Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care / Feeding / Facilities

by Gail Damerow

Here is all the information you need to successfully raise chickens — from choosing breeds and hatching chicks to building coops, keeping the birds healthy, and protecting them from predators. This revised third edition contains a new chapter on training chickens and understanding their intelligence, expanded coverage of hobby farming, and up-to-date information on chicken health issues, including avian influenza and fowl first aid.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Animals, Agriculture, How To, Gardening, Nature

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 1995

About the author

Gail Damerow and her husband operate a family farm in Tennessee where they keep poultry and dairy goats, tend a sizable garden, and maintain a small orchard. They grow and preserve much of their own food, make their own yogurt and ice cream, and bake their own bread. Gail has written extensively on raising livestock, growing fruits and vegetables, and related rural skills. She shares her experience and knowledge as a regular contributor to Backyard Poultry and Countryside magazines, as an occasional contributor to numerous other periodicals, and as the author or contributor to more than a dozen country skills how-to books.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference guide for first-time chicken farmers. There are lots of beautiful photographs, illustrations and sidebars. The book is well organized and gives an in-depth overview of chickens and looking after them.
**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a temporary digital ARC of this book. The thoughts expressed are my own.

[casey (ink drinker) · Rating 5 out of 5]

While there is an abundance of information online, you can't beat a well laid out from egg to table book! My husband and I have been talking about raising chickens for a few years now and it is finally happening! This specific chicken raising guide was recommended to me by multiple chicken people that I know personally as well as online chicken connoisseurs. I couldn't be happier with it! Easy to read, easy to understand, engaging writing style, great info, and helpful illustrations. This is a very informative and worthwhile book if you're considering getting into raising chickens and starting your very first backyard flock!

[Martha☀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was our go-to reference as we entered the world of chicken-farming. It gives a fairly in-depth look at the management of layers, meat-birds and chicks. But, having had chickens for only 6 months, we have already out-grown the information provided in this book as it has very basic medical information. We have had to look elsewhere for our guidance about recurring bumblefoot, internal lays and bandaging of wounds. (youtube has been a great help!)

[Brandon Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my wife and I decided we wanted our own floor backyard chickens, we went to the Internet to learn all we could. Unfortunately, the Internet couldn't agree with itself on anything and we got overwhelmed by the contradictory information. I decided I wanted to buy a book and just decide to do what it says and ignore everything else. Happily, I found this book at our local Half Price. It's simple, well written and illustrated, and all our chickens that didn't have a date with the neighborhood coyote have done very well. It's also very easy to flip through as a reference book for the times we've needed health, feeding, first aid, and predator identification advice.
If you're thinking about getting chickens, just do yourself a favor and read this book.

Note: I didn't read quite all of it because I'm not currently interested in meat or show birds, but if that changes this is the first place I'll come to learn.

[Naftoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have also read the Storey's Guide to raising goats. I like this series but gave this book 3 stars because I simply do not know how to rate these farm, instructional books. I cannot place my finger on it but this one "did not grab me." I have read livestock/farming books that really perked me up and had me at the edge of my seat - this one did not. That said, I think it is definitely one that should be on the bookshelf, along with other chicken fancier manuals, for anyone who keeps chickens. By the way, my black hen has been missing for three days and I am not happy about it! I know not whether a wild animal got her, she took up residence with one of the neighbor's flocks, or was simply chickennapped - she was quite a fetching young hen!

[Longhairpanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I don't want to raise chickens any more...

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive. A little overwhelming in the amount of info since I don't have chickens yet, but I'm glad that info was included if I need it at a later date.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly thorough book. I'm glad I started my research here, as it provides a detailed overview of everything chickens. Also makes several recommendations for further research which was helpful.

[Julia H · Rating 5 out of 5]

it has details on every element of raising healthy chickens, things you wouldn’t think need to be considered. if I ever raise chickens I’ll come back to this book 👍🏼

[Mark Rosekelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative guide for first time chicken owners. Comprehensive in it's information.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and laid out in such a way that my questions were answered before I even knew to ask. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking into getting chickens.

[Carolyn Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book, used it, raised chickens. Worked for my mom!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, 4th edition by Gail Damerow continues the long tradition of quality Storey's Guides with a revisit and updating of this 22 year old classic on the care and maintenance of the home flock. The first edition of this book is one of the very first books I bought when we were still in the 'dreaming and planning' phase of our smallholding. It's still the first book I recommend to people who are interested in home fowl.

I think it's vitally important (especially when caring for or interacting with other living creatures) to do the very best we can to give them the highest quality life possible. This is a well written, understandable and accessible reference guide which covers pretty much everything to do with chickens in a no-nonsense and scientifically sound manner.

The book contains 424 pages with hundreds of photographs, sidebars, and illustrations. The book is split up into logically arranged chapters. The chapters progress from the truly basic and introductory (What is a chicken? What are the different breeds and what are their plus and minus characteristics? How do I get started?)... to the advanced whys and wherefores of managing breeding flocks, selecting stock, even a section on artificial insemination.

Disease management and culling are explained and defined very clearly along with illustrative discussion on whether to maintain an open or closed flock (the author herself has a closed flock).

The chapter on killing and butchering chickens and other fowl is well presented along with a good and complete explanation of the physiological mechanics involved in the musculature and why light meat is 'light' and dark meat is darker.

I have relied on the earlier editions of this book for many years for support and guidance with my own flock and I'm happy to see this updated version with newer links and further reading sections, updated glossary and updated info. The general feel and layout of the book are true to the Storey's Guides format and will be recognizable and usable for anyone.

Five stars, a great successor to a long-lived and successful title.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I recently added a Homestead bookshelf on GR and this book was the reason I added it...I think there will be more...

This is one of the more complete, popular books on chicken raising. I actually *did* read it cover to cover. And it took me forever. I will likely refer back to it many times. The chapters on henhouses and hatching were covered in all sorts of details I will never need or want to know, but the rest of it was pretty readable. Even if it was a reference book. As the book progresses the book talks less in generalities of every single chicken breed possible, but more in her personal specifics, which I liked. But she admitted that many things that many backyard chicken farmers do are mostly up to preference, and I like that too. It gave me the courage to make our own design of chicken coop and then helped me figure out where the problems were so we could keep our chickens safe. Highly recommended for keepers of small flocks. The index is pretty good, so it rivals google in its ability to help problem solve.

[Anne Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a "chicken mom," I can safely proclaim that this book is the definitive book on raising chickens and utilizing them. From describing the various breeds to raising chicks, carrying for a flock, proper feeding and handling, constructing suitable shelters, and even showing your birds and preparing them for the table, the person raising backyard chickens will find things they didn't already know.

About the only thing I found lacking in the book was good color plates of the various breeds, along with their egg colors. Yes, I raise my chickens for the colorful eggs they can produce: everything from white to a dark chocolate bordering on black. My current flock produces beautiful blue eggs that those not into raising chickens might think are dyed. I feel certain that I'm not the only person raising chickens for eggs colored other than white or brown. How 'bout including more on the topic in the next edition?

[Heather]

We are aspiring homesteaders so learning all we can about the animals we are going to buy is very important to us. This wonderful guide will be referenced many times over the years and will be a great help to us.

The information is very thorough and the pictures are just amazing.

* Thank you to Gail Damerow, Storey Publishing and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it's not the most gripping page turner of a read, I've been raising chickens for several years now and find myself returning to this book again and again as one of my resources. The only issues I've run into that aren't fully covered have to do with the fact that I'm surrounded by wilderness and quite a wide variety of predators. Everything else has made rearing chicks and caring for the adults much easier to handle thanks to this book as reference.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, comprehensive guide to owning chickens. I was grateful that they took the time to convert measurements to metric for non-US readers.
I did find some of the advice a bit too overbearing in regards to egg storage but different countries and cultures have different views and values on this, I’m sure.
I borrowed this book but when I finally get around to purchasing chooks, I will also have to purchase my own reference copy I am sure.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really comprehensive. A great reference to return to when I get chickens this spring. The only thing that made me question the author was when she said she doesn't eat chicken skin!! (I'll give her a pass though because the first edition was published in 1995 when low fat diets were one of the more pervasive diet fads)

[John Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you need to know about chicjens

Thus is the most thorough and complete book I've ever read on raising chickens. It is well-written and easy to read. It is the must read primer on all aspects of raising chickens

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love browsing through these practical guides, gleaning snippets of information and inspiration to ponder about or put into practice.
Chooks are funny, lovely and interesting critters and this guide has plenty of helpful information.

[Jason E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, yet, hilarious at times

Succinct
Dense, but, approachable
Written as if you are having a conversation with the author.
Wonderful graphics and charts that are easy to follow

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a decent amount of advice I shouldn’t have followed and some simple care and illness information that should’ve been included. A lot of the writing was contradicting itself and the topics were scattered enough that finding them even with a search function wasn’t helpful.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I've read books about chickens previously, I was surprised that I still learned even more. This should help me support my friend's farm a bit more. If you're considering raising chickens, this is the chicken encyclopedia that you must read.

[Leticia Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book about chickens in the world. This book is not biased or political in any way shape or form. It is purely informational with options and anything you could or couldn't think about for chickens.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info to have. There is more practical info to also include like how to treat bumblefoot and what to do if you have a bully hen.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good guide to raising chickens. It gives many options for their care, with pros and cons to each method.

[Cathy Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Store's guides are always great

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about various breeds than raising chickens.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library to get us started as first time chicken owners - ended up buying it because I kept going back to it for information that was needed as chicks grew older.