“With a growing interest in self-sustainability and organic living, readers will appreciate the comprehensive nature of this readable, informative guide. Jennifer Megyesi’s engaging voice, and her enthusiasm about keeping chickens, combined with Geoff Hansen’s gorgeous photographs, make for an instant classic.”

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I enjoyed photographing chickens in local barnyards for a very interesting book. I’m thankful to those who allowed me to spend time with their flocks: Karl Hanson and Cloë Milek, Jennifer Hauck and Alex Cherington, Suzanne Long and Tim Sanford, Ralph and Cindy Parsons, Brianne Riley and Matthew Taylor, Rick Schluntz and Carol Steingress, Ray Williams and Liz York, and the Northeast Poultry Congress’ organizers and participants. I’m especially grateful for working with farmer/author Jennifer Megyesi, who always helpful with suggestions and was a great collaborator. Thanks to the crew at Skyhorse Publishing, including Ann Treistman, Abigail Gehring and LeAnna Weller Smith, who put all of the pieces together into one special book.
— Geoff Hansen

From the Skyhorse Publishing catalog: “Finally, backyard farmers who want to keep a few hens for eggs have a bible that’s attractive enough to leave out on the coffee table, and inexpensive enough to purchase on a whim. This comprehensive guide, written in charming prose from the perspective of an organic farmer, will appeal to readers who are interested in raising chickens, or simply want the best knowledge about how to cook them. With this in mind, farmer and animal expert Jennifer Megyesi discusses all the basic details or raising the birds — general biology, health, food, choosing breeds, and so on — and she cuts through the smoke to identify what terms like ‘organic,’ ‘free-range,’ and so on really mean for poultry farmers and consumers.
No chicken book would be complete without information on how to show chickens for prizes, and this is no different, but The Joy of Keeping Chickens also stresses the importance of self-sustainability and organic living, and the satisfaction of keeping heirloom breeds. Readers will appreciate the comprehensive nature of this readable, informative guide, and Megyesi’s enthusiasm about keeping chickens. Coupled with Geoff Hansen’s gorgeous full-color photographs, this text makes for an instant classic in the category.”

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