Description
Book SynopsisPractical how-to advice for keeping chickens "For me, raising chickens, for eggs and meat, has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of our family farm.
Trade Review'Admirably comprehensive, lucid and sensible guide.' - The Times, Sept 2011
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Choosing Chickens 7
Chapter 1: Enjoying Chicken-Keeping 9
Chapter 2: Understanding Basic Chicken Biology and Behaviour 23
Chapter 3: Getting Familiar with Chicken Breeds 41
Chapter 4: Buying Chickens59
Part II: Housing Your Flock 79
Chapter 5: Going House Hunting for Your Chickens 81
Chapter 6: Designing and Constructing Chicken Housing 105
Chapter 7: Furnishing and Housekeeping 129
Part III: Caring for Your Flock: General Management 145
Chapter 8: Feeding Your Flock 147
Chapter 9: Controlling Pests and Predators 173
Chapter 10: Keeping Your Flock Happy and Healthy 189
Chapter 11: Handling Health Problems 209
Part IV: Breeding: The Chicken and the Egg 237
Chapter 12: Breeding Your Chickens 239
Chapter 13: Incubating Eggs and Hatching Chicks 259
Chapter 14: Raising Chicks 289
Part V: Considering Special Management Issues 313
Chapter 15: Looking After Layers and Collecting Eggs 315
Chapter 16: Managing Meat Birds 341
Chapter 17: Taking Meat Birds through D-Day 351
Part VI: The Part of Tens 379
Chapter 18: More than Ten Tips for Keeping Healthy, Stress-Free Chickens 381
Chapter 19: More than Ten Misconceptions about Chickens and Eggs 387
Index 393
