Sophie McKay
Turn Your Backyard Into a Thriving Chicken Haven-Even If You’ve Never Raised Chickens BeforeReady to enjoy fresh eggs every morning and experience the joy of keeping backyard chickens? The Happy Hen Handbook gives you everything you need to raise a healthy, productive flock with confidence-no prior experience required.This complete beginner’s guide takes you step-by-step through every aspect of backyard chicken keeping: selecting breeds, building coops, understanding flock behavior, preventing health problems, and collecting delicious farm-fresh eggs year-round.What You’ll Learn Inside:Choosing the Right ChickensBest breeds for beginners, egg production, and small spacesSelecting healthy chicks or started pulletsUnderstanding temperament and egg colorBuilding Your Chicken CoopSimple coop designs that keep predators outEssential equipment: feeders, waterers, nesting boxesSpace requirements for happy, healthy hens Feeding for Health and Egg ProductionComplete feeding guide from chicks to layersKitchen scraps, treats, and free-ranging strategiesProviding proper nutrition and calciumDaily Care and Seasonal ManagementRoutines that keep your flock thrivingWinter care and summer heat stress preventionMaintaining egg production year-roundUnderstanding Chicken BehaviorDecoding the pecking orderManaging broody hensIntegrating new chickens successfullyNatural Health CareRecognizing illness earlyPreventing parasites and respiratory issuesWhen to call a vet vs. treating at homeSustainable Chicken KeepingUsing chicken manure in your gardenCreating a low-waste backyard ecosystemNatural pest control with chickens
