Extraordinary Chickens (Hardcover)

A unique book introducing the bizarre and beautiful world of exotic ornamental chickens.

Startling pictures present an international selection of breeds ranging from the Bearded Silkie and the crested Polish to the majestic Phoenix, whose tail feathers can exceed 10 feet in length. Chickens of all sizes, shapes, and colors parade through these pages, as Green-Armytage captures the surprising and expressive personality of these amazing birds.

For breeders, this will be a volume they must own; for everyone else, it will be a revelation, prized for the sheer enjoyment of the striking photographs and the extraordinary animals they portray. 165 photographs, 160 in full color, 9 x 10"

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Extra Extraordinary Chickens (Hardcover)

The striking images in Extraordinary Chickens showed that "the world of chickens is a world of wonders" (New York Times Book Review). Now, in a follow-up to the extraordinarily successful first book from Stephen Green-Armytage, the photographer presents 61 breeds and 5 species, including 14 breeds not previously included in the first book, a new series of chicken couples, and virtually all new images.

Ratings: 5 out of 5

Hand-Feeding and Raising Baby Birds: Breeding, Hand-Feeding, Care, and Management:

This book is for both amateur bird owners and professional breeders. It offers instructions on maintaining a bird nursery, keeping it heated and sanitary, and tending the chicks. Differing feed formulas are given for different species, including parrots, doves, finches, soft-billed birds, pheasants, and others. Advice pertains to correcting problems often suffered by baby birds, from dehydration and discolored feathers to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

Ratings: 4 out of 5

Chickens in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide

Your backyard can be the source of the best eggs and meat you've ever tasted. The answer is chickens--endearing birds that require but a modest outlay of time, space and food.

Their book covers all the basics in a light and entertaining sytle, from housing and feeding through incubating, bringing up chicks, butchering, and raising chickens for show

.Througout the book, the Luttmanns express their wonder at the personalities of chickens--the role of brash protector played by roosters, and the instinctive motherliness of the hens. Given some freedom and attention, these birds can become much more than the egg-and-meat machines of commercial hatcheries and broiler factories. Chickens provide backyard farmers with enjoyable pastime, as well as a supply of good food.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Chicken: The Dangerous Transformation of America's Favorite Food

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

A Brand-New Bird: How Two Amateur Scientists Created the First Genetically Engineered Animal

The brand-new bird is the red canary. It was the object of a quest that two Germans--Hans Duncker and Karl Reich --carried on in Bremen for many years, beginning in 1921. Duncker's idea was to pluck the genes from a red siskin (a relative of the canary) and insert them into the yellow canary. His method was cross-breeding. The effort fell short of the goal, producing canaries of a reddish coppery hue. But it led to success years later by others who recognized the subtle connection between genes and the environment, in this case a diet containing carotenoids. Birkhead, professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Sheffield in England, makes a grand story by weaving in lore about genetics, bird keeping and the people involved in the quest.

Ratings: 5 out of 5

The Fairest Fowl: Portraits of Championship Chickens (Paperback)

Chickens are bewitching birds: lush plumage, gleaming feathers, perfect thighs. But few meet the standard of perfection of the American poultry show, the beauty pageant of the barnyard and the true test of poultry pulchritude.

In The Fairest Fowl, photographer Tamara Staples celebrates the champions of the chicken world at their best. Dozens of stunning portraits capture the quirky personality and undeniable grace of these noble birds as you've never seen them before.

Location photography of the shows, details of the judging process, strategies from poultry farmers, and profiles of each prize breed set the scene and offer insight for the discerning chicken aficionado.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Ecology and Evolution of Cooperative Breeding in Birds

Cooperative breeders are species in which more than two individuals participate in raising young at a single nest. Although relatively rare, this behavior entails dramatic forms of cooperation and competition, and provides important insights into many areas, including sexual selection, incest avoidance and other subjects. This book will be of interest to students and professionals interested in bird behavior and ecology.

A Birdkeeper's Guide to Breeding Birds (Hardcover)

How to Build Everything You Need For Your Birds

This is a construction manual intended for both budding novices and experienced bird breeders alike. Loaded with construction details, diagrams and pictures, material lists, insulating and finishing techniques and tips, environmental concerns, step by step instructions.

The designs require inexpensive, non-specialized, easy to obtain materials assembled in a straight-forward manner with the minimum tools, and give you strong, durable housing that you can be tailor-made for a specific breed of bird or modified as needed. Included also are construction plans for feeders, waterers, nesting humidifiers, hospital quarters, shipping and carrying cages, electrical wiring, plumbing and ventilation plans for the aviary, plus a host of construction tips.

Ratings: 4 out of 5

How to Build Your Own Aviary, Cages, Nestboxes, Etc. and $ave a Bundle

A p ractical guide for both the hobbyist and commercial breeders who want to save startup cost by building their own aviary and equipment. A great deal of money can be saved by doing it yourself. For example, the parakeet breeding cage described later in this book that holds two breeding pairs of birds, complete with tray, cost $10.20 to build. Manufactured cages of similar size and quality run from $50 to $70 each, plus freight. It doesn't take a mathematician to figure out that you can build 5 to 7 cages for the same price that you would pay for a single store bought cage

Ratings: 5 out of 5

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

Expert advice on selecting breeds, caring for chicks, producing eggs, raising broilers, feeding, troubleshooting, and much more.

Ratings: 5 out of 5

Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows

The perfect book for anyone who has ever dreamed of having that little place in the country, Barnyard in Your Backyard offers tried-and-true, expert advice on raising healthy, happy, productive farm animals: chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, goats, sheep, and dairy cows. Each chapter focuses on a different animal, discussing the pros and cons of raising the animal, housing and land requirements, feeding guidelines, health concerns, and a schedule for routine care. Species that are easy to raise, hardy, and companionable are profiled. First-time farmers will discover simple, clear instructions for caring for animals throughout the year, as well as guidelines for processing barnyard products such as milk, wool, and eggs. Combining practical advice from real experts, easy-to-use checklists and charts, a seasonal care calendar, and detailed black-and-white illustrations, Barnyard in Your Backyard offers a comprehensive review of the ins and outs - the tribulations and triumphs - of living with and caring for a small barnyard.

Ratings: 4.5 out of 5

Success With Baby Chicks: A Complete Guide to Hatchery Selection, Mail-Order Chicks, Day-Old Chick Care, Brooding, Brooder Plans, Feeding, and Housing

APPPA Grit Magazine, Spring 2003 Anyone serious about raising chicks should add this book to their personal library, as an investment well worth it.

Ratings: 5 out of 5