The New Rules of the Roost

April 15, 2018

Whether companion or sequel to Urban Farm Store proprietors Hannah and Robert Litt's previous, well-regarded manual, A Chicken in Every Yard, this more advanced book will be an essential addition for chicken keepers of any feather. Readers familiar with the Urban Farm Store won't be surprised to find a wealth of advice packed so nicely into one volume. The Litts offer an intelligent, practical approach to helping these birds flourish in harmony with the environment and answer every question with a compassionate dose of thoughtful expertise. Any chicken farmer, not only those ready to embrace the authors' ideal of organic, free-range husbandry, will benefit from this clever reference. Four major sections cover breeding, habitat, feeding, and hen health, with additional features including a sample homeowners association letter and directions for making bokashi compost. Overall fun stuff, although descriptions of maladies such as Aspergillosis, fowl cholera, Marek's disease, and parasitic conditions, while vitally important, are not for the faint of heart. VERDICT Perfect for enterprising chickenistas just starting out and for those with established flocks as well.--Dan McClure, Clatsop Community Coll. Lib., Astoria, OR

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