An introduction to all aspects of keeping chickens, from constructing a hutch to the correct feeding regime. The expert advice is provided by Pammy Riggs, the 'chicken whisperer' on Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's }River Cottage{, so whether you're looking to raise chickens for eggs, meat or just the entertainment value, this is the perfect place to start Practical how-to advice for keeping chickens For me, raising chickens, for eggs and meat, has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of our family farm. Introduction 1Part I: Choosing Chickens 7Chapter 1: Enjoying Chicken-Keeping 9Chapter 2: Understanding Basic Chicken Biology and Behaviour 23Chapter 3: Getting Familiar with Chicken Breeds 41Chapter 4: Buying Chickens59Part II: Housing Your Flock 79Chapter 5: Going House Hunting for Your Chickens 81Chapter 6: Designing and Constructing Chicken Housing 105Chapter 7: Furnishing and Housekeeping 129Part III: Caring for Your Flock: General Management 145Chapter 8: Feeding Your Flock 147Chapter 9: Controlling Pests and Predators 173Chapter 10: Keeping Your Flock Happy and Healthy 189Chapter 11: Handling Health Problems 209Part IV: Breeding: The Chicken and the Egg 237Chapter 12: Breeding Your Chickens 239Chapter 13: Incubating Eggs and Hatching Chicks 259Chapter 14: Raising Chicks 289Part V: Considering Special Management Issues 313Chapter 15: Looking After Layers and Collecting Eggs 315Chapter 16: Managing Meat Birds 341Chapter 17: Taking Meat Birds through D-Day 351Part VI: The Part of Tens 379Chapter 18: More than Ten Tips for Keeping Healthy, Stress-Free Chickens 381Chapter 19: More than Ten Misconceptions about Chickens and Eggs 387Index 393