5 comments about Birdology: Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur (t).

1. I have read all of author/naturalist Sy Montgomery's books. In Birdology, Montgomery manages again to do what she does so well: to blend extensive information about animals with enormous empathy for them, with unusual insights into their lives derived from her personal experiences with diverse creatures. Birdology looks at the lives and abilities and evolution of birds from this unique perspective, using several particular species as exemplars. Along the way one also learns about her adventures while exploring the avian world. This is a wonderfully engaging book; I enjoyed it very much, and highly recommend it to all!



2. BIRDOLOGY: ADVENTURES WITH A PACK OF HENS, A PECK OF PIGEONS, CANTANKEROUS CROWS, FIERCE FALCONS, HIP HOP PARROTS, BABY HUMMINGBIRDS, AND ONE MURDEROUSLY BIG LIVING DINOSAUR provides general interest libraries with a fun account answering questions about avian personalities and present birds. Each chapter tells about a relationship or adventure with a bird whose species illustrates keys on what makes a bird a bird. Lively, fun leisure reading for aviary fans and general fans of wildlife evolves.



3. Like many readers, I found myself thoroughly enchanted by Sy Montgomery's previous book, "The Good Good Pig." Not only was it an entertaining look at what it's like to have a pig around your house (no, really, it's kind of fun), but it was a touching look at what we'd all like to think of what Small Town USA is like. If you haven't read it, go do so in the near future.
   
   "Birdology" is a different book, but it's still frequently fascinating. Who knew that birds were so interesting?
   
   Montgomery goes through seven different birds here, one at a time. The first chapter probably is the most charming, as she returns to her home ground to write about her chickens. "The Ladies" are practically part of the family, with each of the birds having different personalities.
   
   From there, Montgomery looks into pigeons that race, hummingbirds that are healed and raised, and crows who are told to get out of town. What's more, there isn't a bad story in the lot. I mean, who wouldn't want to dance with a parrot on a birthday? Who wouldn't want to see a bird who is left over from the dinosaur era?
   
   Montgomery's love of the subject matter certainly shines through in the course of the book. There are plenty of facts about each bird, of course, but this often concentrates on the people who love them -- which has its own rewards. What's more, the author rarely gets bogged down in the text, which is a danger when writing about a scientific area.
   
   Here's one immediate effect from reading "Birdology": This morning I went outside for something, and there was a bird standing on my driveway. I thought to myself, "I wonder what he's thinking." I wouldn't have said that before I read this book. This will engage almost any reader, and I can't think of a better gift for the bird-watcher in your life.



4. Naturalist and acclaimed author Montgomery's rhythmic and lyrical subtitle conveys the feel of this entertaining, eye-opening book about birds and the people who love them. If you're one of those who think crows are just raucous marauders and pigeons no more than rats with wings, this book may transform your thinking.
   
   "Not much gets past a pigeon. They notice details that humans miss: one study found that pigeons could learn to recognize the difference between the painting style of Manet and that of Monet faster than many college students. At one time, the U.S. Coast Guard trained pigeons in helicopters to spot orange life vests at sea; they outperformed human spotters three to one." One wonders why they are no longer used but Montgomery doesn't go into this.
   
   She has a lot of territory to cover. Beginning with her own 20-year flock of chickens, Montgomery celebrates birds - their individuality, biology, and abilities. She opens each chapter with specifics - the people involved and the birds they are involved with - then ranges into the science surrounding the species, exploring their specialized anatomy and the many behavior studies.
   
   Enraptured by her free-ranging chickens, affectionate hens who exhibit individual personalities, she intertwines an intriguing account of their lives and habits with results of studies on chicken communication and rooster behavior. But things change when a new flock of chickens takes up residence beside her own. "Everything the Rangers do is writ large. My hens are gentle, subtle; they are Ladies. The Rangers are drama queens." Observation drives her to the stunning conclusion that chicken culture is passed down through generations in one flock "of unrelated chickens of different breeds."
   
   Covered with persistent leeches, torn by thorns, Montgomery bleeds and sweats through the rainforests of Australia in search of the big, flightless, elusive cassowary. Genetically alien to us, birds are descendants of dinosaurs and the ancient cassowary is the best exemplar.
   
   At the opposite extreme are the tiny, dynamic hummingbirds. Montgomery visits a woman who raises and frees orphaned hummingbirds near San Francisco (which has 400 species!). Designed for flight, birds are almost more air than substance, and hummingbirds take this biology as far as it can go. Almost two weeks old, two baby siblings "weigh less than a bigger bird's single flight feather." If they survive they will be able to "hover, fly backward, even fly upside down." Some hummingbirds can dive at more than 60 miles per hour.
   
   Montgomery feeds us marvels of hummingbirds while the birds are fed every twenty minutes, without fail, all day long (everyone gets to sleep through the night). Though starvation is never far away, fledging is even more terrifying as there is nothing a hummingbird hates more than another hummingbird, and that includes any hapless fledglings not their own.
   
   Then Montgomery learns falconry, a fraught experience for a dedicated vegetarian and animal lover, but the thrill of the hunt opens new vistas. "A raptor's vision is the sharpest of all living creatures," she tells us. An eagle at 1,000 feet can spot prey across three square miles. Flight demands such quick comprehension that, because of specialized brain circuitry "birds capture at a glance what it might take a human many seconds to apprehend." "Raptors see in such fine detail that humans need microscopes to begin to imagine it."
   
   Birds are also thought to see colors we cannot even describe. At Irene Pepperberg's lab (famous for Alex, the African grey of Alex and Me) Montgomery sits in on a training session. Asked to name the color of various objects, the young subject bird seems annoyed and frustrated. On a hunch, one of the experimenters paints all his orange toys the same color orange and the frustration disappears.
   
   For her birthday Montgomery went dancing with Snowball, made famous from a You-Tube video (if you haven't seen it, do). Snowball lives in a rescue home with a lot of other parrots because he fell in love with his previous owner's daughter and was violently offended when she left him and went away to college.
   
   The crows wind things up. Smart toolmakers and users, crows are less beloved for their urban winter roosting habits. In Auburn, NY, the winter population is 28,000 people, 50,000 crows. And they prefer downtown. Why is a matter of some speculation - warmth from the asphalt and concrete, perhaps, or the excellent dumpster dining, or the bright lights that make predators visible. Montgomery visits the place when the city fathers decide to rid themselves of the crows once and for all.
   
   Montgomery's stories are funny, sad, poignant and fascinating. Her writing is engaging and she shares vast swaths of the latest research. Which brings up my only complaint. I would have liked some chapter notes.
   
   There is an index and a useful chapter-by-chapter bibliography, but notes referencing specific studies would have been handy. I would have liked to know more about the Monet-discerning pigeons, for example. Particularly as Montgomery more than once notes the conflicting results of bird studies (i.e., the amazing mechanics of migration).
   
   However, this minor quibble in no way diminishes the pleasure of the read. I defy anyone to read this book and look at pigeons, crows, or even hummingbirds, those tiniest dinosaurs, in quite the same way again.



5. This book is an affectionate look at a number of different birds. There is a lot of information around descriptions of particular birds and experiences the author has had with them.

5 comments about Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence--and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process.

1. 
   An engaging story - I was charmed, moved, and interested from the opening page.



2. I am an avid reader and I have to say this is absolutely one of my favorite books I have ever read. It is incredibly heart warming. I was so touched by the story, I just had to send a thank you note to Dr. Pepperberg thanking her for sharing her story and she very graciously responded back. I highly recommend this book, the story and the love it brings through will stay with you forever!



3. What a heart warming and informative story! I have a Grey and it has helped me to understand more about him, to have a closer relationship with him, and for us to communicate better. I would highly recommend it to grey owners and lovers.



4. I always loved reading and hearing about Alex. This book discribed how the author began studying birds and got Alex. I enjoyed listening to this book on CD.



5. Reading about Alex was a fascinating experience, marred only by the disorganized way the author chose to journey through the bird's life. It's still a good read, though.

5 comments about An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship.

1. This story is heart-warming. It also shares with us not involved in wild animal rescue and care, the ups and downs of those kind souls who are. The saga evolved from an email that Jeff wrote regarding Freedom, the eagle; and I'm glad it did. There is a relationship between people and animals, although I didn't go for the spiritualism and mysticism he chose to aid in his recovery and well-being. HOWEVER, the story stands on its on feet. It has ups and down's the reader will share with the author and is a must-read for those of us who want to see the work through the eyes of those who seek to care for these beautiful creatures. It's just one of those interesting books that you feel better for having read.



2. What a great read. The author was able to keep my interest till the end. The book was written beautifully. The book was very detailed and very well planned out. The pictures were beautiful. I beleive that man and animals are connected, and it was great to see that confirmed in this book. Recommend this book to others. During cancer one needs inner strenght and in this book it shows just how this was done. What awesome bonding.



3. This book might be a difficult reading experience for anyone who has either gone through cancer treatment themselves or had someone close to them who did. It also might be a bit tougher on those who have fought to save a pet, and didn't have as positive an outcome as Jeff does with his eagle.
   
   But at the same time, difficult emotional experiences often have a tremendous pay off. This book, a true story, is one of the more inspiring I've ever read. Jeff Guidry tells his story in a straight forward manner. He helped rescue an injured eagle from what would have been premature death, nursing it back to health and strength in a tireless manner. During this process, he developed cancer and the bond he shared with the eagle helped him regain his own health.
   
   All the praise this book has garnered has been deeply justified. This isn't the kind of story that should require a really hard sell. Based on the general story, you may already have an idea of whether or not it sounds like something for you. If you have ever had a strong, unwavering bond with an animal then I would suggest reading this book.



4. Jeff Guidry's book, "An Eagle Named Freedom", tells of the bald eagle who over a decade, or so, was integral in the authors life transformation. Yes, it would be hard to imagine if someone congratulated Jeff, say, 15 years ago when he was a west coast professional musician on being a best-selling author, a world-wide cancer survivor inspiration, and an expert raptor handler. I would bet Jeff would think that person was delusional. But, as of the late 2000's Jeff is all of these things as his life changed dramatically. That change was, at first, we learn on purpose because as an accomplished guitarist Jeff had became burned out on life as a professional musician and sought to get away from the business he once was so devoted to. To insure real change he moved from California to Washington with his mate Lynda where he could truly get away from being his former lifestyle - where he could enjoy the great outdoors as well as change.
   
   We learn, though he loved the change, he was still looking for something to involve his interest in nature more. Lynda gave him a pamphlet about a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center and, as fate would have it, that connection jumpstarted the real changes in Jeff he had, seemingly, desired, but had yet to feel completely invigorated by.
   
   Jeff arrives at Sarvey, the wildlife rescue center, thinking he would volunteer on his day off and see if someone like himself could be utilized, hopefully feeling uplifted after what would likely be a lengthy process of learning. At Sarvey, like most volunteered or paid jobs, learning is more like "baptism by fire" and Jeff was working directly with rescued wildlife his first day. It was hard work from the start, but rewards came continually and he immediately loved it. He instantly connected with the director, Kay, and went directly from hoping he would be both helpful and fulfilled to being just short of indispensable next of kin! Reading about the early days at Sarvey give the reader a spiritual feeling that Jeff is exactly where he is suppose to be - all this and, so far, the real story hasn't even introduced us to real subject: Freedom the eagle!
   
   In 2000 Jeff had been at Sarvey approaching two years and his love for the place and the people, especially Kay, the director, and Crazy Bob who was the most active volunteer, had grown. Jeff was happy to give his day off and was feeling the benefits of his radical move to Washington. Things would get more intense, both better and worse. The better occurred when Kay asked Jeff to take a young eagle with broken wings to the vet for diagnosis. The female bird was in critically poor shape with two broken wings and had become emaciated as well. The damage to the left wing was such that even with proper setting and healing the damage was too great for the bird to be able to fly. At Sarvey the first objective is saving the animal and the second is to return it to its natural habitat; whenever an animal could not be introduced back to nature the policy was to insure it lived a quality life in captivity, either at Sarvey or another center. For this young eagle, however, it seemed as if survival would be somewhat of a miracle. By using a feeding tube and providing a low-stress environment it was hopeful the eagle could manage to stand on its feet after a time of healing. Things looked bleak when the bird remained day after day in a laying down position which would be considered too poor in terms of quality-of-life to subject a magnificent raptor to.
   
   Now, I have to ask myself, do I just want to tell the reader the whole story? No, of course not, but what happens next at the brink of euthanizing the eagle truly begins the spiritual connection for Jeff. It's as if Freedom (named later) realizes she will be a force in Jeff's life and she gathers her strength and becomes a survivor so she can awake that same instinct later to Jeff when he will need it. This is where the real inspiration starts and it only builds more powerful and deep as the story progresses. Though I'd love to tell more it would be a disservice to the reader as the joy of reading this story is in the details of the journey that begins with Freedom beating her own odds and surviving.
   
   You do not have to love wildlife to enjoy this book. This book is about humanity, survival, spiritual growth, and love. That all this happens in regard to a connection one man happened to make, in this case with an eagle make it all the more remarkable. It's inspirational first and foremost, but as an animal lover I find it wonderful in that an eagle can be such a bridge to the powerful traits we need to be the masters of our dominion that, I think, God has intended us to be. I highly recommend this book, as well as a very different, yet similar, book named "Wesley The Owl". These books are both powerful affirmations of life and love and as such will only be enriching as well as entertaining to the reader. Simply put, a great read!



5. I have only one complaint about this book, which I so enjoyed reading that I have added the wildlife center featured within to the "pages I like" on Facebook so that I can continue to follow their work. I wish the publisher hadn't given away so much of the story on the dust jacket! Seriously, the events given away ahead of time only get you to the halfway point of the book, but some of those moments were so heartwarming and the reader is deprived of the element of surprise/suspense, but instead arrives at these moments saying "finally, we got to the moment when the eagle hugged Jeff, ok lets move on...". If that moment hadn't been revealed before the front cover of the book, it would have had much more of an impact.
   
   Publishing snafus aside, it's a heartwarming story. Do yourself a favor - don't read the dust jacket, but do read this book. It won't take a long time, but it will make you think.

5 comments about Enslaved by Ducks.

1. Enslaved by Ducks is a great book that is very well written. Bob Tarte is an excellent writer with a delightful sense of humor. Enslaved by Ducks is a must read for not only animal lovers but those who are looking for a fun to read book. I strongly recommend Bob Tarte's book Enslaved by Ducks.



2. Bob Tarte is Hilarious. This book is for anyone who would like a quick read that makes you laugh out loud. I have read "Enslaved by Ducks" twice and usually would not do something like that unless I had forgotten I had read that particular book. These two books you will not forget. Bob Tarte is coming out with another book and most fans of this author are very excited. Great read!!!!!



3. I absolutely loved "Enslaved by Ducks," seriously laugh-out-loud funny! My mom heard about the book and purchased it for my husband and me after we unwillingly became the "parents" of two baby mallards. Well, Bob Tarte hits the nail on the head! Anyone who has ever fallen in love with an animal - be it two or four legged will absolutely love this book. The joys, the mistakes, the anquish, the laughter - it's all there. I have ordered "Fowl Weather" and can't wait to receive it!



4. I picked up this book and a sequel or two hoping they would be funny (as billed). They weren't. The animals are nice, some even quirky, but anyone who has spent any time in the country knows these stories. Those who don't know the country and its realities are likely to be distressed by these stories. Reading these, I repeatedly found myself thinking, this is a writer who, with nothing else to say, has turned to his ducks out of desperation to turn a buck. And then there are his depressions, his neurotic tendencies, his incompetency with animal enclosures, his mother's struggle with dimentia and his bafflingly helpless responses to her problems; this is all terribly sad and not at all funny. The author presents his oversights and shortcomings in managing the world of farm animals as humorous foibles, which they might be if not for the resulting fatal results for his animals. This book and its sequels are depressing. I would be embarrassed to tell my neighbors these stories, let alone publish them. They hold none of the charm of, say, the James Herriot series or others like it. Perhaps Bob Tarte writes perfectly good magazine features. If so, he should stick to that.



5. A funny little jewel of a book. Loved it, and you will too if you love animals. Is one pet ever enough?

5 comments about Chicken Coops: 45 Building Plans for Housing Your Flock.

1. This book is a complete waste of money! There are NO PLANS in this book. It does contain line drawings of one or two sides of the coops, and a floor diagram of each coop. If you are looking for some general ideas for your own coop, then this would be an excellent book-but that isn't what I wanted nor what the book's title stated. I should have read the reviews before I purchased this book, rather than after.



2. I bought this book to look for bona fide plans for building a new chicken coop. I have had chickens a long time and have built several coops. I wanted to avoid the mistakes I made before.
   
   This book is very nicely illustrated but is like the worst of Mother Earth News -"Make a City Water Treatment Facility From Used Cereal Boxes." If you are high and live on a commune this is the book for you. It is not for anyone with a small farm who wants to build a chicken coop that is easy to maintain and clean, will last, and is safe for chickens.



3. This book has lots of black and white photos and details, it can surely give you some good ideas. It also has some color photos at the end. If you want some ideas for a chicken coop and are handy with a hammer and nail then you will like this book.



4. Not a good book at all. Say 45 plans but does not say how they lack detail. Waste of my money. Found a free plan online that was step by step start to finish. As far as I am concerned this book is a waste of money. You can get a better book at Home Depot of less money.



5. This book was more than what I expected. It had a lot of different types and great instructions. I would recommend this book.

5 comments about Parrots For Dummies.

1. It's definitely a beginner parrot owner's book but for someone that wants to learn more about parrots than just the basics, than this book (along with every other parrot) should not be the only book you purchase or use as a reference. There will always be new information discovered.



2. Well written. Covers all aspects of purchasing a parrot. Very glad I bought this book. Do not hesitate, this will be a reference book for you.



3. I've had pet birds for twenty years or so. I learned some things I didn't know from this book. Great beginner's book. Great book for anyone who has parrots or just wants to learn.



4. boy is this book named right but if is very helpful book i love it.



5. This book provided me with what I expected--good information about parrots. It started out with more information than it finsihed with (wish it had provided the same throughout) but I am overall satisfied.

5 comments about Fresh-Air Poultry Houses: The Classic Guide to Open-Front Chicken Coops for Healthier Poultry.

1. I loved reading this book! I wish I'd known about it when I first started out with my chickens! It is informative, sensible, easy to understand, it contains lots of building diagrams/designs that have been proven and used. The author writes well, with a bit of humour at times, and with fantastic information that (I believe) people have forgotten about in our modern times, in regards to best coop design and placement for chickens (not for us!)I highly highly recommend this book, definitely the best design book I've come across!



2. No matter where you live, how far north and how cold this has been shown to be the healthiest and safest way to keep poultry.



3. I'm venturing into the world of chickens myself and this little book was recommended to me by a man quite obsessed with chickens and the art of raising them. Having read the book, I was so taken by Woods' seemingly unorthodox approach, and the poultry houses he espouses, that I'm convinced this is the direction that I'll be going with my own chickens.
   
   What a delight to find a book originally published in 1911 (the version I purchased is a reprint of the updated 1924 version) that's just as relevant and forward-thinking today as it was 100 years ago!
   
   Highly recommended.



4. Really liked this book and wish there were alot more like it. Sometimes it's hard to remember that it was written almost a century ago. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to raise chickens in a more natural, healthier way.



5. The book was as expected, informative and with useful ideas.
   
   I ordered only one book and Amazon has yet to rectify the order, I was told to sell my other copy or pay postage on the return. Hmmm... What happended to their customer service, I have never had an issue before.

5 comments about Keeping Chickens: The Essential Guide.

1. I saw this book in a feed store and ordered it from an Amazon seller for much less money! Keeping chickens is a lovely little book. I bought it primarily for the photos and illustrations. Another reviewer called it a "dreaming about chickens" book. It is just exactly that as well as being informative.
   
   The illustrations and general "feel" of the book remind me of Darina Allen's,
   Forgotten Skills of Cooking.



2. We are just getting started with chickens and this book has tons of good info. Lots of color pictures and basic ideas and answers to all the basic questions. It is not overly in depth but gives good info, it is definetly a keeper book in my opinion.



3. The book is very high quality printing. It has excellent info but my favorite part is the creative and quality photography. It is fun to simply flip through like a coffee table book, but it is really so much more.



4. This is a good starter book, with a very good section on breeds. The color photos and descriptions will really help find a breed that's right for you. It's a good starting place, but I felt I needed something more in depth and got Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, which may be too in depth, but it's a great reference book. If these two books got married and had a child book I think it would be perfect. Wish I had seen that a new version was coming when I purchased this edition.



5. This was the first, and only, book that we bought before we got our chickens. It is very straightforward and easy to understand, with useful tips and basic things we needed to know. We also got some good info from other folks with chickens on youtube. This book will give you some basics on building your coop. That's what we did - we looked at the pictures and read about what we needed in the coop, then looked at some folks had built on youtube and came up with our final design.
   Great photography too. My chickens are doing great. :) We've decided the book is a keeper.

5 comments about Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot (Barron's).

1. If this is the first parrot you have ever adopted, you and your bird *need* this book.
   
   When we adopted our second family Macaw, the owners of the bird specialty shop he come from practically shoved this book int our hands and they were absolutely right.
   
   We have now had Pickels for 7 years of a marvelous, wonderful relationship. But it never would've started without the advice and explanations this book contains. A parrot has a VERY different psychology from a dog, cat or any othee pet you've encountered and as its human companion you NEED to understand it.



2. This book gives you an overview of parrot behaviour and introduction to parrot traininng. For a very beginner like me it is great!



3. This book is full of helpful information. It not only talks about how to stop unwanted behaviors but, even more importantly, it talks about how to prevent them. There are lots of exercises in the book that aim to help build a bond between owner and parrot and to help prevent unwanted behaviors. Lots of information on how to prevent boredom, stimulate talking/mimicking, reading body language, stopping/preventing screaming, and emergency preparedness. Overall, a very good book. Highly recommend it for any bird owner.



4. I have a 26 year old Senegal Parrot. Throughout the years, I have had many questions about her behavior, playfulness, talking, nutrition, health and training. Virtually all of these questions have been answered in this book. Sometimes the answers are so simple I'll wonder why I didn't think of them myself.
   
   Some things I've learned that are helpful is that my bird should not be higher than I am so it's not good to put her on my shoulder. The higher she is, the more dominant she feels. I also learned that her nutritional needs are similar to an adult humans. We feed her what we eat along with some runner's gorp. I learned about her changing loyalties to either my husband or myself which may be a result of sexual orientation and maturation.
   
   I recommend this book for anyone who has a parrot and wants to learn about this fascinating animal. Parrots are smart, funny and wonderful pets - - but only for the knowledgeable owner.



5. I got this book as a part of my research when I was collecting information on Greys. I wanted it for a reference so I wouldn't do anything wrong with my Timneh. I wanted to make sure I made her happy and well adjusted. This is a great book for that. Mattie Sue knows her birds.

5 comments about The Joy of Keeping Chickens: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Poultry for Fun or Profit (The Joy of Series).

1. Isn't it ironic that a book designed to appeal to the sustainable, local living crowd should be printed in China? I was going to give this book a 5 star review until I saw that.
   
   On the content of the book...lovely. I literally read this book in one day. We are moving from big city to a small property in the boonies very soon, and I can't wait to try raising chickens. I found the book to be a great introduction. The chart for selecting breeds is helpful.



2. I liked the directness of this care book. It is good for beginners with chickens. I preferred City Chicks though for a more down to earth and great knowledgable author.



3. We are newbie chicken owners and this book has been an absolute delight! I have read it over and over and my husband, who already knows everything, has actually read it! He may have even learned something (smiling here).
   
   The author explains how to raise chickens in a manner that you would expect from a friend who knows you well. She does not get too indepth or too simple...just right! She tells you how to get started in chickens at a variety of levels and how to do it in a manner than is best for you and the chickens.
   
   Plus, her story of how she got into chickens is exactly like mine. We must stop factory farming of our animals and she supports that the right way...with her dollars, as do we.
   
   GREAT BOOK!!!! I suggest it for anyone interested in chickens!



4. Great book to read through and use as a reference. Very happy with this purchase.



5. This is a great book that has actual photographs of real Chickens. We have chickens in our yard so I can tell.
   
   We just have egg chickens (no offense to Elroy the rooster), but the book goes into meat birds as well (we don't have room for that).
   
   This book delves deep into the relationship between humans and chickens (well, as deep as it can).
   
   This is a great book (if you are interested in chickens). If you aren't sure what they are then this would be a good book for you to get a jump start.