Rating: *****
Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Demerow, a 438 page book, should be considered, in my opinion, the chicken keeper’s bible. It is packed with so much information in this newest fourth edition. It is terrific for beginners as well as advanced chicken keepers.
Various areas covered include breed selection, shelter selection, chicken maintainance, layer management, eggs, chick care, meat raising and preparation (Not for me, I could never eat my girls!), and showing your chickens.
The strongest areas of the book in my opinion are the sections on predators and predator prevention, chick care, set-up directions for new chicken owners and breed selection.
The health care area gives broad overviews but does not go into many details including diagnosis and treatment. I wish that there was more information here. The lack of information about health care may possibly be because the author has another book The Chicken Health Handbook. I personally have not seen this handbook but I am considering purchasing it.
Last winter, I think I read about 7 different books on raising chickens prior to the chicks’ arrival. All of them included the same bits and pieces about chicken raising. However, this book had the most topics included that anyone wanting to know something about chickens could go to. This book is a great starting off point and I highly recommend it.
2 thoughts on “Book Review: Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens”
Hi Melissa, this is Peter's cousin, Kathleen. His mom sent me the link to your blog — we just started raising chickens too! Ours are only 8 weeks, so we're a little behind yours. We have 2 Buff Orpingtons (Dorothy and Betty), a Gold-Laced Wyandotte (Sophia), a Partridge Rock (Nugget), a Rhode Island Red (Red) and Blanche, who we haven't figured out yet — we think she might be an Americauna. We got ours as day old chicks from a fundraiser by the Chicken Whisperer — if you haven't discovered his website yet, he's a great resource — and they gave us a mixture of breeds that do well in backyard flocks. So far, no roosters! And no real pecking order, but they certainly do have their individual personalities. We've been surprised at how pet-like they are.
Good luck getting your girls ready for the winter!
Wow, so exciting to be creating chicken memories together! I will have to check out the Chicken Whisperer's site. I think you will find some useful information here too. There is so much information out there, just not in one spot. We're hoping that Tilly's Nest can help in this aspect! Check out the blog today about Diatomaceous Earth. It is awesome. Keep in touch and enjoy your girls!! Thanks for the comment!