You can learn more about the book on our website at http://www.ugapress.org/082032213X.html. You can also preview some of its content through Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=_n_xQ3_qys0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=chicken+book&ei=1uojSuDIGZ3KMe376OwP#PPA1,M2.

Adding this book to your page as a resource link could increase greater awareness of chickens and chicken raising. Please also consider reviewing the book, if you haven’t already covered it. The link could go straight to the Amazon page for the book: http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Book-Page-Smith/dp/082032213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243877904&sr=8-1

Thanks for considering these suggestions. Email me with any questions or comments. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Jeff Abernethy
Marketing Assistant
University of Georgia Press

Thanks,
Sydney

I ended up having two hens that spent most of their time in the coop; we had hawks in the area and I was too worried to let them stay out all day (now with more chickens, I don’t worry about it…so far so good, but I think there are more to sound the alarm…I see them running for cover when the hawk lands on the pole next to our yard). If you have two or three, they’ll be fine with occasional outings.

The most difficult thing to offer in the coop, for me, was a way to dust bathe. They really like to have a big dirt area to scratch and dig into.

Have fun!

-t

This is wonderful information – thanks for sharing. I love the blog!
My wife and are on the way to adding some chickens to our household and we had been thinking about the Chick-N-Hutch as a starter coop. Sounds like you recommend it as such. I am wondering about it’s durability. Are you still using this one? How has it held up to over a year of use?

Also, I am wondering how much free-range time is needed. Obviously, the more the better, but during our weekday day jobs will they be alright in the pen, if they get out in the morning and evening? Thanks for your advice!

I’m relieved about the heat lamp. I had visions of the whole thing going up in flames…not good. A tarp sounds just my speed.

I’ve chosen the most protected part of the yard in the hopes to moderate all the varied weather we get. In all honesty I’m more concerned about the summer heat than the chill in the winter.

What a great help! Thanks

The chik-n-hutch is a good solution for two to three chickens. I think I’d change the roost; they use a round pole, and my hens ended up sitting on top of the nest box instead. Now I use 2×4’s, and they seem to like the extra room for their feet (chickens don’t really curl their feet around things the way other birds grasp branches.

You’ll want a tarp to put over the pen in the winter time.

I don’t use a heat lamp in the winter because our climate is so mild compared to other parts of the country. I do try to think about things like shade, sun, and wind during different times of the year, and make sure that they can stay dry.

Thanks again for posting!

Thank you for mentioning us on your Web site. We’re glad you enjoy Mother Earth News.

Great blog! We loved the post on Chickens.

Laura Evers
Mother Earth News

Check out this link to our new Web site for more great articles on chickens and their eggs!
http://www.motherearthnews.com/search.aspx?search=chickens%20+%20eggs