Find the solutions to all your chicken-keeping concerns, from egg production to health issues, in this comprehensive, photo-illustrated guide. While keeping chickens certainly isn't rocket science, doing it properly does involve decent levels of understanding, commitment, and attention to detail. Getting the basics right is essential, and this demands a solid appreciation of important areas such as housing, feeding, breed choice, and health. Whether you're a newcomer eager for a steady supply of free eggs or an old hand looking to keep your flock in top health, The Chicken Keeper's Problem Solver provides the information you need to nip problems in the bud--and, better still, avoid them in the first place. In this approachable and practical reference, long-time chicken keeper and poultry expert Chris Graham guides you through 100 common problems faced by chicken keepers. You'll discover in clear and simple terms what the underlying cause is and how to solve it. Each issue is tackled in depth, with photographs and diagrams, as well as a wide range of practical tips and useful insights. The problems are divided into ten chapters covering the main areas of chicken keeping, from health to housing and parasites to predators. Find the solutions to issues like: My chickens have watery eyes and runny noses. My chickens have become ill after new additions to the flock. My chicks have suddenly become ill. Eggs are being laid on the hen coop floor. One bird is not eating. I'm worried about my free-range hens eating poisonous plants. I'm not sure which type of brooder to get. I have a hen that has started crowing. Don't let a simple problem ruin your love for chicken keeping; The Chicken Keeper's Problem Solver has the answers you need! "This is the book that I wish I had written. This book is brilliant!" - BackyardPoultryMag.com "Covering 100 common problems in ten thematic chapters, Graham (Wisdom for Hen Keepers) has produced the essential guide for all things chicken husbandry. A rich array of full-color photographs, engaging illustrations, a glossary, an index, and other great design details make this book easy to use and easy on the eyes, although chapters on parasites and rodents (and a plethora of similar invading pests) are not for the faint of heart. Lively explanations, contextual information and helpful, straightforward advice make this a great choice for backyard enthusiasts and a potentially sobering read for those planning this pursuit. Housing, breed selection, care, and feeding all require serious attention; this sort of access to specialized knowledge isn't so common these days. While much of this territory is covered in classics such as Gail Damerow's Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, Graham's approach and treatment are markedly different. For many readers this format will be more comfortable to navigate. Overall, this manual is a thoughtfully designed, convenient reference and can be a huge boon for chicken keepers and their broods. VERDICT A great addition for any chicken keeper's shelf." - Library Journal Chris Graham has been the editor of market-leading Practical Poultry magazine (www.practicalpoultry.com) since it launched in 2004. As a trained photographer and experienced editor, he worked for 20 years on motoring magazines, then made a welcomed switch to the rural sector. He now also edits Practical Pigs magazine, and is the author of Choosing and Keeping Chickens (Hamlyn, 2006) and Wisdom for Hen Keepers (Taunton Press, 2013). Married to Rachel, and with three children, Chris keeps chickens, quail, pigs, cats, a dog, and a number of elderly lawn mowers at his home in rural East Sussex. Quarry Books Pub Date: February 15, 2015 0.9" H x 8.9" L x 6.6" W 224 pages Paperback
