December 31, 2008  Happy New Year! Share your thoughts on the new year. Check my blog.

 “How To Raise Chickens” is the product of years of writing about chickens, talking to expert breeders about chickens and enjoying chickens.

This book delights the whole family under the Christmas tree. Free shipping on Christmas gifts! Contact me for details.

Chickens were Everyman’s Livestock until the social changes of the 20th century moved people into cities and suburbia. Until then, most people kept them and knew the basics of keeping them.

Traditional methods of raising chickens in small flocks weren’t written down in many places. Breeding strategies to develop strong, healthy birds well adapted to local conditions stopped as the next generation went to work in town. Reliable husbandry practices, previously handed down along with the breeding stock, became irrelevant to a generation busy away from the farm.

“How To Raise Chickens” relies on those champion breeders to show modern enthusiasts how to do it. It combines modern veterinary advances with practices that suit chickens being raised in small flocks.

Commercial operations housing thousands of identical chickens in a single enclosure need very different strategies than a family enjoying fresh eggs and meat. Scaling down advice to smaller numbers doesn’t work.

“How To Raise Chickens” includes information about historic breeds that will help you choose the breeds for you. Many have become rare, so your flock could be part of breed preservation.

December 13, 2008 Poultry Show Season  Check the Upcoming Shows page for shows and swap meets in your area. Cal National shows are scheduled for Victorville, Hollister, Stockton, Fresno and Eureka/Humboldt.  Join your local poultry club.  The Show page has extensive listings of upcoming shows.  Send me information about your poultry event and I'll add it to the list. This is becoming the most popular page on this site. Attend a poultry event near you!