The Right Way to Keep Chickens

by Virginia Shirt

Virginia Shirt presents a detailed guide for anyone considering keeping chickens in their own back garden. It contains detailed visual references for sections on chicken biology, health, handling, building coops and more.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written for the backyard chicken keeper with a small flock, this author includes basics of poultry husbandry and some extra information about using and storing eggs as well as a section on common illnesses in flocks. It's written from a UK perspective, with particular attention to predation by foxes. This is okay place to start, but keep looking if you're interested in innovative coop design. In my (admitedly limited) experience, a plan to prevent aerial predation will be essential to success in many contexts, 'chicken' wire fails against rodents and snakes, and prevention of human theft may play a bigger factor than you imagine depending on your community. Even though I agree with the author about creating humane conditions the preachy tone of the book sometimes got tiresome. 'Rescuing' battery hens when they age out is akin to adopting greyhounds. If you seek to avoid importing health problems to your garden or farm then hatching fertile eggs with an incubator can be one of the best ways to begin.

(Free from Maria's book swap)

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’d ever keep chickens but I did enjoy this read regardless

[Virginia Shirt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first publication and it was a big success for me. I wrote it because I felt keeping chickens is accessible to anyone with a back garden. The book has been used in schools, to help chidren get to know important skills and learn to care for animals and the natural world. Now, four years later, so many people seem to have gone down this route and now know the joys of keeping chickens and enjoying fresh eggs for breakfast. I hope you too will consider this wonderful hobby -and get hold of my book to help you along the way.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be the most succinct book I've read on keeping chickens. It is very much what a backyard keeper needs to know and there are tons of tips and advice in addition to the general how-to. The chapter on feeding is most helpful although I was surprised to see two items that I have read elsewhere should not be fed to chickens. The writing is good and the author has a very rational and humane approach to the animals. Despite a few differences in UK/US laws and products, I would recommend this to all levels of homesteaders and backyard flock keepers.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a reasonable guide on how to keep chickens. I have read better, read worse. I did feel the opinionated style of writing a little off putting though!