Description

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Discover the joys and rewards of raising chickens in your backyard

Author Karen Harris used interviews with a half dozen experienced small-scale chicken farmers to create the ultimate "how-to" book for managing a backyard flock.

A TRULY comprehensive guide covering everything you NEED TO KNOW:

• Sourcing Chicks
• Understanding chicken terms and breeds
• Differentiating between layers, meat birds, dual-purpose chickens, and bantams
• When and where to get chicks: local hatcheries, mail-order, feed stores, local breeders, community exchange groups
• Preparing for the arrival of chicks: setting up a brooder, providing heat, light, ventilation, quarantine, socialization
• Raising Chicks
• Feeding and watering chicks: chick starter, fresh water, treats, grit
• Ensuring proper warmth and ventilation
• Monitoring chick health and growth: antibiotics, injuries, illnesses, tracking growth
• Transitioning chicks to the coop: feathering, weaning from heat lamp, weather considerations, coop introduction
• Housing for Suburban Chickens
• Types of chicken housing for small spaces: pre-made coops, custom-built coops, converted sheds, mobile coops
• Determining the ideal coop size
• Essential coop features: door, roosts, nesting boxes, predator protection, ventilation, natural sunlight
• Additional desirable coop features: people door, exterior egg collection lid, feed tubes, electricity
• Importance of a well-designed chicken run and bedding material options
• Feeding Your Flock
• Understanding the digestive system and nutritional requirements of chickens: protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, calcium, water
• Types and styles of chicken feed: starter, grower, finisher, layer; crumbles, pellets, mash, scratch
• Supplementing feed with treats and greens: fruits, vegetables, safe options, growing your own chicken food
• Importance of oyster shells and distinguishing between oyster shells and grit
• Considerations regarding lawn care and the interaction of suburban chickens
• Protecting Your Chickens from Predators
• Identifying common predators in suburban areas: wildlife (raccoons, hawks, coyotes, etc.) and domestic (dogs, cats, humans)
• Deterrence strategies: fencing, netting, alarms, motion lights, locks, and latches
• Responding to an attack: in-progress response, assessing injuries, regrouping afterward
• Urban Chicken Ordinances
• Understanding laws, regulations, ordinances, and homeowners' associations
• Addressed concerns: number of chickens, rooster bans, slaughter and free-range rules, nuisance complaints, coop placement and housing requirements, permits, health codes
• Free-Ranging and Foraging
• Benefits of free-ranging: varied diet, better egg quality, active chickens, tastier meat, cleaner coop, reduced feed costs, insect control, mental stimulation
• Managing free-range time, protecting free-ranging chickens, drawbacks to consider: lawn chemicals, chicken poop, foraging risks

Written in an accessible and engaging style, each chapter is designed to enhance your knowledge and equip you with the tools necessary to succeed.