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Interior and Designer: Erik Jacobsen
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Illustrations 2020 Annalisa Durante and Marina Durante, .
ISBN: Print 978-1-64876-675-6 | eBook 978-1-64876-172-0
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TO MY HUSBAND, TIMMY, AND OUR THREE CHILDREN, GAVIN, MORGAN, AND LINDEN.
CONTENTS
M any people are flocking to stores and shopping online to become first-time chicken owners. People who never thought about raising chickens increasingly want to get connected to their food source and raise backyard chickens for a more sustainable lifestyle. Others have been raising their own flock for years but are now interested in owning different breeds.
Deciding to raise chickens is one thing, but figuring out what breed or breeds will best suit your needs is anotherand is perhaps not so straightforward as one might think.
Dont know what I mean? No one knows exactly how many chicken breeds there are, but estimates suggest there may be more than 500 different breeds of chickens. Some of these breeds are meant for colder climates, while others thrive in the heat. Some will fill your baskets with eggs, while others are fast growers for meat production. Some are suited for showing at the local fair, and others arent. Some have a docile temperament, while others are flightier or more aggressive. Picking the right breed can make or break a flock.
Finding the perfect breed for your homestead will be much easier with the proper research and resources. This book, written for both aspiring chicken owners and those who have been raising them for years, will help you assess your needs and guide you in making the best decisions possible about your flock.
Well cover the best purebreds and hybrids, the best layers and broilers (and the breeds that can do both), the best chickens for beginners, brooding, and much more. For each category of chicken, the book provides an ultimate breed list, highlighting top breeds and breaking down their unique qualities and strengths and the key considerations of owning them. This book also offers cost examples of raising your own flock.
When I first embarked on my chicken journey as an adult, I knew I needed a breed that would thrive in the heat and wouldnt fly the coop on our tiny coastal homestead. I also knew I wanted chickens that were good egg-layers, but at the time, I didnt fully realize all the additional considerations that come with raising chickens. I had to use multiple resources to find the information I needed, and there were still a few thingslike breed specifics, climate, and personality traitsthat I didnt find in my extensive research that I wish I would have known before I started. I wanted to write a book that provides, in one place, all the information you need to make the best choices for your homestead.
By the time youve finished reading this book, youll know which breeds possess the traits youre looking for. You will find the best breeds that suit your needs and homestead so you can begin raising your flock or add to an existing one.
O ften, when people first think of assembling a flock, they focus on aestheticshow the chickens look and the color of their eggs. While these characteristics can be important, successfully choosing the right breed for your homestead requires a more in-depth approach.
Its all about balancing your goals for your flock with the climate you live in, the temperament youre looking for, and the money youre willing to spend. Maybe you tried raising chickens for eggs in the past, but they didnt thrive. Maybe your grandparents had some chickens that you loved, but you cant remember what breed they were. Maybe youre looking to expand your flock, but you arent sure which breeds get along with each other. Or maybe you want to help preserve heritage breeds and need to know which one is best suited to your homesteads climate.