book recommendations

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Please could someone recommend a very good book on (a) keeping chickens in particular
and (b) self-sufficiency, living on a small-holding (organically) in general?

They are for a Christmas present for very close friends

Thank you!

[Countingthegreyhairs]

bump, anyone?

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Hellloooo?

Just wondered if anyone had a "chicken keeping" bible or a particularly good bk on veg. gardening that they could recommend pls?

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Oh well, I guess you are all outside collecting eggs and digging raised beds ...

[madlentileater]

starting with chickens (or possibly beginning with chickens.
I noticed in waterstones a re-issued penguin book on raising chickens and rabbits, from WW2 when we were trying to be self sufficient, may be worth a look

[Countingthegreyhairs]

thank you MadLentileater (nearly typed MadLentilWeaver then )

I'm not based in the UK but I'll have a look in Waterstones when I am next over ...

[MistleSQUONKandWine]

a complete encylopedia of chickens is a really good book. We have used it for advice on housing, feed, breeds, eggs and ailments. It has been absolutely fab for us.

It is translated from Dutch, so occasionally, you get the odd word that seems out of place, but it is really easy to understand and it all makes perfect sense.

Our chooks are really happy and content, and it's pretty much all down to this book.

I have seen people on chicken forums (fora?) praising it as well, so it's not just me.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Oh thanks MistleSquonk - that's a brilliant recommendation - just the sort of tip I was after ...

and one half of the couple I am buying it for is Dutch-speaking as it happens so no problem with that!

I find it wierdly pleasing (as a reluctant townee) that such a thing as chicken forums exist btw ...