Barnyard in your Backyard

The perfect book for anyone who has ever dreamed of having that little place in the country, Barnyard in Your Backyard offers tried-and-true, expert advice on raising healthy, happy, productive farm animals: chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, goats, sheep, and dairy cows. Each chapter focuses on a different animal, discussing the pros and cons of raising the animal, housing and land requirements, feeding guidelines, health concerns, and a schedule for routine care. First-time farmers will discover simple, clear instructions for caring for animals throughout the year, as well as guidelines for processing barnyard pproducts such as milk, wool, and eggs. It combines practical advice from real experts, easy-to-use checklists and charts, a seasonal care calendar, and detailed black-and-white illustrations. Edited by Gail Damerow, it is a 480 page paperback with two-color illustrations throughout.

Damerow, author of several books on chickens and a breeder of dairy goats, has compiled a primer on easy-to-raise and companionable farm animals that will provide a good return for the novice farmer. The introduction acquaints the reader with all the pros and cons of keeping farm animals, covering such topics as manure, noise, and dealing with the neighbors. Six types of livestock are covered in depth, starting with chickens as perhaps the easiest to keep, then moving through ducks and geese, rabbits, goats, sheep, and finally dairy and beef cattle. Each chapter introduces the animal and describes breeds; discusses the animal's personality and how to handle it; provides information on feeding, housing, and routine care; and finally tells how to deal with the animal's output of eggs, milk, fiber, or meat. Simple, clear, and straightforward instructions and advice help the new animal keeper with any questions, and line drawings illustrate many concepts. Nancy Bent Copyright ? American Library Association. All rights reserved