Very shortly after we got ourselves sorted on this little piece of heaven we got ourselves set up to be raising chickens. We knew from the start that they were part of the plan. Now we’ve added The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens by Kathy Shea Mormino to our homestead library. It was sent by Quarto Knows for an honest review. Get Ready for Summer Homestead Projects week wraps up with this book.
About The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens:
The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens takes enthusiasts through all aspects of small-flock ownership. You’ll find all the info you need on feeding, housing, flock health, and more.
Internationally known as The Chicken Chick, Kathy Shea Mormino brings an informative style and fresh perspective on raising backyard chickens to millions of fans around the world. An attorney by profession, Kathy is the founder and one-woman creative force behind her wildly popular and award-winning Facebook page and blog, The-Chicken-Chick.com.
Now her practical, down-to-earth approach to chicken-keeping is available in book form. Sharing her years of hard-earned experience and collaborations with poultry veterinarians, nutritionists, and professors, she provides simple steps to care for these uncommon pets with confidence. Kathy’s personality permeates the book as she guides newbie, veteran, and would-be backyard chickeneers alike through all aspects of small-flock care–from getting into the hobby to housing, feeding, egg production, health, and much more. The result is accurate information presented in the fun and abundantly illustrated format that Mormino has delivered on her blog for years.
ALL AMAZON PURCHASE LINKS ARE AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH MEANS IF YOU MAKE A PURCHASE I RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION (AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU)
About the Author:
Kathy Shea Mormino‘s background as a litigation attorney combined with the street-cred she has garnered from sharing personal chickening successes, failures and gaffes in real-time online makes her a relatable, trustworthy advisor readers depend on to deliver the straight dope on all things regarding backyard chicken keeping. Having spent years in litigation publicly fighting politicians for the right to keep backyard chickens, Mormino has consistently put her money where her mouth is, educating lawmakers and changing zoning regulations proving that animal welfare and the right to keep chickens responsibly is foremost on her agenda.
In addition to being a brand ambassador for Tractor Supply Company, Purina Poultry, Vetericyn, and Durvet, she is a contributor to Hobby Farms Chickens magazine, as well as online blogs by Mother Earth News and Grit magazines. Kathy has become the trusted voice in backyard chicken-keeping, frequently sought out by media outlets and publications, including The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press, for her perspective on chickens She appears on local and national television, radio, and podcasts, and is featured on Discovery’s Destination America reality show Coop Dreams, as well as P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home.
Kathy lives in Connecticut with her husband and daughters Sophia and MaryKate where she is a beekeeper, the personal assistant to 50+ chickens, a rescue cat, and a Yorkie with cattitude.
– She’s keeping it real . . . with chickens.
My Opinion:
I will admit the hubby does most of the chicken care about the farm. Although there are times he is not here so in those instances it falls to me. They are, for the most part very easy animals to care for – they need a safe place to roost at night, food and fresh water.
This book offers what the author has learned through the years and years she has kept chickens. She has a longstanding and well known blog (I had long read the blog before I was sent the book) and community where she passed on her advice.
The book is only about keeping chickens for egg laying or as pets. It does not get into raising chickens for meat. That is fine, but just be aware of that going in so as to not be disappointed if you are seeking advice on that aspect of chicken farming. Also please, if you are keeping chickens as pets do not kiss your chickens. They are dirty birds. You do not want to get salmonella.
Overall it’s an easy to read book full of a wealth of information for the beginner or experienced person who wants and or has chickens. A good addition to any farm library.
Rating:
4
Chickens on the Farm:
We have had chickens on the farm for almost as long as we have been here. We started with New Hampshire reds as they are a good, hardy breed. The hens will lay pretty much year round. Raising chickens starts for most with ordering them from a hatchery which is what we did. You get a phone call from the post office telling you they are here and you rush to get them. In the beginning we ordered a lot of chicks as we also put some of them in the freezer. We decided that this year was the last year we would butcher chickens. It’s a lot of hard work and we are both getting older.
As for laying hens, we will now just keep about 5 or 6 along with a rooster to protect them. The roosters can get silly in the spring. Right now we are between breeds so we have some New Hampshire Reds and some Leghorns. The reds are mostly retired right now and just living out their lives in peace and happiness. We will just go forward with the Leghorns for egg laying.
Chickens are also very beneficial for pest control – they eat a LOT of bugs. And they are serious mouse catchers. I kid you not. You have not lived until you have seen a chicken catch and kill a mouse. They are also a lot of fun to watch chase grasshoppers. We keep the chickens close to the garden and having them catch and eat the grasshoppers before they get into the garden has been very effective. (The ducks also eat a lot of bugs.)
Truth be told the chickens are true omnivores – they will eat anything. This varied diet is what makes farm eggs so much tastier than store bought eggs. I enjoy having the chickens on the farm although there are times that I could do without the roosters and their crowing.
The Giveaway:
One lucky US reader will win three of the five books that were celebrated during this Get Ready for Summer Homestead Projects Week. The winner will receive:
- Composting for a New Generation
- Garden Builder
- The Backyard Beekeeper
Just enter as many ways as you would like on the Gleam widget below. Remember, you can only win one copy of a book. All of the giveaways this week are ending on the same day. If you are lucky enough to win this giveaway and one of the others you will get to choose which prize you want. Good luck everyone.
Homestead Week – Chickens
