Dewey Edition23
Reviews"Not only is Damerow a knowledgeable farmer, she's a great writer, too! Every chicken keeper of every experience level should have this book on the bookshelf." -- Roger Sipe, editor of Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines "Redesigned but still exhaustively thorough! Every possible topic is covered in an easily understood and complete manner." -- Paul Kroll, American Poultry Association - American Bantam Association general licensed judge "Gail Damerow has inspired and educated generations of homesteaders. Here she offers well-researched information for both the novice and experienced poultry keeper." -- Patara Marlow of Appalachia's Homestead
Dewey Decimal636.5
Table Of ContentPreface 1 Choosing a Breed Breeds Breed Selection Purebred versus Hybrid Which First - Chicks or Eggs? Examining Birds Getting Started 2 Fowl Disposition Fowl Language When the Cock Crows Peck Order Fowl Intelligence 3 Shelter Free Range Fenced Range Portable Shelters Permanent Shelters Cages Fences 4 Feed and Water Water The Natural Chicken Feed Choices Feeding Routines Feeders Feed Storage 5 Routine Management Cannibalism Predators Weather Considerations Coop Cleanup Dealing with Manure Trimming Procedures Handling Chickens Enterprise Integration 6 Health Care Biosecurity Parasites Health, Disease, and Disease Resistance Poisons and Other Hazards First Aid 7 Laying-Hen Management Egg Formation Layer Nutrition Controlled Lighting Distinguishing Layers from Liars Egg Issues Flock Replacement Egg Sales 8 Eggs for Eating Egg Collection Egg Quality Egg Safety Nutritional Value Preserving Eggs 9 Managing a Breeder Flock Rise and Fall of Breeds Breeding Plan Methods of Breeding The Gene Connection Inbreeding Depression Culling for a Healthy, Hardy Flock Feeding Breeders Mating Logistics Artificial Insemination Sex Determination 10 Hatching Eggs Egg Collection Natural Incubation Incubating Eggs Artificially Candling the Eggs The Hatch Chick Identification Record Keeping 11 Chick Care Natural Brooding Mechanical Brooders Brooder Features Feed and Water Chick Problems and Solutions 12 Exhibiting Your Chickens Why Show? Selecting Birds for Show Rules of the Game Coop Training Conditioning At the Show After the Show Become a Master Exhibitor 13 Managing Meat Birds Meat Breeds Management Methods Feeding Meat Birds Broiler Health Issues Production and Marketing Choices Readiness for Butchering 14 Meat on the Table Killing Picking Evisceration Cooling Cutting Up Storing Poultry Sanitation and Safety Glossary Recommended Reading Index Metric Conversion Charts
SynopsisWith 372,000 copies in print, this is the most trusted and comprehensive reference on every aspect of chicken care, housing, feeding, and health care. The full-color new edition features the most current practices and a fresh new design., Serious poultry farmers and backyard bird raisers have relied on this best-selling reference for more than 20 years. The fourth edition of Gail Damerow's comprehensive handbook is now completely revised and redesigned, making it more accessible and informative than ever. You'll get the most up-to-date details on shelter, food, health care, eggs, chicks, and meat, and recent research into chicken behavior and communication makes the sections on flock management truly authoritative. New color photos and illustrations provide more specificity and information about chicken breeds, anatomy, and health., Revised and updated, this is the most trusted and comprehensive reference you can find for chicken care, housing, feeding, and health care. Serious poultry farmers and backyard bird raisers have relied on this best-selling reference for more than 20 years. The fourth edition of Gail Damerow's comprehensive handbook is now completely revised and redesigned, making it more accessible and informative than ever. You'll get the most up-to-date details on shelter, food, health care, eggs, chicks, and meat, and recent research into chicken behavior and communication makes the sections on flock management truly authoritative. New color photos and illustrations provide more specificity and information about chicken breeds, anatomy, and health.
LC Classification NumberSF487.D185 2017