Books and Magazines
Books:
- Free-Range Poultry by Katie Thear ISBN 0-85236-368-0 The most comprehensive book on raising chickens organically, written by the editor of Country Garden & Smallholding magazine. Every aspect of poultry husbandry is covered, including depictions of many moveable henhouses and a recipe for mixing your own feed.
- Chickens in your Backyard by Rick and Gail Luttmann ISBN 0-87857-125-6 An older book, written from a mostly organic perspective, but still useful. Includes a recipe for mixing your own feed.
- The Backyard Poultry Book by Andrew Singer ISBN 1-85327-087-3 The author has a "nature knows best" approach, advocating humane and organic approaches to keeping chickens. Drawings of many styles of portable housing are included in this book.
- Living With Chickens by Jay Rossier
ISBN 1-58574-452-2 This book is full of photos of chickens from small flocks in New England. While not necessarily written in an organic frame of mind, there are many valuable tips in here, for beginners and experienced alike!
- Backyard Poultry Naturally by Alanna MooreISNB 0-9585590-1-5 This book from Australia has many alternative ideas on keeping poultry, including feed recipes, home made portable bamboo housing, herbal and homeopathic worming methods and more.
- Chicken Tractor, The Permaculture Guide to Happy Hens & Healthy Soilby Andy Lee and Pat Foreman ISBN 0-9624648-6-4 Advocates raising chickens in portable systems called "tractors", to utilize their services in creating lush garden beds, while also keeping disease and parasites at bay using constant rotations of the portable pen.
- The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow ISBN 0-88266-611-8 The best book on disease descriptions. It will help you determine any problems in your flock and how to treat them.
- The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable by Juliette de Bairacli Levy ISBN 0-571-16116-2 A comprehensive book on treating livestock with benign herbs.
- The Contrary Farmer by Gene Logsdon ISBN 0-930031-74-1 Describes farming in a lyrical, yet concise manner. The author lists chickens as the first choice of livestock for the cottage farmer, and sheep as the second.
- Why Grassfed is Best by Jo Robinson This book explores the newly discovered benefits of eating meat, eggs and dairy products from grassfed animals. Written by the co-author of The Omega Diet.
- A Conservation Breeding Handbook by D. Phillip Sponenberg and Carolyn J. Christman ISBN 1-887316-00-0 An excellent book on the methods of conserving various types of livestock. Includes details on various types of breeding systems; including linebreeding, linecrossing, crossbreeding, inbreeding and random breeding or multi-sire mating.
Magazines:
- The Stockman Grassfarmer, The Grazier's Edge is the grazing publication of North America. Since 1947 it has been devoted solely to the art and science of making a profit from grassland agriculture.
- Acres USA, A Voice for Eco-Agriculture is North America's oldest, largest magazine covering commercial-scale organic and sustainable farming. Request a sample issue of Acres U.S.A. and a current book catalog which contains every book about organic or alternative management imaginable!
When You Have Problems:
- The Merck Veterinary Manual Website where you can look up symptoms, find solutions, and even purchase the book.
- The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow ISBN 0-88266-611-8 The best book on disease descriptions. It will help you determine any problems in your flock and how to treat them.
