Backyard chickens provide so much more than just fresh eggs. Chickens also provide pest control, compost and even companionship. Whether you are looking at just getting started or expanding your flock, you'll find these 5 books to be helpful.
The Chicken Chick's Guide to Backyard Chickens: Simple Steps for Healthy, Happy Hens
by Kathy Shea Mormino
Internationally known as the Chicken Chick, Kathy Shea Mormino has a fresh perspective on raising backyard chickens. She brings her practical and down-to-earth approach to chicken-keeping in this great guide. You'll learn all aspects of small-flock ownership with simple steps to care for your chickens with confidence.
Mormino shares her years of experience and collaborations with poultry veterinarians, nutritionists and professors in this book. This book is full of personality and provides information for aspiring, newbie and veteran flock owners. You'll learn about housing, feeding, egg production, health and more in this fun and illustrated guide.
Backyard Chickens: The Essential Backyard Chickens Guide for Beginners
by Andy Jacobson
Andy Jacobson has almost 30 years of experience in advanced gardening methods and is a passionate advocate for self-sufficiency. In his backyard chickens guide, you'll find clear explanations and photos to help you learn everything you need to know to get started with keeping chickens.
Here, you'll find information on how to chose the right breed for you, what you will need to consider before committing to keeping backyard chickens, how to purchase and raise chicks and adult birds as well as how to select or design your chicken coop. You'll also learn how to feed and care for your flock, prevent and control pests, how to breed your chickens and more.
Backyard Chickens Beyond the Basics
by Pam Freeman
If you are ready for the next step, this book shows you the realities of raising productive flocks that are healthy and happy. Pam Freeman is the editor of Backyard Poultry magazine and Countryside magazine and is an experience chicken keeper in her own right. Her book will give you lessons on expanding your flock, understanding chicken behavior, keeping a rooster, adjusting for the seasons and so much more.
Considered a must-have for every backyard chicken keeper, Freeman's book goes beyond the basic introductory lessons, covering subjects beginner books don't adequately address. It also re-examines common knowledge that may not necessarily hold true. You'll dive into subjects pertaining to odd eggs and molt, feeding and preparing for season changes, how to add new chickens to your flock, how to control or change the pecking order and whether it is better to raise chicks by hand or with a broody hen. This book not only offers a lot of answers but also a healthy dose of "coop truth."
Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens...Naturally
by Lisa Steele
Lisa Steele is a best selling poultry author and is a darling of the backyard chicken keeping community. She is the founder of Better Homes & Gardens award-winning blog Fresh Eggs Daily which focuses entirely on natural chicken keeping. This book is an authoritative and accessible guide to coops, nesting boxes, runs, feed and natural health care with time-tested remedies.
You'll learn how to keep your chickens happy and well-occupied as well as about herbs and natural supplements to help you maintain a healthy environment for your chickens. The book includes many "recipes" as well as 8 easy DIY projects for the coop and run. Behind every piece of advice is a solid foundation of knowledge, written in a fun and inviting way.
Backyard Farming: Raising Chickens
by Kim Pezza
Kim Pezza has raised a variety of Fram animals and is experienced in growing herbs and veggies and continues to learn new techniques and skills. She is currently working to turn her grandparents' 1800s farm into a small working homestead. In this book, she offers a comprehensive primer for beginners as well as tips for the novice and expert alike.
This well-illustrated guide takes you from start to finish, from planning, to caring for your birds to enjoying your own farm-fresh eggs. You'll learn to choose the ideal breed for your needs as well as how to construct a coop to minimize your workload. There is information on how to gather eggs for food, profit or to hatch your own birds to add to your flock. There are also plenty of tips and tricks from experience farmers to help you avoid making the most common mistakes.
Whether you are thinking about keeping backyard chickens, just getting started or looking to add to your flock, these books offer a wealth of information to answer all of your questions. Soon, you'll be enjoying all the benefits of keeping backyard chickens. So let's get cracking!