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Chickens, Ducks And Bees: A Beginner's Guide To Keeping Livestock In The GardenStock informationGeneral Fields
Special Fields
DescriptionGrowing your own vegetables often leads gardeners to want to go one step further and keep some livestock. Chickens, ducks and bees are the most likely candidates for the first time livestock owner - especially if you live in a town or have only a small amount of land. They can all be kept happily together. Keeping these animals is a fun and absorbing hobby and is a great antidote to stress. There is nothing more rewarding than the collection of your own fresh eggs and honey. The book is full of sound, practical advice and looks at exactly what you need to get started: the equipment, housing, space and feed. Taking the breeds best suited for the smaller garden, town garden, or allotment, the responsible care and management of these animals is thoroughly covered in a friendly, approachable style with their welfare always in mind. Chickens: from breed selection to housing, feeding, care, and health issues this book provides simple, no nonsense information about how hens live, their needs and lifestyle and how to keep happy, healthy and productive hens. Author descriptionAuthor Paul Peacock has himself kept chickens, ducks and bees - sometimes in small, urban spaces - and has written many books and numerous articles on these subjects. He advises a major city council on public beekeeping and is also a published expert on gardening and smallholding. He is editor of The Home Farmer magazine. Paul Peacock writes for the Daily Mirror as Mr Digwell. Table of contentsKEEPING HENS; 1. Housing and equipment; 2. Which breeds are best and how many should I keep; 3. How to feed properly; 4. How to clip wings and everyday care; 5. How to recognize problems; 6. When you need a vet handy; 7. How the egg production cycle works; 8. How to recognize a happy hen; 9. Dispatching hens; KEEPING DUCKS; 10. Specific housing needs of ducks; 11. Providing water; 12. Feeding Ducks; 13. Duck breeds for eggs and ducks for meat; 14. Everyday care; 15. Recognizing problems; 16. Using duck eggs; 17. When you need a vet handy; 18. How the egg production cycle works; 19. How to recognize a happy hen; 20. Dispatching ducks; KEEPING BEES; 21. The basics: when, where, how and why; 22. What kind of bees should I keep; 23. What kind of garden do I need; 24. What equipment do I need; 25. The bee year; 26. Managing Varroa; 27. The bee casts and their role; 28. Swarming; 29. Collecting honey; 30. Other bee products; Glossary & resource. |