Excellent overview on keeping chickens for beginners. This book covers everything from choosing the right type of chicken, housing and feeding to troubleshooting egg laying and health issues. Great starting point for chicken newbies.

An informative eye-opener…

I’m a suburb-ite. Not proud, not sad, it just is. So what in the world made me think chickens would be a good idea? Well, many, really. Healthier choice, animal welfare, economics. And of course all those cute chicken faces! Eggs only, though, I figure these little ones would be great pets… And they would be…

For the right person. I had absolutely no idea what was involved in raising chickens yet, after reading this clear and informative read, I think I do. Every aspect was covered from prepping and building their space, how to feed them, keep them healthy and, at the same time, don’t tick off your neighbours! Such good advice all the way around.

Will I raise my own chickens? If I do, I know I will have most – if not all – the information I need to do it successfully.

I've toyed with the idea of raising chickens in my backyard for a while, but honestly, I had no idea where to start. This is an incredibly informative, accessible book to guide readers like myself who don't know much at all about backyard chooks.

The book covers everything from the setup needed and recommended breeds to chicken behavior, egg troubleshooting and poop scooping, plus how to look after chickens in all sorts of extremes..

The author has clearly done their research, and enjoys raising chickens - a fact that comes across well in the writing. I will be referring back to this book if/when I take the step into raising my own chooks!

~Many thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, yes, it has some solid information. On another, a lot of it is repeated over and over with a high expectation of time and commitment involved. And if one had a third hand (which I know we don't) some of the information is not fact but opinion. i.e.; However, if your chickens feel neglected, they may stop laying eggs or even become a little nasty toward you. I've had chickens for almost a decade. They do their thing, whether or not they have constant company. While stated in this book that you have to decide what to do after they stop laying (around three years old) the author also states its a 8 to 10 year investment, which implies people don't have a choice... that seems contrary to what they originally stated.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

This definitely holds a wealth of information about raising chickens.... no doubt. I learned quite a bit and realize that maybe taking care of chickens is best when you have enough time on your hands to actually give them the care they need... which surprisingly is a lot. Obviously the author cares a lot for their chickens.

What did I like? Every time I think I want chickens I just read one of these books and the task seems dauntless so I never buy any. This is a beginner book but I just don’t think I’m responsible enough, and the care seems great. The book covers feeding, covering, health, and a variety of other things.

Would I recommend or buy? If your serious about getting chickens or not, a read through a book like this is a must. All animals deserve looking out for, and chickens aren’t necessarily an easy animal. Since there pretty low on the food chain, keeping them safe seems a must. Kudos to the author for a great guide! Five stars!

I received a complimentary copy to read and voluntarily left this review.

I have enjoyed raising backyard chickens in the past, and am getting ready to get some in the spring so this was a perfect refresher for me. Simple, straightforward and lots of pretty pictures, this is concise and yet helpful as a quick reference guide.
It covers everything from what you’ll need before you get the chickens to feeding and entertainment for them as well as dealing with the loss of them through natural causes and predators. It is easy to follow and lovely to look at.
Thanks to the author and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.