regarding poison, so this isn't a downside for this particular book. (The Storey Guide by Gail Damerow has a little more guidance about which poisons are the most dangerous, but still advocates using poison.) Overall, it was a great book!
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By C. M. Okon
Format:Paperback
I love the simplicity of this little book. The author makes it sound so doable to keep chickens in the city. However, I was dismayed to read that she so flippantly suggests using poison as way to manage rats, who are inevitably drawn to the chicken feed. Well, the problem with poisoning rats--who die of a "bad stomache" as she describes it -- is that these rats not only suffer a horribly cruel demise but also could be eaten by predators such as raptors who will suffer a similar end. I know this very thing happened in San Francisco, where the red tailed hawk population was affected by rat poison placed in Golden Gate Park.
I am just surprised that a book published by an "eco friendly" company would allow such a cavalier recommendation to use a method that is anything but eco-friendly in the larger sense. I love chickens but there is a larger world and context beyond them. Still, it is useful and enjoyable how-to on raising chickens, and if it were minus the presumptious attitude about ridding the coop of rats it would be something I'd recommend.
I am just surprised that a book published by an "eco friendly" company would allow such a cavalier recommendation to use a method that is anything but eco-friendly in the larger sense. I love chickens but there is a larger world and context beyond them. Still, it is useful and enjoyable how-to on raising chickens, and if it were minus the presumptious attitude about ridding the coop of rats it would be something I'd recommend.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable but simplistic
Overall this was an enjoyable book and a personable read. If you are keeping or thinking of getting chickens, there are a few tidbits for you. Read more
Published 3 days ago by K. Todd
5.0 out of 5 stars
quick guide
This was the best chicken book I've read. It's compact and gives plenty of facts. Fast reading and a light-hearted attitude.
Published 18 days ago by Debie A. Bennett
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good introduction to the idea, but not deeply detailed.
I ordered this book to learn about keeping chickens in a backyard environment. Our county doesn't allow chickens on lots smaller than 2 acres, so I'll never raise chickens in my... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Catherine Price
5.0 out of 5 stars
good
A very informative book. Makes me wish I had my own place so I could start raising my birds. I strongly suggest that you get it if you are thinking of getting Chickens. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jacob P. Griffin
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyed it!
I purchased this book the same day I purchased 4 chicks (first-time owner!). After reading it I really felt like all my questions had been answered it some way, although I did... Read more
Published on May 16, 2011 by Ashley M
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great easy-reading book
I have owned a small flock of chickens and guineas for right around a year now. I agree with previous posters that for those new to this venture this book may be not enough info. Read more
Published on August 9, 2010 by debcr
2.0 out of 5 stars
A cute book, but something BIG is missing!
I like almost everything about this book. It's attractive, entertaining and well organized.
However, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone just starting out with chickens. Read more
However, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone just starting out with chickens. Read more
Published on July 27, 2010 by Paxico Trader
5.0 out of 5 stars
new chicken owner
I bought this book as a gift and my friend says it is sooooo helpful, since raising chickens is new to her.....
Published on July 7, 2010 by Katey York
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Chicken Book
This one is my favorite chicken book, has realistically portrayed chicken ownership in an easy to read-and-understand way. Read more
Published on May 29, 2010 by D. Dickinson
3.0 out of 5 stars
inspirational, not helpful
The author is very encouraging and entertaining when telling stories of her chicken's antics, and her neighbor's reactions. Read more
Published on January 8, 2010 by K. DeLap
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