No matter how small your lot is, you can keep chickens and enjoy fresh eggs every morning. Barbara Kilarski shares her passion for poultry as she fills this guide with tips and techniques for successfully raising chickens in small spaces. Spotlighting the self-sufficient pleasures of tending your own flock, Kilarski offers detailed information on everything from choosing breeds that thrive in tight quarters and building coops to providing medical care for sick animals. You'll have fun as you keep happy and productive chickens. A paralegal who is passionate about poultry, Barbara Kilarski has published articles in a variety of print and web venues, mainly in the Pacific Northwest. She lives with The Girls--Lucy (a New Hampshire Red), Whoopee (an AustraLorp), and ZsaZsa (a Barred Plymouth Rock) in Portland, Oregon. Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 From City Chick to Urban Chickens
2 Why Keep Chickens? Chicken Care Is Easy Fresh Eggs Pest Control Top-Notch Fertilizer Chickens in the Garden Art, Pets & Entertainment Pondering Urban Flocks
3 Chicken Basics Chicken History Definitions Chicken FAQs
4 Chickens and the Law Courtesy First: Talk to Your Neighbors Chicken Codes
5 Building a Coop What's in a Coop? How Big? To Roof or Not to Roof? Building in Cold or Hot Climates The Right Coop in the Right Place Breaking Ground Building a Coop for the Girls Rats!
6 How to Pick a Chick Research Classifying Chickens Three Makes Company Climatic Considerations Good Breeds for a Backyard Flock Where to Get Chicks How to Pick Chicks
7 Chicken Care The Care of Little 'Uns Sick Chicks Feeders and Waterers Eggs, Eggs, Eggs! Coop Care Extreme Weather Care Health & Fitness Molting
8 Eggcellent Eats
Epilogue: A Day in the Life of an Urban Chicken Keeper
Photo Gallery: A Chicken Extravaganza
Appendix: Summary of Selected City Municipal Codes
Recommended Reading
Chicks & Chicken Supplies
Chicken Information & Organizations
Index If you find yourself reading up on fancy breeds of chickens, if you've taken to sketching coop designs on cocktail napkins, then you're ready to join the nationwide chicken boomlet! And you need Keep Chickens!
