Book Review: ‘Dual Purpose Chickens: Raise ‘Em Like Your Grandma Did’
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As a member of the Homestead Blogger’s Network, I’ve had the fortune to meet and get to know homesteaders around the country. It’s been such a blessing to be part of a group of like-minded writers. I learn so much from them and often turn to their posts for answers to my own homesteading questions.
This weekend, I had the pleasure of reviewing an ebook titled ‘Dual Purpose Chickens: Raise ‘Em Like Your Grandma Did’ by Staci Samuels, a homestead blogger at A Chick And Her Garden.
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.
Staci shares my passion for growing food and learning to be more self-sufficient. And, just as I will soon do, she started her journey into farm animals with backyard chickens. She raises her free range chickens for meat and eggs and uses her own selection process for breeding the best producing birds.
What I like about the book is that it reads more like a story than a how-to manual.
It’s the story of a girl who was terrified of birds but decided to make the leap into owning chickens so that she could be more self-sufficient. And the story has a happy ending! Now she’s the proud mama of more than 30 chickens!
If it sounds like there’s potential for some chuckles in that story, then you’re right.
Staci tells you all about how she came to be the mama of so many chickens, and how she has learned to raise them the old fashioned way.
Topics covered include:
- how they set up their brooder,
- a discussion of feeding crumbles vs pellets
- how fermented feed saves money
- what treats are unsafe for your birds
- how she trained her free range chickens to come home
- tips for keeping them warm in the cold winter months
- recognizing a broody hen
- making the best out of a dirty job: butchering chickens
- Bonus: recipes for your farm fresh meat and eggs
I loved her suggestion for getting a perfect peel off hard boiled farm fresh eggs. I’m going to have to try it!
Reading this book is like having a candid discussion about raising chickens with your best friend. It’s not a boring manual telling you what to do, but rather friendly prose about what works on Staci’s homestead.
If you’d like to read Staci’s book, it’s available for purchase on her blog here.
