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The New Rules of the Roost: Organic Care and Feeding for the Family Flock
“The Litts offer the best organic methods for keeping backyard chickens safe and healthy.” —Gail Damerow, author of The Guide to Raising Chickens
The New Rules of the Roost goes beyond the basics and addresses the real problems that crop up over time with backyard chickens. This hardworking guide covers a wide range of topics including organic health remedies and disease prevention, pest management, organic nutrition, the best breeds for specific needs, and the simplest options for daily maintenance and feeding. You'll also learn tips and tricks for introducing new birds into your flock, managing aggressive behavior, caring for mature chickens, and much more.
The New Rules of the Roost goes beyond the basics and addresses the real problems that crop up over time with backyard chickens. This hardworking guide covers a wide range of topics including organic health remedies and disease prevention, pest management, organic nutrition, the best breeds for specific needs, and the simplest options for daily maintenance and feeding. You'll also learn tips and tricks for introducing new birds into your flock, managing aggressive behavior, caring for mature chickens, and much more.
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
208 pages, Paperback
Published July 10, 2018
16 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 13, 2018
The thing about having backyard chickens is that everyone who has them thinks they are an expert. If you go on the Internet there will be all sorts of advice, and a lot of it is what the people believe, even if it has proven to be false.
When I started out, now, six years ago, I had no clue about what to do with backyard chickens other than to keep them in the back yard. I didn't have coop for them, I kept them in the garage. I carried them to the backyard every day, and then carried them back at night. It was not ideal, to say the least. And the garage got very smelly.
The worst part of it was, although they were in the backyard, and making a racket, I didn't know how to listen to the difference between, we-are-having-a-good-time-eating bugs and oh-my-gosh-there-is-a-hawk-trying-to-eat-us-mommy, until it was too late, and two of my eight chickens had been killed.
Back then, there just weren't good books on chickens. Really, only that long ago, and there just weren't. So, I am please to say that this one is another great one, in a series of excellent backyard chicken books.
And this is truly about backyard chickens. For people who live in a house, in a suburb, not out on the farm, and not with thousands of acres. This has such good advice, such as what to do about chickens when you don't want your whole back yard covered with chicken poop. And other advice on what to feed your chickens.
What I like about this book is that it has little stories, such as the chicken poop, and how a client wanted to feed their chickens nothing but treats, and couldn't understand why they died on them. Practical information, set up in each to read chapters. Advice on what sort of grains to feed your chickens, that sort of thing.
This is a great book for the beginner, as well as someone who has had chickens for a while. Who know, you still might learn something.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
When I started out, now, six years ago, I had no clue about what to do with backyard chickens other than to keep them in the back yard. I didn't have coop for them, I kept them in the garage. I carried them to the backyard every day, and then carried them back at night. It was not ideal, to say the least. And the garage got very smelly.
The worst part of it was, although they were in the backyard, and making a racket, I didn't know how to listen to the difference between, we-are-having-a-good-time-eating bugs and oh-my-gosh-there-is-a-hawk-trying-to-eat-us-mommy, until it was too late, and two of my eight chickens had been killed.
Back then, there just weren't good books on chickens. Really, only that long ago, and there just weren't. So, I am please to say that this one is another great one, in a series of excellent backyard chicken books.
And this is truly about backyard chickens. For people who live in a house, in a suburb, not out on the farm, and not with thousands of acres. This has such good advice, such as what to do about chickens when you don't want your whole back yard covered with chicken poop. And other advice on what to feed your chickens.
What I like about this book is that it has little stories, such as the chicken poop, and how a client wanted to feed their chickens nothing but treats, and couldn't understand why they died on them. Practical information, set up in each to read chapters. Advice on what sort of grains to feed your chickens, that sort of thing.
This is a great book for the beginner, as well as someone who has had chickens for a while. Who know, you still might learn something.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
July 10, 2018
I enjoyed this look at organic, backyard chicken keeping. Along with the story of how the family authors got involved, we find a basketful of tips on keeping healthy hens, clean chicks, rowdy roosters and fantastic flocks. The photos are colourful and gorgeous.
If you are considering keeping hens and want to have regard to their welfare and happiness, as well as knowing what goes into your diet, this is a great book. While the location is America I expect most of the contents would transfer to other countries.
I downloaded a copy through Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
If you are considering keeping hens and want to have regard to their welfare and happiness, as well as knowing what goes into your diet, this is a great book. While the location is America I expect most of the contents would transfer to other countries.
I downloaded a copy through Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
February 13, 2018
I raised chickens for over 15 years on a small hobby farm in the foothills of NC so I’ve read my fair share of books on raising fowl. I was anxious to dive into this book and see what I could learn about keeping chickens in the city now that I live in coastal VA. The New Rules of the Roost is full of terrific ideas for anyone even remotely thinking about wanting to start a flock whether in city or country. The authors are comprehensive in their study of chickens and raising them with sustainable initiatives.
From choosing just the right breed of chicken for longevity, friendliness, egg production, to nutritional facts and desirable feed, to coop design and poop disposal, how to be a successful urban backyard chicken keeper will not be a problem after reading this book. But…it is a profusion of densely packed information that needs to be absorbed over time. I want a paperback copy of this book because I can see spending hours and hours combing its pages, planning how to establish a new flock as a city dweller, making copious notes and enjoying the full color photos of all the beautiful birds.
I was provided an electronic copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. Opinions are my own. No compensation has been received.
From choosing just the right breed of chicken for longevity, friendliness, egg production, to nutritional facts and desirable feed, to coop design and poop disposal, how to be a successful urban backyard chicken keeper will not be a problem after reading this book. But…it is a profusion of densely packed information that needs to be absorbed over time. I want a paperback copy of this book because I can see spending hours and hours combing its pages, planning how to establish a new flock as a city dweller, making copious notes and enjoying the full color photos of all the beautiful birds.
I was provided an electronic copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. Opinions are my own. No compensation has been received.
June 11, 2018
I raised chickens for over 15 years on a small hobby farm in the foothills of NC so I’ve read my fair share of books on raising fowl. I was anxious to dive into this book and see what I could learn about keeping chickens in the city now that I live in coastal VA. The New Rules of the Roost is full of terrific ideas for anyone even remotely thinking about wanting to start a flock whether in city or country. The authors are comprehensive in their study of chickens and raising them with sustainable initiatives.
From choosing just the right breed of chicken for longevity, friendliness, egg production, to nutritional facts and desirable feed, to coop design and poop disposal, how to be a successful urban backyard chicken keeper will not be a problem after reading this book. But…it is a profusion of densely packed information that needs to be absorbed over time. I want a paperback copy of this book because I can see spending hours and hours combing its pages, planning how to establish a new flock as a city dweller, making copious notes and enjoying the full color photos of all the beautiful birds.
I was provided an electronic copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. Opinions are my own. No compensation has been received.
From choosing just the right breed of chicken for longevity, friendliness, egg production, to nutritional facts and desirable feed, to coop design and poop disposal, how to be a successful urban backyard chicken keeper will not be a problem after reading this book. But…it is a profusion of densely packed information that needs to be absorbed over time. I want a paperback copy of this book because I can see spending hours and hours combing its pages, planning how to establish a new flock as a city dweller, making copious notes and enjoying the full color photos of all the beautiful birds.
I was provided an electronic copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. Opinions are my own. No compensation has been received.
April 20, 2018
This is a gem of a book for anyone who has chickens (or who wants to have chickens) in urban/ suburban situations and who are intent on caring for them as organically as possible. It is bursting with ideas and helpful solutions from the best breeds for the backyard, to fixing up coops, to brilliant and extremely thorough chapters on nutrition and health. I found essential information (that I had been unable to pick up online or by reading other books) about: boredom busting and how to deal with the pecking order, how to discourage rodents, how to detect potential health problems and how to deal with them.
The book makes for easy and smooth reading material, I was immediately sucked into the book (fascinating learning about the Kauai). The authors are true chicken experts that have tried and tested their suggestions and their creativity with it is contagious!
The photography is absolutely gorgeous, making the book beautiful to look at too!
The book makes for easy and smooth reading material, I was immediately sucked into the book (fascinating learning about the Kauai). The authors are true chicken experts that have tried and tested their suggestions and their creativity with it is contagious!
The photography is absolutely gorgeous, making the book beautiful to look at too!
December 28, 2020
If I could, I would give this 4.5 stars.
This book is very well done. The Litt's are using organic options to raise their chickens so the book is told from that perspective although there are occasional mentions of alternatives and times when they say the non-organic product is preferred. The section on medical conditions and treatments is quite comprehensive and would be a comfort when it is needed. The book focuses most on housing, health, and feed.
This book is very well done. The Litt's are using organic options to raise their chickens so the book is told from that perspective although there are occasional mentions of alternatives and times when they say the non-organic product is preferred. The section on medical conditions and treatments is quite comprehensive and would be a comfort when it is needed. The book focuses most on housing, health, and feed.
March 3, 2020
Fantastic book. I got it from the library, but I need my own copy to refer back to! Great book on health and organic feeding/growing. We may not be able to go 100% organic, but the blended approach should work nicely as well. I'd recommend this book to anyone starting or maintaining a flock--the authors reference Hawai'i and Seattle a lot, but the science is the same no matter where you grow!
July 24, 2019
Well written. Provides insight, does a good job separating opinion from what the authors see as fact, and does great providing initial insight while sourcing other material for further more in-depth information. Great starter book and initial reference, has already helped me multiple times.
July 29, 2019
very heplful and educational. I read it before I got chickens and am very satisfied with the results!!!
December 13, 2024
Excellent re resource of all things chicken. This book contains a lot of practice information.
February 6, 2018
Great book for the beginning chicken mom (or dad). Lots of great information that you should research before you start with wonderful photos and personal experiences. A great book for a beginning homesteader!
April 17, 2018
Oh, how I wish I'd had this book when I got my first chickens! So much good information in here. A great overview of different chicken breeds, what a chicken needs to be happy and healthy, and more. Plus, this book goes far more in depth about natural health, making your own feed, tips and tricks for keeping a backyard flock. I'm glad to have this in my library and will be recommending it to all my chicken friends too. And it doesn't hurt that the photography is great!
May 6, 2018
A very good guide from A to Z for chickens in urban and suburban contexts. I liked that the author added a description of some species. Also, the book introduction is amazing.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews