The Joy of Keeping Chickens: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Poultry for Fun or Profit

by Jennifer Megyesi, Geoff Hansen (Photographer)

Overview

Finally backyard farmers who want to keep a few hens for eggs have a bible that's attractive enough to leave out on the coffee table, and inexpensive enough to purchase on a whim. This comprehensive guide, written in charming prose from the perspective of an organic farmer, will appeal to readers who are interested in raising chickens, or simply want the best knowledge about how to cook them. With this in mind, farmer and animal expert Jennifer Megyesi discusses all the basic details of raising the birds—general biology, health, food, choosing breeds, and so on—and she cuts through the smoke to identify what terms like "organic," "free-range," and so on really mean for poultry farmers and consumers.

No chicken book would be complete without information on how to show chickens for prizes, and this is no different, but The Joy of Keeping Chickens also stresses the importance of self-sustainability and organic living, and the satisfaction of keeping heirloom breeds. Readers will appreciate the comprehensive nature of this readable, informative guide, and Megyesi's enthusiasm about keeping chickens. Coupled with Geoff Hansen's gorgeous full-color photographs, this text makes for an instant classic in the category.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634500265
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	04/07/2015
Series:	Joy of Series
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Jennifer Megyesi and her husband own and run the Fat Rooster Farm in Vermont. She holds a master's degree in wildlife biology and has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her farm is currently breeding Cuckoo Marans chickens, famed for laying chocolate-colored eggs. She lives on the farm with her husband and son in Royalton, Vermont.

Geoff Hansen is a photographer and editor at the Valley News in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He has published in Newsweek, USA Today, and The New York Times. He lives in Tunbridge, Vermont, with his wife, daughter, and two beagles.

Table of Contents

Preface 8

1 Why Keep Chickens 12

2 Starting Your Poultry Enterprise 26

3 Housing Chickens 68

4 Feeding Your Chickens 98

5 Keeping Chickens for Eggs 114

6 Keeping Chickens for Meat 134

7 Using the Eggs You Produce 156

8 Using Your Chicken Meat 184

9 Showing Chickens 200

10 Flock Health: Common Illnesses, Conditions, and Diseases 212

Glossary 235

Epilogue 241

Appendix 1 Bibliography 245

Appendix 2 Poultry Organizations and Clubs 247

Appendix 3 State Resources 251

Appendix 4 Poultry Hatcheries and Supplies 257

Appendix 5 Recommended Reading 261

Acknowledgments 265

Index 267\

Editorial Reviews

Vermont organic farmer Megyesi has raised poultry for several years, and her book is partially a personal account of her quest to develop a humane production system that addresses chickens' needs and behaviors. She also dutifully meets her other goal of informing potential backyard farmers on the intricacies associated with chicken husbandry. In addition to providing information on equipment, housing facilities, and breeds found in a typical handbook, Megyesi goes into great detail on how to raise chickens on a small scale, defining terms like organic and free-range, discussing health issues, and even offering advice on showing chickens. Each chapter includes sidebars of additional tips, which are indexed for easy reference, as well as beautiful photographs accompanied by detailed descriptions. The easy-to-read prose makes this ideal for beginners; the book also includes resources and material for longtime chicken producers. Also provided are recipes for the eggs and meat that are produced. Megyesi's versatile book can accommodate several production management styles beyond her own experience. An excellent resource that provides a compassionate way to raise livestock for personal use, this is strongly recommended for public and academic libraries.
—Kyrille Goldbeck

Library Journal