Choosing and Keeping Chickens

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.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Great variety of info -- bad photo editing, 2008-06-25
I really love the layout and color of this book. But some of the info is just plain crazy -- like the overly complex method the author suggests when using a broody hen. That's the whole point of USING a broody -- making it simple -- mama does the work. Their instructions are just nutty on it.

A lot of the more interesting breeds were not listed, like Araucana and Ameraucana.

Several photos were very obviously mislabeled as hens when they were very much roosters.

But overall a nice book for beginner-to-intermediate poultry hobbyists.


8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Best book for choosing a breed for your family, 2008-02-03
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.


0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Choosing and Keeping Chickens, 2008-02-01
Nice overview and great photography of the different chicken breeds. Has details on how chickens produce for eggs, meat of show.


4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

very useful book, 2007-10-05
This is my second favorite chicken book. Great basic info. on setting up for chickens, keeping them, and, most importantly, on what breeds are best for your particular needs/desires. Nice photos, and good descriptions. Unfortunately, it is a British book, so it doesn't include a few American breeds I wanted to read about, but that's a pretty minor fault... All in all, a very concise, useful book.


1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Choosing and Keeping Chickens, 2007-07-28
I love the book the photos are great and I found the information helpful. I would recommend this book the first time chicken owner or someone who has then for a while.

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