The age-old question of which comes first is finally answered in Chicken and Egg! For the purposes of egg-centric chicken keepers, it's the egg! A new approach to chicken keeping, Chicken and Egg is specifically geared toward hobby farmers and casual chicken keepers who wish to produce eggs of a particular color, flavor, and type. Whether the reader desires the delectable turquoise eggs of the Araucana or the chocolate brown eggs of the Blue Copper Maran, learn how it's possible to put the...

The urban chicken movement shows no sign of abating, with home-raised hens considered the poster girls of the urban farming and buy local campaigns. In the US, many states have overturned laws that made the keeping of backyard poultry illegal and embraced the new generation of small-scale egg producers. Chicken & Egg is designed for this broad readership, but with a determinedly egg-centric focus. It offers a complete reference to raising chickens and other poultry purely for their eggs, f...

Longing for a kinder, gentler world? As the old saying goes, everything begins at home, and odds are, if you live in the all-American household, the air inside is more toxic than the air outside, even if you live in the most polluted of cities. You regularly handle the filthiest object in your home -- the kitchen sponge -- and put the same chemicals on your face that are used in brake fluid and antifreeze.The cleaning agents and personal care products commonly mark...

Revised and updated, this is the most trusted and comprehensive reference you can find for chicken care, housing, feeding, and health care.Serious poultry farmers and backyard bird raisers have relied on this best-selling reference for more than 20 years. The fourth edition of Gail Damerow’s comprehensive handbook is now completely revised and redesigned, making it more accessible and informative than ever. You’ll get the most up-to-date details on shelter, food, h...

Whether you’re running a farm or interested in keeping a few backyard birds, Storey’s Guide to Raising Poultry covers everything you need to know to successfully raise your own chickens, turkeys, waterfowl, and more. Stressing humane practices throughout, Glenn Drowns provides expert advice on breed selection, housing, feeding, behavior, breeding, health care, and processing your own meat and eggs. With tips on raising specialty species like doves, ostriches, and peafowl, you’ll b...

Corn Snakes in Captivity by Don Soderberg Corn Snakes are the ultimate success story in the captive bred reptile industry. They have been bred in ever-increasing numbers since the late 1960s and are available to hobbyists in a myriad of colors and patterns. Every year, new and exciting morphs are produced and the possibilities appear to be endless. Corn Snakes not only provide keepers with exciting genetics projects, but they are the most gentle and easy to handle of all pet snakes. In Cor...

Stop guessing what your plants need. Learn how they actually grow.When you understand how plants function — from photosynthesis to root absorption — you make smarter decisions in every season. Plant Science for Gardeners connects plant biology directly to practical gardening success.Instead of memorizing tips, you'll understand the systems that drive healthy growth.What You'll GainHow photosynthesis and respir...

Now available in English for the first time, this popular 1943 treatise on biology and biologically correct working of soil from the pen of the famous soil scientist Prof. Dr. Franz Sekera, carefully edited and expanded by his wife, scientist Margareth Sekera, over the years, has long been beloved by farmers and soils scientists in its original German. Starting with the basic concepts of “tilth” and “soil structure” and moving along to the symptoms of unhealthy soil and the behavior of pla...

Rethink Your RefuseHundreds of millions of tons of solid waste are produced in the U.S. annually, and the landfills simply store it, not eliminate it. Recycling diverts significant amounts of waste, but the fact remains that the majority of landfill space is occupied by organic material. The good news is composting is a natural and beneficial way to eliminate this waste, and anyone can do it.Whether you live on a farm, in the suburbs or a city apartment, co...

Interested in fishes and plants? Why not start your very own Aquaponics system? It's a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture!Many people will think such a system is amazing, and it is. The fishes will pass nutrients to the plants, and the plants will create food for the fishes. The cycle goes on.You can really spend time creating Aquaponics system right from your house, and slowly improve the system by scaling it bigger. Interested?This ebook compiles tons of t...

Tortoises are simply vegetable-eating turtles, and because of their easy care requirements they are among the most popular of all herps kept as pets. This colorful and informative guide proves the perfect introduction to these attractive reptiles. Author Philippe de Vosjoli provides guidelines for selecting and keeping the most popular tortoises, highlighting the leopard tortoise, African spurred tortoise, red-footed tortoise, Russian tortoise, and pancake tortoise. For each he provides in...

Get your hands dirty with this comprehensive guide to organic gardening that focuses on up-to-date techniques and high-quality visual information.Practical Organic Gardening sprouts homegrown, healthy edibles and other safe plants that are nourishing and tasty for your family, pets, and beneficial wildlife. Organic gardening isn't just for environmentalists anymore. Over the last several years it has been a popular gardening method. Believe it or not, organ...