Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, 3rd Edition

You'll know more than 99 percent of the people you meet if you'll just trust & follow this book

Gail Damerow does a lovely job with the books she writes including this one. I recommend this 2011 updated version as it did have a good deal of new info not in the earlier edition that I had checked out at the local library. I can find everything in this book from selecting a breed, chicken behavior, feeding & care, health issues, housing, butchering, egg consumption, breeding, showing, incubating, and raising chicks. I have a backyard flock and had already raised ducks first. This book was still hugely helpful because there are many differences between keeping ducks versus chickens. Whether you had a larger chicken flock or a smaller, urban flock this book is very useful. There are other books on chickens that are either: a.) not nearly as extensive and/or b.) only cover someone having a "trendy"urban backyard flock while ignoring other aspects of owning poultry (like eating your chickens or showing them). I like that this book has basic info that would apply for a host of different situations in which someone might own a flock of chickens. Gail uses a very practical approach, and the only other author I have found on chickens that I like just as much as Gail Damerow is Harvey Ussery. Love this book!

I highly recommend this book by Gail Damerow, 'Storey's Guild to Raising Chickens'. This book belongs in everyone's library rather you are a first timer or an old timer. I was so impressed on what all it covers, it walks you through breed selection to meat on the table and everything in between (feed, care, eggs, shelters, etc..). Rather you are in town or in the country, if you are going to have chickens then this is a must have. Gail Damerow is an expert and anytime you see her as an author you can take it to the bank that you will get detailed information. I'm extremely happy with the wide content of this book and also with the packaging from Amazon as it arrived in new condition.

Has more information than most of us need, but this is a book to read some chapters fully and just glance at the contents of others until they are needed, as most of us don't have a great number of friends doing the same thing. Good guidance on coops and enclosures to supplement other sources, and enough guidance on breeds to make reasonable choices. This book will give enough information to judge the reasonableness of other sources, and should stay on the shelf for years. If you are considering raising chickens I suggest buying it.

Excellent book for beginners and pros to reference back to. I read a few basics books first before I attacked this big book as it seemed very daunting with so much information for such a newbie. I am glad I read the basics books first (A Chicken in Every Yard and Chick Days). After reading those I had a good idea of how to start my own flock and I purchased baby chicks. They are now 4 weeks old and I finished reading Gail's book. I highlighted and marked a lot of pages to return back to as they get older. This book confirmed to me that the first two books were written with correct information and also helped push me out of the "newbie" status. I felt like I knew what I was doing and so far had a very healthy flock of girls.This books covers so much information: from hatching your own baby chicks from eggs, to raising the chicks, to taking care of egg layers vs. meat birds, diseases and injuries, showing, and finishing with slaughtering. Everything was written in a way that was easily understood without making me feel like I had gotten into something way over my head. This book (as well as the other two) will stay permanently on my bookshelf! Next to read: The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail.

I've almost 70 yrs old with an ag school science Ph.D. including some time around commercial chicken waste handling practices but am no farmer. So when the SO said she wanted backyard chickens (Easter Eggers to add to her pet parrot) I needed a quick reup on how to best house and care for them. We can't let ours free range (or keep roosters) because of where we live so I ended up modifying a coop and building a run from scratch to provide a safe and humane environment for our small flock to live enclosed (complete with auto waterer, chicken swings and high quality electric fencing to repel the ubiquitous racoons and possums).I read though 3 books- this is by far the most complete and well deserves its rating. No surprise its made it to 3rd edition. It has far more disease info than most will ever want or need but covers the necessary housing, nutrition and protection way better than others. Will answer almost any question but may be a bit too much like a real textbook (rather than a fun read) for some.Anyway, highly recommended by me. The other two I books I've got will be given away- they don't justify space as references on my shelf even though they were entertaining and addressed a few items for complete animal novices better than this book.

I love this book, I had a used first edition way back when I gotten chickens for the first time. Its been about 10 years since I have had chickens and will shortly be enjoying them again, so was really happy to see there was a new edition of this book.This author really is so knowledgeable, and the book has so much information, sometimes more than the average backyard chicken owner would need (don't need to neuter my roosters, but someone out there might need to), it is easy to read and a great all in one go to book from chick care, diseases, coop building, making evil roosters into dinner ready whole chicken, the in and outs for good egg laying and so much more..for the price it is hard to beat!If you get one book, this is the one it is a great resource. If you are like me you will get more than one book and this will still be your favorite :)

While it is geared towards a larger keepers. It still a good place to get information in regards to keeping chickens. For my self i am just starting with a few hens. the wife is already pushing for a rooster and expanding the flock.Read it with intention that if you intend to expand your flock. This book is for you. It does stay away from pushing the go all organic idea. For myself that just is not as practical idea as some might think. But I would urge you to buy and jeep it handy as it does contain knowledge you will find handy down the road.I do have this on my kindle, but am old fashion. The physical book allows me to walk out in to my back yard put it down with out worrying if moisture is about to destroy a $200+ USD piece of electronics.. LOL

Its 3rd edition and up to date start's with choosing breeds, making shelters, routine menagements, health care, laying hen management, managing breeder flock, exhibiting your chicken, artificial insemination and much much information about breeding chickens i got much info on breeding thanks to gail damerow.

We've kept chickens for over 5 years now and at one stage had 76. Thought I'd learned just about everything necessary but this book was recommended by a real expert so I took his advice and got a copy. Some books you read and think 'has this person ever kept chickens or have they just cribbed the content from other, equally ill-informed books?' Well without doubt Gail Dumelow has kept chickens. She is without doubt an expert of the highest order. I have read the book cover to cover and have not found one shred of ignorance in it. The layout and content is absolutely first class and money hasn't been lavished on unnecessary glossy photos.This book is a poultry keepers MUST HAVE !Apologies to Gail, but the American origins of the publication are still evident to a minor extent. When we look for predators stealing eggs in England we wouldn't list 'snakes' amongst the potential culprits!

All the information you need to successfully raise chickens is contained in this book. It's ideal for those getting started in chicken keeping, and those wanting a refresher. There were some chapters I skipped over when I first read it, such as the ones on breeding and showing, since I had no intentions of doing either. Now that I've changed my mind, I've gone back to read them and they've been incredibly helpful. It's a great starter resource.

Well written and useful information. A good addition to the library.

My hubby and I got backyard chickens a little while ago - and this has been a great resource for me (who had zero chicken experience). This has met my needs as well as those of my husband, who does have lots of hands-on poultry experience. Lots of nuts and bolts stuff about raising poultry, but also some really interesting insights - especially for the backyard chicken enthusiast. Learning to talk to my chickens??? Hilarious and surprisingly helpful!This book has limited information on choosing breeds - but when combined with Storey's illustrated guide to poultry breeds you'll have everything you need to know to select and set up your own backyard flock with confidence- Even if you're a complete chicken rookie like me!