This book is a great read for a first-time chicken owner. It's thorough and clear. The one critique I would have of it is that it repeatedly makes chickens out to be delicate beasts that need heat if it dips below freezing, but that's not rare for poultry books. Just have to read between the lines a bit on that part. Overall it's a very good book with some neat trivia that has a well-earned place on the bookshelf of many a poultry keeper.
I would say it's more of four and a half stars, but I can't make it as such.
Pros: Covers just about every aspect of selecting and raising chickens through their various stages of life.
Cons: Being so indepth, it covers a LOT of details. It's hard to find the need-to-know bullet-points unless you mark and highlight pages.
I have referred to this book over and over again, for so many different things. It covers so many different and in-depth topics, as well as the kind of details that can only come from having experience with owning chickens. When building our coop, it provided guidelines for the basic housing needs of chickens. When the chicks came, it provided guidelines for their care. When we decided to give hatching eggs under a broody a try, it provided information on how to do all that. I have highlighted my copy in multiple colors, it has page corners folded throughout the book and has sticky-note page-tabs sticking out of all 3 non-bound sides.
This is definitely my favorite go-to book and the one I recommend to every person that asks me about raising chickens (along with this website)
Pros: This book has everything you will need to know if you plan on getting chickens, or if you already have some.
Cons: Probably not good for a kid, although mom should probably read it.
I checked this book out at the library, and I really learned a lot from it, even though I have had chickens a couple of years. It has about breeds, incubating, chicks, diseases, egg laying and everything else.
Pros: Covers everything a chicken newbie would need to know, VERY informative!
Cons: None at all!
This book is a great start for chicken newbies. It covers everything, not just the basics, and is VERY informative! This is the best book for a chicken newbie!
I bought this book when I was debating whether or not to get into chickens. It was a great help! With the knowledge I gained from this book I was better able to understand the advantages, pitfalls, and expenses of chicken ownership. It helped me pick my first breeds based on what I wanted and what breeds would thrive in my climate, how many to get, what kind of coop I wanted, everything! An excellent choice for anyone just getting into, or thinking about getting into, chicken ownership!
Pros: BIG BOOK, Good explanation of everything chicken, helpful tips, basic advise on chicken health, coop recommendations, great for beginners!
Cons: Cluttered at times.
I checked out Raising Chickens for Dummies before I got my first flock. The book was written by experienced chicken keepers (one of them created this website!) and it is written clearly. The book covers a vast range of topics from how an egg is made, incubation coop building, broken wings, to chicken's social order. Although it can seem a bit overwhelming for those not accompanied to chickens, it takes things in a logical order and explains things well. As well as a book for beginners, it can also be used as a reference for breeds and health issues. Although not a complete list, it can give you basic information on popular breeds, such as broodiness and hardiness. The health section is also helpful, it suggests methods to heal your chickens (or how to end it's life!) than head to a vet which would be costly. Definitely recommended as a bible for beginners and a quick read for experts. Make sure you get a separate book on health issues to cover the more 'rare' problems.
