Choosing and Keeping Chickens [Paperback]

Chris Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

Do you raise chickens as part of the family or as a livelihood? Are you looking for helpful information to provide the best care for your chickens? Or are you just curious to learn more about this popular animal?

Choosing and Keeping Chickens provides detailed information about the most prevalent types of chickens. Learn all about their appearance, key traits, general temperament, health concerns, and estimated life span. This book also describes characteristics of the eggs laid by each type of chicken as well as birds that best mix with each breed, so you can make better choices in setting up your coops. Seasonal guides detail the changing needs of chickens over the course of a year and reveal what every chicken keeper should look for as well as how to best arrange chicken housing during various climates.

Whether you seek help with your chicken keeping, or just want to know more about chickens, Choosing and Keeping Chickens can help you become more knowledgeable about this fascinating bird.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Chickens make great pets. They are cheap to buy, easy to keep, and will provide you with a constant supply of fresh eggs. These feathered friends will soon endear themselves to you with their entertaining ways, providing fun for the entire family.

With information on more than 50 of the most popular breeds, Choosing and Keeping Chickens will not only help you to find the chickens that are right for you, but will also teach you how to properly care for them.

From housing to feeding, health care to breeding, all the information you'll need is covered in expert detail.

About the Author

Chris Graham is an experienced freelance writer and professional photographer, and has been editor of Practical Poultry magazine since its launch in 2004. He is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and the author of an instructional guide to MIG welding. Chris resides in the United Kingdom.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications, Inc. (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793806011
• ISBN-13: 978-0793806010
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great all around book on Chickens, June 1, 2007

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" Anti Microchip " "Jesus Christ can ... (Desolation America) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Choosing and Keeping Chickens (Paperback)

I bought this book after reading customer reviews on it. I was not disappointed. Very easy to understand, well written, to the point, and informative. The book is 200 pages and 100 pages of it is on different breeds of chickens. Other topics covered in the book are: Caring for chickens, how to protect against predators, showing chickens, chicken housing, a brief chicken history, chicken diseases and care, feeders and waterers, incubation and hatching, and others. This book excels at getting you up to speed quick. I love it!!! This book also uses actual photos which is a plus since most chicken books use drawings. In my opinion the photos really help bring this book to life especially in the chicken breeds section. This is the chicken book I found the most informative and useful out of the eight that I own.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good guide and reference to chickens, February 8, 2007

By 

Shana "That's my opinion- I could be wrong!" (Northern NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Choosing and Keeping Chickens (Paperback)

This book is really fresh & enjoyable. It has a 'Which Breeds' chapter, which explains how to choose the type of chicken that'll be best suited to you. How to raise, show, handle and incubate chicks. It has over 50 breeds featured, which are broken down into sections. Plus it has the 'Personality' section on each breed; which is one feature most other chicken books do not include. Granted, that this book is British authored and many American founded chicken breeds are not included in the 50 breed 'Personality' section. I loved the fact that it listed which breeds were more suited to beginners and the ones best left to the more experienced handlers. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in chickens.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for choosing a breed for your family, February 2, 2008

By 

N. Ferguson "Two, Daisy, Hannah, and Kitten" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Choosing and Keeping Chickens (Paperback)

This book has really great information about the many different breeds of chicken and answers many questions, such as:

-Which breeds are gentle and docile/best for children?
-Which breeds are aggressive or avoid humans?
-Which are noisy or quiet?
-Best or poor layers?
-Difficult to breed?
-Have special husbandry requirements (fencing, footing, housing, etc.)?

This is a great book for those new to chickens or those considering a new breed. As we all know, "you can't judge a book by its cover"-- the same idea applies to chickens! This book can help families avoid choosing a breed for the wrong reasons (and thus avoid a negative experience with chickens). It also helps those new to chickens understand that not all breeds can live under the same conditions-- e.g. while some are happy in relative confinement, others will harm each other or be miserable when in close confinement and need to be allowed to range freely. Some chickens are cold-hardy while others are not suited to freezing winters. Etc. etc.!

This book can help families find what they are looking for (a friendly pet, a great layer, a hen that will be happy being confined, etc.) in an interesting and appropriate breed.