A hands-on, easy-to-use guide to raising chickens in the backyard--from designing a coop to choosing breeds, caring for chicks, egging, sexing, and butchering.
Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book shows you what to do next. In this hands-on, easy-to-use guidebook, longtime chicken breeder and poultry expert Christine Heinrichs tells you everything you need to know to raise chickens in your backyard—from laying out the yard and designing a coop to choosing breeds, caring for chicks, egging, sexing, and butchering. Whether you’re interested in rare breeds or the garden variety; whether you want to show your chickens or serve them, this brightly illustrated, clearly written guide will prove an indispensable resource.
Contents
Chapter 1
Why Keep Chickens?
Chapter 2
Chickens and History
Chapter 3
Breed Types
Chapter 4
Obtaining Stock
Chapter 5
Housing
Chapter 6
Feeding
Chapter 7
Flock Management
Chapter 8
Breeding Programs
Chapter 9
Incubation and Care of Chicks
Chapter 10
Selection and Culling
Chapter 11
Showing
Chapter 12
Health Care
Chapter 13
Avian Influenza
Chapter 14
Legal Aspects
Afterword
Appendix
Resources
Agricultural Organizations
Poultry Organizations
Breeds Conservation
Helpful Books
Helpful Websites
Avian Influenza Resources
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Index
About the Author
The Country Today (Eau Claire, WI), March 28, 2007
“No matter if you’re a neophyte in animal ownership or a seasoned farmer with years of experience, you’ll learn something in these ‘how-to’ books. Best of all, they are approved by the FFA, which means you can feel good about handing them to your future farmer.”
Midwest Book Review, April 2007
“How to Raise Chickens is a comprehensive manual for novice and experienced chicken raisers … an all-inclusive guide, written in straightforward terms to be accessible to readers of all backgrounds … an absolute ‘must-have’ for anyone considering the practice.”
Backyard Poultry Magazine June/July 2007
“This book is thoroughly modern and comprehensive. It is highly recommended.”
Garden.org, Oct. 27, 2007
“Since tasting rich, flavorful scrambled eggs fresh from an Oregon friend's flock, I hanker to raise a few chickens myself. Christine Heinrichs' How to Raise Chickens - Everything You Need to Know (Voyageur Press, 2007; $19.95) is more than a primer. It's brimming with fascinating history and anecdotes, as well as helpful details – from breed types to caring for chicks to showing your special bird. The photos introduced me to colorful language describing bird varieties: Naked Necks, Ameraucana hen with muffs, Black Breasted Red bantam rooster, large crested Silver Laced Polish pullet, and many more. An enticement for the health conscious: eggs from free-range chickens have considerably more vitamin E, beta carotene, omega-3 fatty acids and half the cholesterol of commercially raised eggs, notes Heinrichs.”
ANIMAL PEOPLE, animalpeoplenews.org, Oct. 29, 2007
“The utilitarian titles and the Future Farmers of America logo on the covers of How To Raise Chickens, How To Raise Cattle, and How To Raise Horses conceal and camouflage a wealth of indications inside about how profoundly animal advocacy is beginning to influence animal agriculture.”
Small Farm Today, July/Oct 2007
”This is a good overall book to encourage people to get into the chicken business … Lots of colored charts cover history, facts and chick lore.”
Since 1928, the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, has been dedicated to agricultural education. Today, there are more than 490,000 members in 7,210 chapters in all 50 states as well as 5,000,000 alumni around the country.
The contents of this book were reviewed and approved by Dr. Clint Rusk, Purdue University Associate Professor of the Youth Development and Ag. Education Department, in accordance with industry standards.
Author Christine Heinrichs is the publicity director for the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities. She is a rare-breeds advisor to numerous zoos, museums, and living-history farms and works closely with the Poultry Press monthly newspaper. Heinrichs and her brood make their home in Madison, Wisconsin.
In this hands-on, easy-to-use guidebook, a longtime chicken breeder and poultry expert tells you everything you need to know to raise chickens in your backyard—from laying out the yard and designing a coop to choosing breeds, caring for chicks, egging, sexing, and butchering. Whether you’re interested in the rare breed or the garden variety; whether you want to show your chickens or serve them, this brightly illustrated, clearly written guide will prove an indispensable resource.
Whether you want to raise 5 chickens or 50, whether you have a 40-foot city lot or a 40-acre farm, the expert advice in this hands-on guidebook makes it easy for you to get started raising a healthy flock. Whichever comes first for you, the chicken or the egg, this book will show you what to do next. Longtime chicken breeder Christine Heinrichs explains all the helpful DOs and important DON’Ts—from choosing breeds and caring for chicks to housing, feeding, breeding, culling, and showing. This brightly illustrated, clearly written guide will prove an indispensable resource for anyone interested in raising their very own flock.
Easy-to-follow advice helps you to:
Choose breeds and obtain stock House and feed chickens Manage your flock and keep it healthy Select and cull for breeding programs Incubate eggs and care for chicks Show poultry at fairs and club meets Raise chickens in the country, suburbs, or city
Now let’s get started and don’t forget to have some fun!
Author/licensor info:
Since 1928, the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, has been dedicated to agricultural education. Today, there are more than 490,000 members in 7,210 chapters in all 50 states as well as 5,000,000 alumni around the country.
The contents of this book were reviewed and approved by Dr. Clint Rusk, Purdue University Associate Professor of the Youth Development and Ag. Education Department, in accordance with industry standards.
Author Christine Heinrichs is the publicity director for the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities. She is a rare-breeds advisor to numerous zoos, museums, and living-history farms and works closely with the Poultry Press monthly newspaper. Heinrichs and her brood make their home in Madison, Wisconsin.
Imprint: Voyageur Press
Distributor: MBI Publishing Company
Publication Date: 03-15-2007
Pages: 192
Measurements: 10.63in X 8.25in X 0.50in X 1.38lb
