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Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance: Reflections on Raising Chickens
"In this warmly funny paean to pet chickens, Gurdon chronicles life with a garden flock of chickens . . . Gurdon's tales of hens will be popular among readers who love true animal stories in the James Herriot vein."--"Booklist
Watch out poultry best-seller list: This hilarious account of a rookie poultry-owner's experience raising birds in his backyard is th...more
Watch out poultry best-seller list: This hilarious account of a rookie poultry-owner's experience raising birds in his backyard is th...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
November 1st 2005
by Lyons Press
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This book was a blast to read. Written by a British author with the typical very sarcastic and colorful sense of humor - there were many very funny passages (James Herriott meets Bill Bryson). It chronicles a couple's adventures with adding chickens to their urban backyard and the ensuing garden- and neighbor-related disasters. I didn't learn much I don't already know, but I didn't expect to; I was actually surprised to learn a few things I did NOT know, e.g. it is actually possible for a hen to...more
The subtitle states, "Reflections on Raising Chickens." This has some comical accounts of the author's experiences with chickens. It has me laughing and is timely since I just bought my first set of hens.
Here's an excerpt for you: "Had Ethel been human, she would have worn tweeds, had blue-rinsed hair and been keen on blood sports. She was a control freak who would stomp around the run letting everyone else know that in life's pecking order they were there to be pecked. ...more
Here's an excerpt for you: "Had Ethel been human, she would have worn tweeds, had blue-rinsed hair and been keen on blood sports. She was a control freak who would stomp around the run letting everyone else know that in life's pecking order they were there to be pecked. ...more
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This was a hilarious book about raising chickens in rural England. Gurdon's sense of humor killed me: very dry, very blunt, very British. I found myself laughing out-loud frequently. It's not good for a manual on keeping a backyard flock, as the information on the "how to" of raising chickens is sparse, but it's great for a glimpse into the real-life experience of keeping chickens; the ups and the downs. It isn't something we have the time for now in our lives, but keeping our own c...more
I forget how I came to hear about this enticingly titled book about chickens. It was a laugh out loud read. The anecdotes of endless garden consuming and expensive chicken house construction, hen's inhumanity(?) to hen, and multitudinous costly ailments worked effectively to put me off another variety of pet.
This book made me LAUGH and LAUGH. I think it would appeal to everyone, chicken owners or not. I was faintly alarmed by his rough, tough, fighty chickens - I own chickens and mine all get along very well with none of the foul-temperedness that some of Martin's chooks exhibit Well worth a read.
Abby
added it
I got this for the self-conciously amusing title, and that's pretty much what the rest of the book was like too. However, I liked Chapter 11, which was a humorous history of the chicken's relationship to humanity. It would make an interesting essay.
I loved this book. We are considering raising chickens, and while this really didn't provide a text book education, it was very entertaining and the author clearly enjoys raising the birds.
This is a fun book, even if you are not planning on raising chickens. I will add that there is some bad language. Writen to entertain not to inform.
This was not so much a how-to book as it was a fun and funny book on the author's experiences having chickens as pets.
A great book, even if you have no intention of ever owning chickens. Laugh out loud funny.
Fun
An absolutely humorous look at living with chickens as a pet/hobby. This was a wonderful book and a fast read for something light and upbeat. The antics of the chickens and the reactions of the author to the antics were priceless and very laughable.
I recommend this to anyone who needs a quick upbeat and fast read!
I recommend this to anyone who needs a quick upbeat and fast read!
If you love chickens and have them as pets (or want to have them as pets), then this is a great book. If you don't love chickens or have any desire to have them as pets, this book will seem ridiculous to you. I love chickens and have 2 as pets. Like the author, I could watch my chickens all day...
This was a book I accidently got and decided to read anyway. It turned out to be funny for the first few chapters. About three fourths of the way through the author lost his direction and didn't know what to write anymore or how to end it.
This was a very sweet memoir of what it's like to raise chickens from a novice chicken farmer. I'm sort of a chicken nut-I think they're beautiful and I have 27 of my own at the present time.
Loved the humor and style of this book... instructional, but written in an anecdotal style ... and hilarious
Was given to me as a gift.. very cute. Recommend to anyone who has raised chickens.
This is just fun (if you like chickens, or not) good beach read.
Cute, quick read.
Hilarious book. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves animal ... especially those who love chickens
Alicia
marked it as to-read
Lee
marked it as to-read
Dustin
marked it as to-read
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