Customer Reviews

Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance: Reflections on Raising Chickens

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I absolutely loved this book. It is an account of both the funny moments and the challenging moments of raising poultry. There are sad times and glad times, and they all make you remember your own personal experiences if you have chickens. If you don't, I would think you would want them after hearing the stories. In addition, there are some knowledgeable tips for raising them and for their care. Wonderful account of having chickens! I wished the book had a sequel to it. Kat - Kentucky

I checked this book out at the local library and after several bellyaching laughs, I decided I had to add it to my collection! Needless to say, it did not stay in my collection long since it was borrowed several times and kept by my MIL (none of whom own chickens). The author has such a funny way to "get into the mind of a chicken".

This book is not a handbook or how-to text but, you will definitely learn from his rather "twisted" experiences. If you enjoy easy-to-read corky real-life novels, then this is a book for you.

I have been keeping Speckled Sussex Chickens and Guinea Fowl for several years. My friends are tired of hearing my chicken stories and no one ever tells me any so I picked this up to hear someone else's story and boy is it a hoot! Well written and easy to read, the author keeps your attention as easily as a novel. The stories are real, I know because I've lived some of them, and the information is accurate. I even learned some things I didn't know. I've found myself quoting it many times. Excellent!

I did enjoy the story aspect of this book, but I was dissapointed by the lack of information. Although the information it provided was helpful, I was looking for more. It did make me laugh and (almost) cry. I think it is a perfect book to introduce those that are thinking about raising chickens. If you are looking for only information on the matter, then this is not the book for you. Also, I am not really into British humor, so that threw me off a bit too. Warning, there are a few swears in the book for those who don't like that kind of stuff.

I received Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance this morning, started reading the first page, and didn't put it down until I was finished. What a lovely, sweet author (and book). I will pass this book to my loved ones to share it's humor and kind heartedness. I laughed so many times out loud that my husband asked what I was reading. He is now reading it, and I am sure he will enjoy it as much as I. Thank you Martin Gurdon, for your insights in the joy of raising chickens (as I am now doing!)

This book won't give you the hands-on information of some other, longer books, but it will give you a chuckle. I found it humorous and highly respectful of the delightfully dizzy chicken. It's a lovely, quick read that will introduce you to fabulous personalities like Mrs. Brown, Zorro and Elvis - just three of the birdy residents in the author's life. Highly recommended for the chicken lover.

I loved this book. It had a lot of information about chickens although it isn't a complete chicken raising manual. I highly recommend it as an addition to other chicken books for learning about chickens.

I also recommend it for anyone who isn't interested in raising chickens as it is a great story.

I thought this book was wonderful.....An easy read--perfect for curling up at night and reading a chapter or two--I didn't want it to end! For those who have chickens, you will find yourself laughing out loud at the stories (who hasn't encountered an 'oops' rooster??!) as the author stumbles through the life lessons that chickens undoubtably provide! For those who don't have chickens, its still an entertaining read--full of humor--the names the author gives his chickens (Egghead, Bald Bird, etc.) had me laughing all the time......
However, this book is not too great on the facts--I found several discrepancies that the auther had not researched and were based more in theory than anything, but who cares??? The book was great fun and I suggest it to all. Actually a fabulous book to read aloud to someone as well. Thoroughly entertaining!

I must say this book was quite addictive. Once I picked it up it was hard to put down. The author's style of writing, was easy to read. He told this story in such a personal way about his flock of chickens. Being a small flock owner I liked the real and not overly scripted way he told of his enjoyments and heartbreaks in the chicken raising endeavor. The lengths that us chicken keepers will go to save the health of a pet is amazing. After reading about the author & the chicken Yvette and her/his physical therapy I was in stitches laughing!!

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was all the cursing and cutesy chicken shagging references. The reason I don't like these remarks is that this otherwise would've been a book I'd of liked to share with my younger neice.

There is also a kind of sequel to this book called I believe Traveling with a Man and his chicken.

With two books under his belt, Martin Gurdon is fast becoming to chickens what Jon Katz is to dogs. Except for the fact that he is funnier, cruder (there is swearing in this book and lots of references to poultry fornification), and English. This book chronicles his adventures with a small backyard flock. Anyone who has had pet chickens will recognize the behaviors he talks about (Bossy Chicken definitely reminds me of my Gertrude!) and laugh out loud, but readers who pick up this book without ever owning chickens may just think he is insane.

This book is a short read. The font is the size one would expect from a child's chapter book and there are illustrations of chickens that seem to exist to make this book seem worth the $12.95 cover price I paid. Despite what the cover implies, this is NOT a chicken care book (though gross diseases are discussed). However, any person who has chickens and considers them part of the family will find something to enjoy in this book.