Keep Chickens!

August 1, 2003
In this latest book in the growing genre on how to keep a small flock of birds, Kilarski distinguishes herself by addressing city dwellers. Over the years, she has raised several chickens and presently keeps three hens ("the Girls") in her backyard in Portland, OR. Kilarski values her birds not only for their egg-producing abilities but also for their gardening help (bug control and free fertilizer), entertainment value, companionship, and beauty. Cautioning against raising chickens to butcher or to show, she advises on searching the municipal codes (many cities allow at least two or three female chickens on residential property but no roosters owing to their noise), building a chicken coop, choosing a chicken, and taking proper care of it. As a bonus, the author includes some of her favorite egg recipes. Novices interested in raising birds for both meat and eggs should look at Jay Rossier's excellent Living with Chickens. A lively and entertaining yet thoroughly practical guide that will transform readers from dreamers into doers, Keep Chickens! is recommended for public libraries. [Poultry fans should also read William Grimes's charming memoir, My Fine Feathered Friend, and Stephen Green-Armytage's photographic tribute, Extraordinary Chickens.-Ed.]-William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2003
Chickens are hot right now, as attested by articles on backyard chickens in the " Wall "Street Journal and " House and Garden" (not to mention Martha Stewart and her palatial henhouses). Kilarski is a self-proclaimed "city chick," and her approach to chicken keeping reflects this background. This is a book for people who want to keep chickens in the city or suburbs, not for those with large flocks in the country. Kilarski also makes an important point--keeping chickens in this context really means keeping hens, as roosters with their crowing are generally illegal in urban areas. In eight short chapters, the author covers the basics of chicken keeping, including feeds and feeding, coop and henhouse design, breeds that are suitable for backyard flocks, and recipes featuring the fresh eggs that the hens will provide. Sidebars offer factoids about chickens and poultry keeping. The text is profusely illustrated with period advertisements and includes a color gallery of hens and coops.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)