Tuesday, February 15, 2011

ARE THERE FEATHERS IN YOUR FUTURE?

Yesterday the temperature hit the low fifties....there was a bit of Spring to the air....and this got me thinking about flower gardens.... perennials.... herbs and vegetable gardens ....and of course baby chicks. I know I am not alone when I say there is nothing like having your own flock of hens. They are a great source of enjoyment and entertainment. For those of you who might be contemplating this idea.... Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens.... in my opinion is a must have book. Straight forward information....no sugar coating....the bible to us chicken keepers. Next book.... Choosing And Keeping Chickens offers beautiful photos of various breeds of chickens and is also a wealth of information....it offers information on breeds, hatching, rearing, showing, pests and diseases....
Keeping Chickens.... The Essential Guide To Enjoying And Getting The Best From Chickens is another book filled with bucolic photos and unique housing ideas for your chickens. There are craft ideas and recipes included too.
Next.... Hen And The Art Of Chicken Maintenance Reflections on Raising Chickens is a fun read....it is an account of one amateur chicken keeper and his flock.
Famous Chicken Stories is a 1944 children's book I discovered while thrifting. This book includes the tale of Henny Penny, The Little Chick That Would Not Go To Bed, The Little Red Hen and more delightful chicken stories that I recall from childhood.
Last is Minnie Rose Lovegreen's Recipe For Raising Chickens....Minnie was one of nineteen children and raised chickens for sixty years. She offers practical " down on the farm" advice for novice and seasoned chicken keepers alike: "the main thing is to keep them (chickens) happy" can't get any easier than that. This is a most beloved chicken book.... I consider it a must have to any one's chicken library.... not technical.... just good common sensePredators.... if you are raising chickens this is a real concern. In my area our main predator is the fox....I'll never forget the morning Gladys got carried away by a fox. I searched most of the day for her and had just about given up at nightfall I discovered her lying by the garden injured.... bleeding.... but alive. Gladys had found her way home and I was going to give her my best effort in keeping her alive. She spent a week in the chicken infirmary .... and today Gladys is as good as new. If you are thinking of becoming a chicken keeper look for breeds that will do well in your climate. A chicken coop does not need to be fancy however, placement and ventilation are an important factor. I can guarantee you will need to perform "doctoring" at one time or another. I would suggest a cage that you can bring into the house for such emergencies. Believe me when I say it is best to be prepared. Feed, scratch and shavings can be found at Tractor Supply, Blue Seal and Paris Farmers Union Stores. My girls are fed organic feed however, that is my choice not theirs. The old adage is "you reap what you sow." Just ask Henny Penny and Iris-
these are two very happy girls and in turn give me such beautiful brown eggs....Once you have a few hens and become established you become hooked and decide well maybe just a few more. Beware....chickens are addictive. Have you ever seen the television show the "Hoarders"? I had not until a few weeks ago....a man had 168 hens living in his home....that is all I am going to say about that.... remember I warned you..... Honey.... have you seen my Murray McMurray catalog?

14 comments:

from me to thee......... said...

well I am a book lover anyway, and I am thinking I might need some of these....especially the children's book....did I ever tell you I was the little red hen in a school play (maybe first grade).

JC said...

Your girls are sweet. I grew up with pet ducks. Mine was named Sally and my sisters was Peter. That was way before I got cats.

(by the way I don't eat chicken.)

And, thank you for what you said on my blog.

Pondside said...

We have that same catalogue hanging around our house, as well as a Canadian mail order magazine. We`ve been hooked for some time - and I know that we`ll soon be in trouble because yesterday`s mail brought notice of the first poultry swap of the year up here.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I hope spring time finds me with my own little flock of six hens. Your hens are lovely.

Larkrise garden girl said...

Thanks for the book selection. I raised some girls a couple of years ago and they were so much fun.You never look at eggs the same way once you raise your own chickens.Chickens do have personality.

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

julie, i love this post. i want chickens so badly and just told my husband about the hoarder and he just shook his head and said that is sick...lol...i might just buy some of these books just in case. we have foxes here too. verde farm has a great pyr who seems to keep their foxes away so i would be inclined to do the same as i have always loved that breed. but i am dreaming since the bad husband says no to chickens ....still, a big fat no! :~( that means you will have to keep on blogging about your babies so i can get my chicken fix...organic would be exactly what i would feed too! thanks for your kind comment about daddy. i really appreciate it! hugs, jill

Farm Girl said...

What a lovely post, I could read all day. I just love chickens, reading about them, looking at them and talking about them. I have 28 and I don't need another chicken, but there is something about spring and chicks. I wonder if that man who was a hoarder started like that? I love that you shared your books that you love.
I am so glad your temps got into the 50s. Come on spring!

A Primitive Homestead said...

I have been reading to prepare to start raising a small flock of chickens. We have just finished making a tabletop brooder to keep baby chicks in. It will come in handy for any of the flock who may need to be doctored. I never thought of using it for that. Thanks! I just did a post on our brooder tonight. Blessings!

Eve said...

I know what you're trying to do here Julie!!! Yes I wantthem!! hahaha! Thanks for all the great book suggestions! Maybe someday, but you are the Master Keeper!!

Ginny said...

I love your chicken books, and I don't keep chickens. When I was raising ducks, I could not get enough of Storey's guide for rasing my girls and boys. You will need to post pictures when you get your new chicks, LOL

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

....i want chickens so badly...what a great post...loved the books...and the vintage ones... they are darling

thanks for the birthday wishes for my sweet Teddy.....
so kind of you...

sending love from rainy california

kary and teddy
xxx

Anonymous said...

Did I see the memtion of baby chicks> I guess the coop will need an addition added on. Henny Penny and Iris are such beautiful girls.

Tiff said...

THank you so much for this post!! We are taking the plunge this Spring and making our way into the world of raising chickens.

Verde Farm said...

Hey Julie, you have been blogging up a storm since I’ve been out of town. Yay! I love this post and the books are great. What a wonderful find --that children’s book. I agree, they are addictive for sure and there are so many wonderful breeds to choose from. I need to get some of these books to add to our library of farm books. We use them a lot!