The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Bex on October 03, 2014, 02:24:34 pm
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Inspired by a post in the sheep section, I thought I'd ask what are the best Chicken / Poultry books you know of. I've been buying lots of smallholding books and food growing / preserving books but I'd like to get swotting on the animal side of things too while we're waiting to find our perfect smallholding.
We're planning on having Chickens, Guinea Fowl, Ducks and eventually Geese and Quail.
:excited:
Off to post the same thing in the pig section ;D
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You'll find a selection here, based on our experiences and recommendations from other TAS members:
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/category/poultry/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/category/poultry/)
If anyone has any to add please let me know. :)
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Haynes is good for chickens but doesn't cover waterfowl in detail - in fact waterfowl is missing from the list Dan. Chris Ashton does some great books on waterfowl. This book is my absolute bible for geese:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeping-Geese-Management-Chris-Ashton/dp/1847973361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412367109&sr=1-1&keywords=keeping+geese (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeping-Geese-Management-Chris-Ashton/dp/1847973361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412367109&sr=1-1&keywords=keeping+geese)
I've got this one for ducks and geese too:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Choosing-Keeping-Ducks-Geese-Wright/dp/1856753018/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412367058&sr=1-13&keywords=keeping+ducks (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Choosing-Keeping-Ducks-Geese-Wright/dp/1856753018/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412367058&sr=1-13&keywords=keeping+ducks)
Haven't looked at it recently but remember it being useful to being with!
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The Haynes chicken manual was my bible when I first purchased hens. With no idea where to start or what was required this was great. It gives daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal tasks to keeping them happy and healthy, which I followed to the letter until I could make choices on my own hens needs.
It has help in choosing what you want right through to hatching eggs and dispatching and dressing surplus which I vowed I'd never need. Then 2 years on was sooooo glad for the detailed pictures and chapters.
River cottage handbook 11. Chicken and eggs, is also a very good book which I still read along with the Haynes. It goes into more detail of finding your own needs and gives in depth information so you can follow your chicken keeping path.
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The absolute 'must have' book for chicken keeping, which isn't on the TAS list, is 'Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens' by Gail Damerow. If you only buy one book on chicken keeping, this is the one to have.
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Thanks all, recommendations added to the TAS library, which has tripled our waterfowl entries. :thumbsup:
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/keeping-geese/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/keeping-geese/)
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/choosing-and-keeping-ducks-and-geese/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/choosing-and-keeping-ducks-and-geese/)
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/storeys-guide-to-raising-chickens/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/storeys-guide-to-raising-chickens/)
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/chicken-and-eggs/ (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/books/chicken-and-eggs/)
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Thanks guys! Just the info I was looking for. :thumbsup:
Looks like I'll be keeping the postman busy for a while.
Still looking for a good guinea fowl book if anyone has any recommendations :fc:
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"small scale poultry-keeping" - Ray Feltwell
excellent for breeding.
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Ussery - The Small Scale Poultry Flock is brilliant