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As a fellow chicken keeper & blogger, I was really excited to hear about Kathy Shea Mormino’s new book “The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens: Simple Steps for Healthy, Happy Hens”.  When given the opportunity to review her book, I was thrilled to check it out!  Now the same practical advice found on The Chicken Chick’s blog & Facebook page can be found in one convenient book.
More and more people are discovering the joy of keeping a flock of chickens in their backyard, from millennials in the city to retirees in the country. Â Many of these people were not raised on a farm or even know anyone that was. Â Deprived of that first hand knowledge or real life mentors, we have turned to the internet to help navigate the ins and outs of keeping our hens happy & healthy. Â With all the blogs & websites dedicated to keeping chickens, The Chicken Chick, run by Kathy Shea Mormino, is one that legions of devoted fans & new chicken keepers alike turn to. Â Pretty much anyone keeping pet chickens knows The Chicken Chick – she is the rock star of the chicken community! Â Kathy’s trusted, down to earth, and practical advice isn’t just earned from her years keeping chickens but she backs it all up with sound science and respected sources.
I loved the intro, where Kathy makes a very compelling case (she is a lawyer after all!) for changing people’s attitudes towards chickens. Â She does an excellent job helping people see beyond the soup pot & Sunday morning breakfast to see that chickens can also make great pets. Â When asked why would you keep chickens, I love her response of “why not keep chickens? Â Why must there be a statement of intent when it comes to raising chickens? Â Nobody ever asks, “Why keep a dog?”“. Â Kathy maintains that “chickens are the new family dog“. Â I certainly agree – chickens make wonderful pets. Â They are much smarter than most people give them credit for and all have unique personalities.

Perfect for chicken keepers in every stage
This book is a must read for new or aspiring chicken keepers. Â It is also a great reference for people that have been keeping chickens for years! Â Newbies will love the sections on creating a healthy, comfortable coop & run, choosing chicken breeds & caring for chicks. Â For the experienced keeper, this book is a valuable resource with chapters on chicken health & diseases, chicken behavior, even how to landscape your yard with chickens in mind. Â The internet is a great resource, but I think it is important to build a reference library when running a backyard farm. Â Books can really help you dive deeper into a subject. Â When you are starting a hobby like chicken keeping, there are a ton of new things to learn!
Two full chapters are devoted to chicken health. Â Caring for chickens is not as intuitive as caring for dogs or cats. Â As ultimate prey animals, chickens are excellent at hiding illness or injury. It is important that chicken keepers know the subtle signs to look for in their flock. Â Kathy goes over how to give your chicken a complete, routine, health exam, and simple steps to keep your flock healthy as preventative measures. Â The sections on diagnosing illnesses by symptoms & methods for treating illness & injury should be required reading for all chicken keepers! Â There is very thorough advice on treating bumblefoot, a common but serious infection, in addition to tips for egg binding, spraddle leg, fowl pox and so much more. Â She has included a very thoughtfully written section on end of life decisions to help your pet pass in peace. Â Chicken vets can be difficult to find. Â Sometimes it can feel like you are on your own when it comes to your chicken’s health. Â Having a reliable & practical guide is essential for keeping your hens happy & healthy!
Good news for all you super fans of the Chicken Chick’s most famous hen, Rachel.  Little Miss Diva herself is all over this book giving you helpful advice firsthand! **Edited to add – unfortunately sweet little Rachel crossed the Rainbow Bridge at the rip old age of 8, shortly after the release of this book. But at least her memory & sass can live on forever in print now 🙂
Summary
I would highly recommend this book as a must have addition to your library for any chicken enthusiast! Â “The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens: Simple Steps for Healthy, Happy Hens” is available now on Amazon and bookstores nationwide!
~In addition to all the valuable advice & helpful diagrams, there are so many adorable chicken photos it will have you running to the hatchery to add to your flock!