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A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cattle f The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by publishing practical information that encourages personal independence in harmony with the environment. ‘Text edited by Nancy W. Ringer and Carey L. Boucher Art direction and cover design by Meredith Maker Front cover photographs (clockwise from top left) ©Mark Turner/MIDWESTOCK, Linda Dufurrena/Grant Heilman Photography, ©Thomas Hoviand/Grant Heilman Photography, ©Cliff Riedinger/MIDWESTOCK, ©Mark Turner/MIDWESTOCK, Larry Lefever/Grant Heilman Photography. Back cover photographs ©Mark ‘Turner!MIDWESTOCK (top), Artville (bottom and spine), Hlustration credits appear on page 408 Text design by Kathy Herlihy-Paoli, Inkstone Design, Inc,, and Susan Bernier ‘Text layout and production by Susan Bernier ©2002 by Storey Publishing, LLC. Sections of this book previously appeared in Your Chickens (©1993 by Gail Damerow), Your Rabbit (©1992 by Storey Publishing), Your Goats (©1993 by Gail Damerow), Your Sheep (01992 by Storey Publishing), and Your Calf (©1997 by Heather Smith Thomas). All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages or reproduce illustrations in a review with appropriate credits; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form ‘or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other — without written permission from the publisher. The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are ‘made without guarantee on the part of the authors or Storey Publishing. The authors and publisher disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. For additional information, please contact Storey Publishing, 210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247, Storey books are available for special premium and promotional uses and for customized editions. For fur: ther information, please call 1-800-793-9396. Printed in the United States by R.R. Donnelley 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Barnyard in your backyard a beginner's guide to raising chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, sheep, and cattle / Gail Damerow, general editor. poem, ISBN 978-1-58017-436-5 (alk. paper) 1. Domestic animals. I. Damerow, Gal. SF 0} .B348 2002 636—de21 2002008708 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ¢« 1 (CHICKENS ¢ 11 Introducing Chickens * Choosing the Right Breed * Making the Purchase Handling Chickens + Housing Chickens + Feeding Chickens Egg Production + Collecting and Storing Eggs * Managing Breeders Hatching Eggs + Raising Chicks + Chicken Health Summer Care + Winter Care + Chickens for Meat Ducks | FESE ¢ 61 Introducing Ducks and Geese * Choosing the Right Bird * Handling Housing + Feeding * Duck and Goose Eggs * Breeding * Artificial Incubation Ducklings and Goslings Duck and Goose Health + Ducks and Geese for Meat Introducing Rabbits + Choosing a Breed + Recognizing a Good Animal Making the Purchase * Handling Your Rabbit * Rabbit Housing Buying a Cage + Building Your Own Cage + Rabbit Carriers Feeding Your Rabbit + Rabbit Health + Breeding Rabbits * The Nest Box Birch + Caring for the New Litter + Weaning and Separating the Licter Meat Rabbits Managing Your Rabbitry + Keeping Records

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