poultry

The Joy of Keeping Chickens: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Poultry for Fun or Profit
$14.95
I am still in the "information gathering" stage of keeping chickens, but this book stood out from others on the same subject for me. The author marshals a great deal of information and makes it understandable. The book is very well written and well-structured. I learned a LOT. And you have to love the story of how she acquired her first chicken by rescuing a beak-clipped battery hen that escaped from a truck that was transporting it (and a bunch of other hens dying from heat exposure due to poor conditions on the truck) to the soup factory. She writes with affection and respect for the chickens, even while she gives very thorough information on how to butcher your meat chickens should you choose to go that way. And, the book -- the photo, the layout, even the type -- is beautiful. This is definitely one to keep.

Popular Poultry Breeds
$55.00
Poultry breeders who wish to know more of the history of their favorite breeds will find much to appreciate in Popular Poultry Breeds.
The forty breed profiles offered are centered in the UK, but with considerable focus on the US, and Germany and the Netherlands. Britain's importance in the history of chicken breeds and breeding is great.
Compared with its companion volume Rare Poultry Breeds, the new book has less mystery and more history. Older breeds naturally get more coverage.
In Britain breeds are called popular when they are supported by their own breed club (I think this is so). So Americans looking in this book may be surprised to see articles on Marans, Barnevelders and Welsummers, very new and rare breeds here.
Another surprise are the articles on the Asian hardfeather breeds Malay, Asil, and the Shamo and its relatives, such as the bantam Ko Shamo.
Bantam breeds Belgians, Dutch, Japanese, Rosecombs and Sebrights are well-represented. Popular Poultry Breeds delves into the differences between US and UK types for some breeds, like Leghorns and Old English Game, and gives a history of each type. Many profiles end with insider details of breeding the type and colors for showing.
Be assured that American breeds Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds are given are given as much or more coverage than the other breeds here.
Names of important breeders are given when they've been responsible for the creation of a breed and its color varieties. Detail is given of importations between the UK and US, and birds passing to the UK from Europe.
The section on the Araucana, and related British Araucana and Ameraucana is fascinating, with facts you may not find anywhere else. An illustration of the ancestral Rapanui breed would have been nice.
Clear photos by John Tarren include those of rare color varieties, and a bonus are the excellent chicken breed paintings from old magazines.
Popular Poultry Breeds will also be useful to anyone simply interested in British history.
A masterful job.

Raising Poultry Successfully
$9.95
I am so excited to keep chickens again. I was so excited I got online and bought several books on the subject. What I like most about this book is how current it is. So many of the books I bought were written back before the egg or the chicken... :) But seriously, this is a practical guide that gives modern advice! Very handy!

Oxo Good Grips Professional Poultry Shears
$27.95
We love to do whole chickens on the BBQ and by using these sissors to cut the back bone out we are able to neatly and quickly flatten out the chicken preparing it for cooking. A little olive oil, salt and pepper and you have a great meal ahead.