17
4 Our View The Chicken Revolution
6 Your View Chickens in the Backyard
8 You Can Raise Chickens in Your Backyard
Welcome to GRIT’s Guide to Backyard Chickens. We hope you find exactly what you’re looking for in the pages that follow.
10 Anyone Can Raise Chickens
You can start baby chicks off right by following this expert advice.
17 Chicken Brooder in a Box
An easy-to-make shelter for growing chicks has a few other benefits, too.
20 Hatch a Flock
Insider tips on incubating eggs.
24 Adventures with Mail-order Chickens
Certain beverages and ordering poultry do not mix.
27 Use Up All Those Eggs
Grit bloggers and readers know all about creating culinary delights from henhouse treasures.
30 Perfect Chickens
A nitty Grit-ty guide to backyard breeds.
38 Keep Backyard Chickens with Class in GRIT’s Mini-coop
42 Protect Your Flock From Predators
What to do when the safety of your backyard chickens rests in your hands.
44
44 A Healthy Flock: What You Need to Know
Backyard chicken-keeping tips will keep your birds thriving.
46 Secret of the Rooster’s Crow
This rural resident’s morning ritual has little to do with time.
49 Build the Perfect Chicken Coop
With this unique design, anyone can keep a few chickens, even in small backyards.
52 Poultry: Secret Weapon for Backyard Pest Control
These reader reports tell how you can control ticks, mosquitoes and more by raising chickens, guineas or ducks.
56 Hatch a Revolution
You may need to change the rules to keep an urban flock.
60 Homestead Chickens
Easy to keep, chickens will provide delicious eggs and meat, plus bug control, fertilizer and tillage.
64 Chickens for Meat
Do-it-yourself pastured poultry.
69 The Business of Eating Chicken
Workplace poultry project offers a unique bonding experience.
70 Chicken Burger the Top Dog
National cooking contest showcases the best chicken recipes the country has to offer.
78 Adventures in Chicken Keeping
Trials of a chicken foreman become more than a job.
80 How Do Your Eggs Stack Up?
Whether you live in the city or country, here’s how to find healthy, affordable, farm-fresh eggs – and even raise a few happy chickens of your own.
85 Go Ahead, Get Guineas!
These zany, lively birds can nearly eliminate ticks from your property.
88 Homegrown Turkeys Are Terrific!
Beautiful and fun to watch, helpful in controlling pests and delicious on the table.
92 Dare to Dabble with Ducks
This waterfowl species dines on garden slugs and lays delicious eggs.
95 Resources
Everything you need for a successful fowl foray.