Chicken boarders

[birdy woman]

i need a good reference book on chicken keeping to try and gain as much knowledge before getting them. one that has pictures of breeds. any suggestions???

[percy049]

An illustrated guide to keeping chickens, has some on keeping them and a lot on breeds. I think the haynes chicken manuals supposed to be good too

[muzzboy]

This omlet forum is good you get hands on experience with proplems and its free

[auntielizzie]

As someone who had wanted to keep chickens for years and years, having collected several books over this time and thouroughly questioned anyone and everyone who I ever met who I heard kept chickens, I have found that since actually having the chickens in the flesh and caring for them from day to day, I have learned so so much more in those few weeks than I ever had before. There's nothing like hands-on experience.

 

I visit this forum every day and it is just so useful. I am always finding out new things and every question you will ever have will be answered here. Even if you don't ask a question yourself, somebody else will ask the same thing you were wondering or you will read someone else's posts and realise that you needed to know that too! There is no question you should feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. We all seem to start off in the same boat and its great to be able to get help from more experienced chicken keepers, or just to exchange ideas, tips etc.

 

I haven't got an eglu or a cube or anything but I was recommended this forum by a friend of a friend and it is such a mine of information.

[Benaberry]

agree with what everyone has said about this forum - I don't have an eglu either (although I'd love a cube one day), but everyone here is so friendly and knowledgable.

 

On the book front, the first chicken book I bought was the Mini Encyclopedia of Chicken Breeds and Care (Frances Bassom) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mini-Encyclopedia-Chicken-Breeds-Care/dp/184286212X which as a complete novice seemed really useful, and has some lovely pictures of lots of breeds. I've also got a couple of others, including this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Choosing-Keeping-Chickens-Chris-Graham/dp/075371552X/ref=pd_sim_b_11, but they all seem to say pretty much the same thing. Doesn't stop me buying them though; they've all got gorgeous breed pictures (not good for morehens though...)

[percy049]

benaberry; ihave got that second book and its really good . Isnt he also the editor for Practical Poultry?

[Benaberry]

I think so, yes

 

definitely a good book, and some gorgeous photos for stoking the morehens

[gongladosh]

the Haynes one is pretty good, but like virtually all chicken books avoids mentioning peritonitis - it's as if it's something you don't speak about...

[Henergy]

I have the Haynes one which is good. I also have one by Peacock (I know ) called The Urban Hen. But I agree - here is great too.