Books about chickens.

I own all the books I review and can honestly recommend them. I'm not paid anything for my reviews, nor have I received a free copy of any of them.

I simply view them as excellent resources for a chicken-themed library, which will genuinely help you as much as they've helped me.

Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks

Author: Gail Damerow.

This is my go-to source for everything about incubating, hatching and brooding chicks at home or at school.

Written in clear, easily understood language, it’s suitable for both the newcomer to incubating and hatching, and the more experienced. 

This is a reference guide, not a book to be read all at once. Keep it by your side when you're hatching your own chicks and it will answer any questions you have, from the very basic to the more complex.

I’ve owned this book ever since I first started incubating.

Like many people who have given it five star reviews, I consider it to be my incubating bible.

Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds

Author: Carol Ekarius.

More than 128 breeds of poultry are described in this beautifully illustrated guide. Each one has at least two, usually more, photographs, a brief description and a list of facts about the breed.

It’s an excellent choice for those looking for the characteristics of different breeds with a view to deciding on either a first flock, or which chickens are most likely to fit easily into an existing flock.

Mostly covering chickens, there are also sections on waterfowl, turkeys and "other types".

If you want to start or expand your flock, this is a great place to start.

The Chicken Health Handbook

Author: Gail Damerow.

Chicken health and how to sustain it is one of the most common worries felt by anyone thinking of keeping poultry. This is one of the very best books about chickens' health. 

Literally anyone who keeps chickens (or plans to) and wants to have a trustworthy, fact-based, easily understood book dealing with any and every chicken ailment ever to darken a chicken coop will benefit from owning this book.

It's the most comprehensive, detailed information about every ailment, together with illustrations which show exactly how a chicken looks when it's suffering any of them.

It's not a substitute for a veterinarian, but it's the next best thing.

What's Killing my Chickens? A Poultry Predator Detective Manual

Author: Gail Damerow.

If you have chickens, the sad likelihood is you'll also have predators. After all, chicken is at the top of everyone's lunch menu. 

I've had more than a few chickens killed, and needed a way to discover what was likely to be killing them so that I could understand their behaviour and so learn how best to protect my flock.

In her "detective manual", Gail Damerow examines every kind of poultry predator: their physical attributes, behaviour and predation patterns.

Her aim: to teach us how to identify the predators unique to our situation, and how to manage them. 

A must-have book for all chicken keepers!

Free Range Chicken Gardens

Author: Jessi Bloom.

Ever wanted to build the ideal garden in which your chickens can free range amongst your flowers, plants and vegetables – without destroying everything in sight?

Jessi Bloom is a professional horticulturalist and passionate chicken keeper who has combined these two skills to create a book which will help you to plan your ideal enclosure.

It covers different types of learning styles by presenting its advice in a variety of easily understood written details, illustrations, full colour photographs, lists of necessary materials, tables, charts and plans. 

If you want to know how your chickens and your garden can work together, this is the book for you!

Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella

Author: Jan Brett.

Not a book about keeping chickens, but a delightful re-working of the fairy tale – with a Silkie chicken taking centre stage!

This is my very favourite Christmas book of all time. I've bought it as a gift for a number of people (both old and young) who have all loved it.

The illustrations are stunningly magical, and the book is printed on beautiful quality paper. One not to be missed!

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