More than 128 birds strut their stuff across the pages of this definitive primer for intrepid poultry farmers and feather fanciers alike. From the Manx Rumpy to the Redcap and the Ancona duck to his Aylesbury cousin, each breed is profiled with a brief history, detailed descriptions of identifying characteristics, and colorful photography. Comprehensive and fun, Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds celebrates the personalities and charming good looks of North America’s quirkiest barnyard birds and waterfowl.
"The need to preserve farm animal diversity is increasingly urgent, says the author of this definitive book on endangered breeds of livestock and poultry. Farmyard animals may hold critical keys for our survival, Jan Dohner warns, and with each extinction, genetic traits of potentially vital importance to our agricultural future or to medical progress are forever lost."--BOOK JACKET.
Poultry Breeds is a fresh field guide of feathered friends with stunning photos highlighting the beauty and unique attributes of 104 chicken, duck, goose, and turkey breeds. Each profile outlines the bird’s history, physical characteristics, and common uses, with specially noted fun facts sprinkled throughout. This pocket-size, browsable guide is easy to use, and author Carol Ekarius knows her birds: she has been writing about livestock for nearly 20 years and has raised her own for decades.
Popular Poultry Breeds examines forty mainstream breeds of chickens and bantams divided into thirty-five chapters. Most breeds exist in several plumage colour varieties, and in large and bantam (miniature) size versions, all of which are also included in this comprehensive book. Detailed histories of each breed are given, in many cases including the names of the breeders and where they lived. Also, the special management and selective breeding requirements needed for certain breeds is studied, even if they are not going to be entered into shows. The book includes helpful descriptions of the breeds, and is beautifully illustrated in full colour with over 180 photographs of prize-winning birds and nearly ninety reproductions of exquisite old prints of artist's drawings. This painstakingly researched reference work is aimed at smallholders, hobbyist poultry keepers, serious enthusiasts and those researching chicken breeds.
There are more poultry breeds than most individuals realise and for anyone considering or preparing to get involved in the raising and breeding of poultry, it is vital to understand as much as possible about as many of them as possible. With more than 500 breeds recognised by the American Poultry Association, there are different feed necessities, housing requirements, incubation times, egg information, and costs of raising just about any of these various breeds. This book provides the details that every potential poultry breed needs to start creating detailed plans for purchasing, raising, and breeding their new small farm animals. You will learn about each of the 500+ different breeds of poultry, from chickens to turkeys and ducks. Each breed will be laid out with complete details about everything you need to know to raise them effectively. From how to breed that particular breed to how to raise the chicks, you will be able to breed and gather eggs from chickens and breed for meat the ducks and turkeys you select. You will learn exactly which breeds are best for egg production by volume and quality and which ones are best for meat by taste and quality. You will learn the dietary needs of each breed and what they require from you to stay alive in all four seasons as well. Poultry and small farming experts were interviewed for this book to provide detailed insight into how poultry is selected and raised and throughout the book you will find small bits of information about how each breed is different from the rest, what suggestions are offered for raising that particular breed and which breeds to completely steer clear of. You will learn which poultry breeds have been used for hundreds of years on small farms everywhere and which ones are rarely used and for what reasons. Whether you are starting a farm and need a half dozen good poultry breeds for your coups or are just adding a small area on your property to raise some chickens, this guide will provide everything you need to understand and select the proper breed for your needs.
Did you know that Barnvelder chickens are known for being lazy while Belgian D’Uccle chickens are known for being friendly? Impress friends and relatives with interesting facts about more than 40 breeds of chickens from around the world, including their history, personality, egg-laying and flying abilities, and other fun facts. From knowing what chickens are considered the “French Poodles of the world” to which ones can fly the highest, learn all about these diverse – and sometimes rare – animals with this fascinating guide and Know Your Chickens! • Features over 40 popular breeds of chickens, each receiving its own full-page spread • Provides fun facts highlighting their characteristics, history, personality, capabilities, and more • Includes distinctive, high-quality photography of each breed • Its compact size makes it fun and easy to flip through for fast and interesting info.
This interesting visual resource, written by three experts from the Livestock Conservancy, explains why conserving heritage breeds is important and shows readers how they can successfully raise—and benefit from—these breeds.
Considering popular breeds of chicken, bantams and turkeys, this book discusses poultry clubs and shows. It provides advice on how to exhibit pure-bred chickens at officially organized shows.
