I was recently asked what my favorite books are, if I need tips or ideas for raising chickens. While we’ve covered just about everything imaginable about chickens in the happy roost, there’s still something nice about having a paper book! Without hesitation, I could think of five books that have helped me with ideas and practical advice and a reference for all things chicken. There’s no particular order to my list and I’ve even included a couple of “honorable” mentions for those of you who want to know even more about your feathered friends. Most of the books listed here have at least a 4-star rating on the market, so I’m not the only one who thinks these books are the best available. the criteria used were:
- applicable to all situations.
- basic information provided in a clear and concise format.
- knowledge based on evidence or experience.
- good reference material to refer back to.
floor guide to raising chickens by gail damerow
Rarely do you find a book that covers everything you need to know as a beginner or even experienced chicken keeper – this book is the exception. Without a doubt, this is one of my primary ‘go to’ books. Ms. Damerow is very thorough in covering the subject of chickens. It is well planned and executed from front to back and thoughtfully written. She has been keeping chickens for 40+ years and regularly contributes articles to several websites and magazines. The book is divided into fourteen chapters, ranging from choosing your breed, shelter, feed and water, routine management, exhibiting your birds, right down to slaughter for the table. Each subject is completely explored and explained. When I first bought this book I read it from cover to cover – not bad for a reference book! The writing style is easy to read and follow. There are lots of line drawings and charts which are helpful as a quick reference. Just about all of my questions are answered in this book from what killed my chicken to trimming beaks and spurs. Some of the charts included are a predator detective key which will help you narrow down the murder suspects and a ‘what went wrong’ hatching chart to help you determine why the egg didn’t hatch or why the embryo demised. Although written from the small scale farming point of view rather than the ‘backyard chicken’ point of view, it is immensely helpful in all situations.
You are reading: Best books on raising chickens
backyard chickens: a practical manual for raising chickens by claire woods
This is an excellent basic book on chickens. it is packed with information and little pearls of wisdom. The chapters are short and focus on the beginning aspects of chicken farming, such as chickens 101, which chickens are best for you, chicken coops, feeding, and caring for sick birds. nicely illustrated with photos, there’s a resource guide in the back, and a couple of chicken stories. it’s well worth a read as it’s packed with tips and tricks for successful poultry farming.
the chicken health handbook by gail damerow
This is the third book on my list and we head back to Ms. Damerow. The Chicken Health Handbook looks at diseases and ailments that can be found in chickens. A foreword by a veterinarian highly recommends this to the layperson as being easy to understand and helpful, I could not agree more. It is scientifically inclined as it deals with diseases, causes and cures. Chapters include health and nutrition, parasites, chicken anatomy, diagnostic guides for a wide variety of problems, how chickens can affect human health (salmonella, campylobacter etc.) and for the intensely curious among us – post mortem findings and how to do a post mortem. There are helpful charts which explain things like vertical and horizontal transmission and life cycles of parasites such as tapeworms. The charts in the diagnostic section are invaluable in determining specific problems with your bird. There is a chapter on treating sick birds, methods of treating them and how to administer medicines. At the back of the book is an alphabetically arranged ‘Diseases and Disorders’ section which includes everything from the common to the rare.
avoid the vet for practical birds
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This little book is packed with valuable advice and tips, as you would expect from the folks at practical chicken. It’s not for beginners, but for anyone looking for advice on pest prevention, feeding and nutrition, housing and bedding. There are excellent tips on buying birds, specifically how to choose a good bird from mediocre ones; It pays to read twice before buying your hens. a section on natural solutions and treatments, especially garlic, is also very interesting reading. As the title suggests, following the tips and tricks in this book will help you avoid those costly trips to the vet, as one of the reviewers says: Medications shouldn’t replace good parenting. I couldn’t find this book available online, so you may have to visit your local bookstore to get this one!
hatching & raising your own chicks by gail damerow
yeah, i know another gail damerow book! she writes some of the best chicken books, so what can I say? This covers all poultry (chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, and geese), making it useful for a wide variety of bird keepers. the first part covers the chicks. chapter 1 provides good advice on choosing the right chick for your needs. Subsequent chapters will teach you how to properly set up a brooder, whether purchased or homemade. Feed, water and bedding, chick development including separation of the sexes, and lastly the health of the hatchlings are discussed, dealing with such things as sudden death, defects and disease. the second part deals with eggs. Start with the brooder hen and how to run this ultimate brooder/incubator! The following chapters teach you how to select an incubator, hatch those eggs, and operate an incubator. there’s a fascinating chapter on “what went wrong” with your hatch and how to rectify it next time. em. damerow also has an appendix called “nutty notions” where she dispels some common misconceptions.
other honorable mentions
21st century poultry farming by grant brereton
grant is the editor of fancy fowl magazine and an expert on the genetics of feather color. this book is for those interested in genes and plumage patterns and how they originate. Although this is a simplistic look at the subject, it may be a bit difficult to follow as a beginner, but genetics is difficult to understand. the first chapter discusses breed standards, strain improvement, double mating, and stocking. This is followed by a brief look at the most popular breeds in the UK and the third chapter really goes into how to change colours, the genes behind the patterns and also some specific genes such as the restriction gene. features many photographs illustrating plumage patterns and different breeds and some of the genetics behind it. If you are a genetic lover or just want to improve your bird strain, this is a useful reference book.
the structure of the bird by bradley/grahame
if, like me, you are fascinated by the body and what happens in it, you may enjoy this book. this has been around for a while (3rd edition 1950), but it covers all the anatomical structures of the chicken. chapters cover the skeleton, musculature, respiratory organs, skin, and other parts of the bird. It’s a bit of a dry read like most textbooks, but if you take it chapter by chapter, it opens up a fascinating world for you! Illustrated with line drawings and photos, this is an educational guide for those with a scientific and inquiring mind. interestingly, this book was first written in 1915 by mr. Bradley, who became the first president of the National Association of Veterinary Medicine.
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there are many books about chickens, sorry if your favorite isn’t on this list! Some are general and some deal with herbal or natural treatments, some have a defined niche, like How to Talk Chicken by Melissa Caughey. I hope to read it after Christmas! We have tried to bring you some that are real and helpful for beginners and intermediates alike on the essential parts of chicken farming. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be able to choose which one best suits your style of keeping. Do you have any book that you recommend? let us know in the comments section below…
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