Gail Damerow
1 Grand book!
This book has what you need to know to raise chickens and more! It has from choosing the best breed for you to showing chickens. But I think you need another book for over 100 chickens (this book has all the bacics but not that detaled for the large flock owners.
2 Not too helpful
Doesn't try to solve your chicken problems, just suggests culling all non-perfect chickens.
3 Couldn't find a better book on raising chickens.
If you have done your research and found this book then you have done well, there is in my opinion NO better book for the beginner,intermediate or experienced backyard chicken grower.
Ms. Damerow covers all the subjects that you can think off, she even has an extensive section on disease and pests and their prevention.If you buy just one book on Chickens this should be it.
4 If you buy just one book on chickens - this should be it !
I bought a second book not sure just which I would find to be the most helpful. It was completely plain to see that Storey's was the most comprehensive and informative even for the not so experienced backyard chicken family. If you are going to buy just one book to use as a reference for raising chickens I would recommend Storey's. From the get go, Storey's explains the best breeds of chickens for the use you plan to raise them for, how to build the coop determinded on the size of your brood to doctoring your sick chickens and then showing your best chickens. For the backyard chicken raising family this should be your number one book of choice.
5 Great For a Beginner
I bought this book to get me started in my chicken endeavors and have found it to be enormously helpful. For someone with limited knowledge, it's a great place to start. The organization is easy to follow and the information seems sound. Although I have needed to consult other resources for specific (perhaps unique) problems, it has helped me to get my flock off the ground (you know what I mean) and maintain it. It gives clear information about selecting a breed, designing the coop (several options are offered), feeding, tending to health problems, and butchering. I cannot attest to the chapter on incubation and hatching since I haven't tried it yet. As a primary resource for raising chickens, this book has been invaluable. My chickens are fine and healthy.
6 A must for the chicken owner
Best investment I made to help me raise my chickens! Information is right on, helped diagnosing "broody's" to viruses. Phenomenal information on hatching, breed types, feeding & behaviour. Other books I had purchased before were difficult to understand or just to generalized. I now have a flock of 16 free range chickens, (7 of them hatched by my hens), and my 8 mature hens are producing from 25 - 60 eggs a week. In comparison to my friend who has a flock of 35, my chickens are healthier (free range hers are caged), have little or no cannibalistic habits (her chickens are 1/2 bald for the fighting), and produce substantially more eggs than hers. Now I am buying her a copy for Christmas!
Most of the book is well organized and thought out. There are a few places where better cross referencing would help, but overall, you can find what you are looking for. Definite cover to cover read and keeper for future reference.
7 A thorough guide for beginners, excellent book!
I purchased this book because my wife and I "impulse bought" two live chicks and didn't have a clue as to where to begin. This book is well written and provides a multitude of information for the beginner and experienced alike. I didn't realize how much I had learned until I started experiencing the problems mentioned in the book and realized that I knew how to handle them.
The publisher of this book, Storey, has a number of excellent titles which I have read since this one, and I would recommend their books for anyone who is getting into farming, livestock or any type of agricultural enterprise.
8 The Mrs
Storey's guide to beef was more organized and better written. This was kind of bird brained (excuse the pun). However, I do know a lot more about chickens and their needs than before. I would've rather had more ideas on building the coops rather than recipes. Still worth the read though for beginners.
9 A complete guide to Raising Chickens
Finally, a complete reference that covers all the major areas of raising chickens. As a poultry farm and hatchery owner, I always suggest this book first to anyone interested in raising chickens. This is an indepth yet easy to read guide that is sure to educate even the most experienced chicken fancier. This book will help you choose the right breed of chicken, how to care for them, maintain their health, and meet your individual goals for your flock. This is currently the premier guide to raising chickens available.
10 The Best Chicken Reference Guide I have seen
I am a book nut and when I get interested in a subject I go all out to learn about it. Of all the books I bought or read - this is the best one by far. When I need to know something - 100% of the time I can find it. I raise and keep several types of chickens - primarily for the freerange eggs, insect control and organic fertilizer. My whole family has fallen in love with chickens and all of us have read some part of this book... All the best, Randy
11 Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens
EVERYTHING you would ever want to know about raising a flock of backyard chickens is superbly covered in this book! Once I started reading it, I found I couldn't put it down until 5 hours later as the information in it is so clear, so interesting, so usable. I would recommend this for any person who is just starting to raise chickens or for someone who is taking their chicken 'hobby' to new levels.
12 If you are new to raising chickens...
or an old hand at it, this is a very handy book to have around. Easy to read and straight to the point, it is full of good, sound information. I know many, many folks own this book and depend on it and I am one of them! Strongly recommend it to anyone considering raising chickens.
13 A must for anyone keeping chickens
I bought this book originally several years ago. I have found it to be the most informative of any of my poultry books. I have used it to help friends new to poultry and it answered all of their questions. The most recent purchase was a gift for another "newbie." I'm sure that she will find it very helpful. If you are thinking about a home flock, small or large, this book is a must.
14 Great book for chicken folks
We got this book becuase one of my 4 chickens stopped laying and was just sitting in her box, looking ill. We were panicked until the book arrived and I read about "brooding".
We followed the book's instructions and she started laying again in 4 days!
Great help!
The only thing missing is an anatomy section on chickens...for us truly clueless.
15 Of the 3 books I bought, this one is the most informative...
I purchased Raising Chickens as well as "Chickens in your backyard" and "ABC's of Raising Chickens". I was a novice before I purchased them.
Raising Chickens has all the details you need to raise chickens. With good illustrations and explanations. I re-read the book from time to time as the chickens grow up and go through their phases (setting, molting, etc). Have fun!
16 A "One-Size Fits All" Complete Guide
This book is a complete guide to everything you need to know about raising chickens. I started as an ignorant amatuer and, after having read this book, know just about everything I need to know. It covers all the bases- health, showing, adult care, grower care, chick care, breeding, incubation and hatching, blueprints for housing, a helpful glossary, ect. I have raised a sucessful, healthy flock on this book alone! Good for an expert or beginner, expert exhibitor or amatuer, easy to understand, informative, and fun to read!
17 A Complete reference!
I raise backyard chickens for eggs, some resale, but mostly enjoyment! I have 4 Dominiques, 6 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Black Austrolorps, 3 Leghorns (White and Brown), 5 Araucanas, 1 Brahma, and 1 sassy Black Cochin! This book answered every question I could come up with. I needed some information on breeds, how to distinquish one breed from another. This book answered all of my questions and more! I had purchased another book previously, but this book is the one I refer to each and every time. I recommend this book to everyone who wishes to raise chickens of their own! I absolutely LOVE this book! I have purchased two hatches, raised one and have purchased many chickens. I am the backyard Chicken Lady and this is the book for me!
18 HELP FOR THE PART TIME CHICKEN FARMER
This book helps answer most of the questions that the small flock owner has about their birds. There are very few items about chickens that won't be found in this book. I would recommend this book as part of a home library, to answer those questions that pop up as ones flock matures.
19 Great book for the Poultry Fancier
This is one of two books I recommend for anyone wanting to keep a few chickens or enter the egg/poultry business. The diagrams are clear and Ms. Damerow clearly knows her business.
