A small flock of poultry can supply all of the eggs your family needs during the year. And, after your hens have completed their egg-laying days, there will be meat for barbecuing or roasting. Luckily, a small flock takes a relatively small amount of space and is easy to manage.

If yours is one of the growing number of families interested in raising chickens for eggs or meat, The Backyard Chicken Book contains all the essential information for the hatching, brooding, rearing, and managing family-sized poultry flocks. The first step in deciding on a family flock is to determine what breed may work best for your needs. For example, you can go with a laying breed such as the White Leghorn that produces top-quality eggs but provides little meat. Or, you could select a dual-purpose Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire that provides fewer eggs but much better meat. In addition to helping you select your type, this handy guide will also tell you what you need to know about:

Providing housing for home poultry flocks
Rearing the laying flock pullets
Managing laying problems
Fighting pests and disease
Raising other poultry such as ducks, turkeys, geese, bantams, and guinea fowl

Enhanced with full-color photos and dozens of illustrations, The Backyard Chicken Book is the perfect guide for the first-time poultry raiser.