Full disclosure : I do n’t have chicken . My householder ’s tie-up veto them . Nor , before reading this book , did I specially want a flock .

HOA rules apart , a match of my neighbors raise these birds , and I just did n’t get the collection .

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Group of chickens coming out of their coop.

Photo © Kathy Shea Mormino

After reading Kathy Shea Mormino ’s “ The Chicken Chick ’s template to Backyard Chickens , ” however , I may be tempted to bring together my renegade neighbour in their illegitimate fowl - put forward recitation .

subtitle “ Simple Steps for Healthy , Happy hen , ” the book is an easy - to - read , occasionally humorous , and thoroughgoing exploration of caring for backyard fowl . The book isavailable from Amazon .

The Chicken Chick ’s Guide to Backyard chicken : Simple measure for Healthy , Happy hen

A red domestic chicken stares directly into the camera with its yellowish-orange eyes. The rust colored feathers of the chicken match the red comb on top of the chicken’s head. Grass can be seen in the background.

Photo © Kathy Shea Mormino

Mormino ’s sure expertise   in the open topic emanates from the book ’s pages , as does her evenly unquestionable beloved for the birds . Her websiteis   also packed with fowl info .

The book is beautifully designed with splendid photographs by the author that showcase her call for landscape and beautiful birds . The gloss and index affirm that this is more than a pretty Koran , however , cementing its utility as a reference for the hen - inclined .

Are These Birds Right for You?

Right off the bat , Mormino confronts the issuing that many of us run across in our towns and neighborhoods : These generous and even well-disposed birds are often illegal to keep .

A thorough introductory chapter – based on Mormino ’s own experience – promote readers to reassert the legality of Gallus gallus guardianship in their area , and propose advocating for district code changes if necessary .

At the end of first chapter , Mormino presents a lean of myths , which she convincingly debunks . Contrary to popular belief , for example , Gallus gallus are not dirty and smelly – they “ are neat animate being that drop hours every daylight meticulously congratulate to keep good hygienics , ” she writes .

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It All Starts at Home

The subdued - binding volume then moves to a very detailed chapter about trapping hen . In “ Housing Essentials , ” she particularize dimensions and materials for coops and runs , offering numerous insider tips .

Incidentally , the tips in this book do n’t amount only from Mormino , a lawyer by training . Her beloved and oftentimes - photographed Cochin hen Rachel offers wise tidbits , too , mark the tome in prosperous - to - digest unripened breakout boxes .

Sadly , Rachel die in September 2017 at age 8 , which represents a distinctive lifespan for chickens , according to Mormino .

A small chicken with white and black feathers and a red comb stands in front of a tire, looking to the right and standing underneath the leaves of a small bush.

Subsequent chapters of the book destination stock selection , caring for chicks , dietetical requirements , vulture and pestis , health , seasonal consideration , and behavior .

Eggs-actly the Right Info

The book ’s penultimate chapter is commit to – what else ? – eggs . “ Every solar day is Easter in the hencoop , but even the Easter Bunny would do a forked take at some of the foul finds from our square friends , ” Mormino writes .

Mormino offers a elaborate explanation of how these fowl make eggs . She address shell people of colour and describes egg rarity . She also answers any questions the reader might have about a drib in egg output .

Wondering how long hens grow eggs or whether it ’s hunky-dory to eat inseminate eggs ? The book explains all .

An orange hen stands in a garden. The soil it stands on is dark and rich with many different types of plants growing around the bird.

Colorful Landscape Elements

The mass close with a chapter that might be of particular interest to Gardener ’s Path readers : landscaping with crybaby .

An interesting tidbit from this section includes the fact that chickens “ in the main avoid eating plants that are venomous to them or just do n’t consume them in quantities sufficient to get impairment . ”

Mormino also suggests using container plantings in your Gallus gallus yard because “ Things planted in the undercoat are enormously tempting to dig into and take the air on , ” she writes . “ The higher up I implant things , the less likely they are to be ruin by my feathered wrack crew . ”

Two cartons of eggs holding the various eggs that can be obtained from chickens and quail. The eggs are different shades of brown varying from almost white to a deep brown color. One of the eggs is broken in half with the yolk resting in the broken shell. Two eggs are smaller and white with black dots on them.

She also works bird - favorable creature comforts into her Suffield , Connecticut , landscape . One of my favorite picture in the volume show a detached tree tree branch repose horizontally between two Tree a few feet off the ground , and serving as a roost for her colorful yard birds .

She does not , however , discuss growing lolly for your birds , so be certain to translate about that here . And tick outour clause about chickens in the garden , too .

Almost Perfect

There was one caveat to my thorough enjoyment of the volume : Some of the material is repeated .

While reading the egg chapter , I got a deja vu flavour , and flipped back to the front of the Quran . sure enough enough , material was duplicate – not precisely Scripture for word , but closely enough that it was disconcerting to the editor in me .

That apart , this rule book is a must - have for anyone considering adding a pile to their holding . I ’d bet even seasoned fowl Farmer will discover an interesting tidbit or two .

Chickens with feathers of many different colors roosting on a branch held up between two trees, and scattered around the yard standing on the mulch surrounding the trees. Many flowers are in full bloom and the landscaping is pristine surrounding the birds.

Mormino seems like a person who would be fun to sit down to java with , to chat with about pretty much anything –   including , of path , her feather champion – and that approachability radiate through in this volume .

And if you are looking for more ledger recommendations , train out these review next :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Photo by Kathy Shea Mormino reissue with permit . Product picture via Voyageur Press . Uncredited photo : Shutterstock . A reassessment copy of the Bible was provided by the publisher .

Nine chickens stand in front of the door of a wooden cabin waiting to get in. Half of the birds are white and half are black or brown, standing on the ground which is covered with a layer of hay on top.

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Gretchen Heber