Lovely, Friendly Chickens
Categories: Local Interest , Outdoors & Nature , Nonfiction
Some of my happiest times have been spent in the company of chickens. Their unabashed presence can turn a day from gloomy to whimsical.
If you are interested in trying out a little flock of chickens, here are two very enjoyable titles on the subject:
Keeping Pet Chickens (2005) by Johannes Paul tells us how to "bring your backyard to life and enjoy the bounty of fresh eggs from your own small flock of happy hens". Well illustrated, but lighter on the information than the following selection.
Keep Chickens: Tending Small Flocks in Cities, Suburbs, and Other Small Spaces (2003) by Barbara Kilarski is a cleverly written, enthusiastic book of instructions for those interested in fresh eggs and gardening help from a little flock of hens. She understands and explains very well the quirks and personalities of chickens.
Two more excellent resources:
- Keeping Chickens: The Essential Guide to Enjoying and Getting the Best from Chickens (2007) by Jeremy Hobson; excellent.
- Field Guide to Chickens (2006) by Pam Percy; very good resource, but breeds are pictured as drawings rather than photos.
Considered by most of Americans to be farm animals, chickens can thrive in a suburban or city setting with a little room to roam, a clean place to sleep, water, feed, and protection from predators. But you do have to make sure chickens are allowed in your neighborhood. No roosters, thank you. Too noisy!
We raised chickens as part of our family's 4H experience. Their little personalities were so funny, especially the bantams.We also loved the fresh eggs! We had some Ameraucanas, and they laid beautiful blue, green, rosy, and tan eggs.
We had one rooster we named Rocky, because just like the rooster in Chicken Run he thought he could fly.
Did you know that we have a renowned poultry hatchery right here in Hamilton County? Mt. Healthy Hatcheries near Finneytown provides eggs and hatchlings by mail order and pick-up to poultry people all over the country and right here in Hamilton County. They generously give the eggs to the petting farm at the Hamilton County Fair for a display of Hatching Chicks.
There are some terrific online resources for raising chickens.
- The Feather Site has an index of breeds, lots of advice, and all kinds of information on raising and showing chickens and some other types of poultry including links to breed clubs
- Murray McMurray Hatchery has information and chicks/eggs available to purchase. We bought our bantams from here. It's so exciting to get chicks in the mail!
- Mount Healthy Hatcheries, our local favorite, offers chickens, ducks, turkeys, and game birds. They are wonderful!
