Publisher's Synopsis
Beautifully illustrated and perfectly practical, this is the ultimate guide to the domestic fowl of North America and Europe--with information on how to raise them and how to select the right breed for your needs.Across the country, backyard birds are a growing trend--an extension of the urban farming movement. With just a little land and available water, you can raise all kinds of domestic fowl: ducks and geese, as well as turkeys, guinea fowl, quails, and peacocks. Celia Lewis's Illustrated Guide to Ducks and Geese and Other Domestic Fowl is full of practical advice, starting with how to choose the right breed. The book covers sixty-five of the most popular domestic breeds in Europe and North America, helping you make informed decisions based on your environment, the personalities and temperaments of different birds, their eggs and meat, and whether you intend to breed them. Lewis offers advice on housing, water, and feeding; the impact of birds on your land and on your neighbors (such as noise); and on the prevention and treatment of common ailments. She also provides brief profiles covering the history and place of origin of each breed, and appearance of males, females, and chicks-illustrated in her own lush watercolors. Lewis has created a practical guide thorough enough for a small farmer and beautiful enough to grace the coffee table of a casual enthusiast.
