Very helpful information about the many different breeds of chickens. Answers important questions such as: Which breeds are gentle and docile/best for children? Aggressive? Noisy or quiet? Best or poor layers (and egg color)? Special needs? This book will help families avoid a bad experience/find the best hens for their needs.

Large format, nicely illustrated and comprehensive-- ideal for 4-H clubs and families thinking about keeping a few hens in the garden. Up-to-date, comprehensive-- GREAT resource.

A real bargain and must have! Great photos and one or two page descriptions of just about all the common US standard bred poultry breeds (includes bantams)-- will help you choose the right birds for your situation. A visual encyclopedia with detailed descriptions. I've spent hours reading and re-reading this beautiful book.

One of my very favorite hen books. It's a gracious, beautiful volume for those dreaming of pet hens. There are other more nitty-gritty practical books, and more detailed books on various subjects, but this book is a real pleasure to read.

This book is designed for the family considering keeping a few hens in the garden, and is full of information and things to think about. Lovely and varied photography (it even has some nice paintings!). This is a fun, clearly written book for "dreaming about chickens".

Packed with information, this thick book is what you need if you take the plunge and buy chickens. Full of sound, clear, detailed information about health care needs of chickens. A must have.

Dozens of plans with illustrated, step-by-step instructions for species-specific shelters that are well ventilated, safe, appropriate for the animals, appealing, convenient, and a solid value for their owners.

A very comprehensive little paperback about raising chicks. Written for those raising traditional flocks so doesn't specifically give advice for the family raising just 2-4 chicks for the backyard. But this is still a great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to safely raise healthy, strong chicks.

Hmm... not a natural history video, but a portrait of the kinds of relationships several different people have with chickens (a cockfighting participant, a homesteader, owner of a pet silkie, and a farmer). The final segment is incredibly touching and great, but about half of the film portrays people who like chickens as a bit nutty.

A fun pocket-sized version of the original coffee table art photography book. You'll like it! (Note that Pocketful of Poultry is more comprehensive and includes useful info, though.)

This book was a disappointment, good info but about 1/2 the book is lifted directly from a book by a different author (?!). Good info, but there are FAR less expensive, just as good options (for example, see items #1 and #3 in this list).

Before purchasing, be aware that this slender hardback book has only small paintings of the chicken breeds and very brief descriptions. The same information is available at no cost in the beautifully illustrated Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog each year-- request a free catalog and you'll have most of the same information as well as a way to purchase the breeds you read about!

This is such a cool book! Renaissance naturalist Aldrovandi attempted to compile in one volume all the available knowledge about chickens!! Search Aldrovandi on Amazon to find other formats and editions available.

I found this expensive book at my local library. Really fascinating information for people who are interested in heritage breeds of all kinds of livestock, especially those who care about the effort to save endangered domestic animals.

This book is an outstanding resource for families who would like to farm but need detailed, concrete, realistic information. If you start to dream about poultry farming, this book is a real Bible for raising healthy, naturally grown broiler chickens-- and living sustainably as a steward of your land.

Another great book with practical advice for those wanting to farm profitably. Not the right book for small flock owners (those with a small backyard flock may enjoy the author's other book listed here, entitled "Chicken Tractor").

A modern poultry science textbook, chock full of information. For those who want to provide the very best nutrition for their flocks.

Another serious book! The science of genetics has undergone a period of very rapid and significant development in recent years, and the area of poultry genetics has been no exception. This book provides a balanced and up-to-date account of all the major areas of this subject from Mendelian to modern molecular genetics.

Not recommended. Illustrations are blurry and pixilated, information is redundant, pages were inserted at angles. Very unprofessionally done, a big disappointment. (Keep in mind, you could buy 9 Japanese bantam chicks for the cost of this book!)