5 comments about Keeping Pet Chickens: You don't need much space to Enjoy the Bounty of Fresh Eggs from Your Own Small Flock of Happy Hens.

1. My 8 year old daughter gave this to me for Christmas. I've kept chickens for many years. I don't believe the writers of this book know what theyre talking about. When I read that the authors worked for a company that sold henhouses, it made perfect sense. Anyway, if you really want information on chickens, buy the American Standard of Perfection and/or The Beginners Guide to Raising and Showing Chickens (DVD..its awesome)- both available from the American Poultry Association website.



2. I learned a lot about chickens from this book -- very informative, great pictures of different breeds of chickens, pictures and info about chicken coops, feeders, etc., lots of tips and information about how to care for your chickens -- this is a book I will go to a lot. Well written, I enjoyed it.



3. I know absolutely nothing about keeping chickens, so this book helped me alot. It is full of detailed facts about anything you would ever need to know about owning and keeping a flock of chooks in a productive and happy environment. Great for beginners like me!



4. This is a cute little book, but a very slim volume indeed. I've been considering getting some pet chickens for the backyard but I don't want to do it for some time (I want to wait and see how the whole bird flu thing plays out), so this was a fine introduction for me. It covers the basics of feeding, cleaning up after, and maintaining a home for your chickens. I have a better idea now of what kind of effort will be involved in keeping a few hens, how many eggs I can expect, and what kind of modifications the backyard will need. But I don't think you can rely on this book alone if you are already serious about adopting some chickens and need a thorough reference volume. There is very little information here about looking after the birds' health, for instance, and they only give information about a handful of breeds.
   
   Note: this book is written by the makers of the Eglu, which is a pre-fabricated plastic chicken coop for people who just want 2 or 3 chickens as pets. The writers do not identify themselves this way, but I have checked the Eglu website, and the same bearded guys appear on it. To their credit, they discuss how to clean and care for traditional wooden coops as well. But this book also comes free with any purchase of an Eglu. So if you think you might get an Eglu, you might as well not buy this book now since you'll get it for free later.



5. This is an excellent book if you are looking to have just a few chickens in your back yard for eggs and/or are a beginner. It also shows how chicken keeping has moved into the 21st century with the wonderful Eglu, as well as showing the different types of chicken housing available. Perfect and well recommended.

5 comments about Guide to the Quaker Parrot.

1. This has been the Bible of parrot information! Extremely helpful and useful information; concise and interesting reading.



2. I found this book helpfull and informative. It better helped me to understand some of the behaviours i had already noticed in my quaker.



3. I liked this book and it has a lot of information in it about the Quaker. The only thing that I wasn't happy with was the fact that I felt like the book deals too much with baby Quakers. The Quaker that I bought was already 7 months old and had already gone through many of the stages of learning that are talked about in the book. However, if you are bringing home a baby Quaker or just have general care questions about the Quaker, then this book is for you.



4. What a great resource -- huge, vass information on Quakers in particular -- just what is needed for those researching a soon to be Quaker parent. Gives great information on rehabilitation for those of you who are considering a rescue. Thank you. Definetely worth the money!!!



5. The book overall is a great book, however, there really is no food guidance on what you should feed your Quacker. As a new parent to an adult quacker I really needed something that gives more detail in food does and don'ts.
   
   It did help explain some of the behavioral issues and how to solve them that we noticed in our Quacker.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this book, but if you are looking for a book on feeding, you may want to buy an additional book. This book is very helpful in other areas!

5 comments about Holistic Care for Birds.

1. This book (written by a veterinarian) is excellent! I find the practical information wonderfully straight forward!



2. This is the best very informative, easy read book on birds I have ever read. Every bird owner should have it.



3. In HOLISTIC CARE FOR BIRDS, authors McCluggage and Higdon address preventative care as well as spiritual and emotional healing. They begin with a brief overview of `bird keeping' - Different birds have different needs..Not all birds like to be petted while others may become miserable without constant affection. Sometimes the difference is species specific, other times it is related to the bird's treatment by previous owners.

   Obvious physical problems may send you scrambling to the vet, but there are remedies you can keep on hand to deal with life's stresses and less serious physical injuries. For example, according to the authors, mild camomile tea in the bird's water bowl offers a soothing aperitif following a bad "out-of-cage" experience with the family dog or as a palliative for feather picking. Aloe juice used to treat human skin problems as well as Vitamin E and C can also be used to address bird wounds inflicted by cage mates.

   The authors address a range of treatments for ailments as diverse as sore feet and broken feathers to heart disease. They do not eschew veterinary care, indeed McCluggage is a DVM as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Higdon has written a number of books on happy, healthy pets (Lovebirds, Quaker Parrots, etc.). The book includes a section on nutrition, as the best health care involves diet.




4. I LOVE this book! I use it as a reference guide, and I find it easy to read, logical, and very very helpful! PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK IF YOU OWN A BIRD!



5. This book is very informative and easy to understand. I would use it as a reference manual and it has some very interesting recipes for birdy treats.

5 comments about The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship.

1. Very informative but easy to read. Not so dry and scientific that it will turn you off. Who knew parrots were so smart and had such specific personalities. You will fall in love with Tiko but, as the author mentions, beware taking on the ownership of such a demanding bird. I have a friend who owns a parrot and knows a great deal about them and she says the book explains so much to her about her little 'green feathered husband' as she calls him.



2. This woman is misleading thousands of readers as to what's acceptable in terms of rearing a parrot. She very often endangers her bird, everything from feeding it a poor diet to letting it chew on furniture (most have stains and sealants that can be toxic). I also see a lot of people voting these bad reviews down, which is fine, but realize that just because she "loved" her bird doesn't mean she did the right things for him. She sure left her other parrots in a rut fast enough.



3. I purchased this book several years ago for my bird club. Everyone who has read it adores it. Being bird owners and lovers we can understand what this person has gone through with her beloved parrot. We know that many parrots empathize with their caretakers. We also know that birds will most likely bond with one person, and heaven help the other person if they get in the middle.
   
   I don't know of one person who read this book that didn't get teary eyed when she was sick in bed and the parrot groomed her hair on the pillow. It's a close feeling when your bird sits on your shoulder and preens itself and you at the same time.
   
   I need to read this book again....and again. It's lovely...get one and read it. You'll enjoy it.



4. This woman is an ornithologist and "behavior expert" on parrots. Yet she indulges in the worst possible parrot husbandry. Letting the bird attack her husband when he's trying to be intimate in their bedroom? Letting the bird lunge at her family/friends when they try to open the fridge? Indulging in and encouraging mate behavior? No wonder I had never heard of her among the respected avian academic and behaviorist community (Barbara Heidenreich, Dr Susan Friedman, Steve Martin). Do yourself a favor and read one of their books, not this self-indulgent, narcissistic memoir where Dr Burger seems intent on showing the readers how exclusive her bond is with Tiko (even to her husbands' detriment), and how vitally important she is to the bird. I wonder if she'd even WANT this bird to live a balanced life and have close relationships with other people? (I think not). Frankly, I think she should do some behavioral studies on herself and her own self-serving motivations.



5. This was a lovely book. As a "bird person" who is the companion of an Umbrella Cockatoo, I could really identify with Dr. Burger and what she was going through Tico and her other birds. I highly recommend this book for anyone who knows or has an interest in parrots.

3 comments about Macaws.

1. We really enjoyed this book, we have a Blue & Gold Macaw named Lucky, and he is a corker I tell you; the more we could learn about him before we got him the BETTER let me tell you; this book helped us prepare for sure!
   Plus the book shipped pretty quickly and in new shape, just like we ordered, would definely buy from them again, THANK YOU



2. This is great book and every macaw owner should have it! It's simple, very easy to use, full of useful advices and I would recommend it to everyone



3. This is a very interesting book, providing the basic information for macaws as pet companions.

2 comments about The Canary Handbook.

1. Yes, this book is adorable. The pictures are wonderful. They range from images of canaries eating in a large group, to canaries at a show, to canaries in cages, to a canary-breeding room, canaries in nests, canaries canaries!!
   
   This book is very detailed, and covers bird accomodations, nutrition, breeding, history, illness prevention and cure, type canaries, color canaries, and song canaries.
   
   There are examples, very well photographed, of many of the type and color canaries.
   
   He is a real fan of song canaries, and gives interesting examples of the types of song, the breeds of song-canaries, and their potential.
   
   Just like the visual support for the color and type canaries goes beyond mere description, I would have loved to have a supplementary song-cd to go with the last chapter. It is inspiring, and than it leaves you off, wondering about this magical sound that he describes.
   
   Very cute, very nice, relaxing book; a journey into the world of canaries.



2. I recently expanded my bird collection to include two canaries and as I knew little about these pet birds, I purchased several books on the subject from Amazon. According to Barron's THE CANARY HANDBOOK which I have found the most useful of the four books I bought, there are three kinds of canaries: "type", "song" or "color". My birds (two bright yellow brothers) are supposed to be song canaries, but according to the breeder, the dominant one will do most of the singing. Apparently, girl canaries don't sing but not all boy canaries can carry a pleasant tune.

   Barron's handbook is filled with many up-close photos showing the many different kinds of canaries as well as various stages of development including breeding tips. In a charming chapter entitled 'Understanding the Canary' the handbook shares some history of the domesticated bird along with a little bit of information about canaries in the wild. The handbook says the canary has been domesticated for five centuries and breeding and marketing these birds via peddlers once formed the chief industry of the Harz region of German Black Forest.

   The handbook includes a section on `Feeding Canaries' and discusses "color" feeding. Beginning in 1870, cayenne pepper was mixed with canary seed to improve the red color of the Norwich and Yorkshire canaries. Later on, breeders and owners discovered sweet red peppers were more effective. The authors of this handbook suggest mixing canthaxanthin in egg yolk. This handbook includes many similar tips for helping your canary obtain the best food and care.

5 comments about Parrot Breeder's Answer Book, The.

1. This is a very good book. Some authors fill their books with jargons and make the books difficut to read. But Soucek writes in plain language. She makes professional knowledge of parrot breeding understandable to a parrot lover like me. Photos are clear and illustrative. I considered this book is the best one among books of similar topics.



2. Well being a hobby breeder I must say that I had learned somewhat through the years. I walked into a book store and took my husband's advice for once, it turned out to be most rewarding. The Parrot Breeder's Answer Book is filled with so much information which answered alot of my questions concerning my current breeding. Most of all the book is fun to read and the amount of pictuers add alot as well, far from boring like other related books. I must say taking my husbands advise did work out this time since it never ends up good. I would recommend this book to my fellow bird breeder's especially my mother in law she can really use this book as a Christmas Gift.
   
   Yours Truly
   
   Martha Ferrer



3. Very informative, I've been a breeder for 11 years and learned a few things I didn't know!



4. THE PARROT BREEDER'S ANSWER BOOK was written by Gayle Soucek, who has been breeding and training parrots for a number of years and maintains a flock of 70-80 birds at her Chicago home. The fact that she has been able to raise baby parrots in such a cold hostile environment is amazing, especially when she informs the reader that at times she must transport the babies to work because they require "round-the-clock"feedings, just like human babies. Of course she is hand raising the birds she feeds herself. Parent raised babies are cared for all day by mom and dad, but hand raising birds is the key to training them to be friendly animal companions. Reading this book one wonders where Ms Soucek finds the time to care for birds as she works full time for a bird supply business, is involved with a number of bird organizations and writes articles and books. Soucek says "you will never travel again" if you get into this business, and she has a point, although she undoubtedly travels to various locations to speak and lecture.
   
   Soucek covers all the important aspects of baby-bird raising including parent nutrition and avian reproduction; preventive health care, including when to call your vet and when to "do it yourself"; baby nutrition including diets and hand feeding; housing, including cage requirements (do you know the difference between an incubator and a brooder?), air, water and light requirements; characteristics of birds reproductive systems including the difference between DNA sexing and the more invasive laproscopic sexing.
   
   As a full-fledged bird breeder, I found this book highly informative, and recommend it to anyone who thinks bird-breeding is a "hobby."



5. This is an excellent book for those who are looking into breeding parrots. It gives good information on the pros and cons for breeding, and comes with excellent pictures and illustrations. This is such a wonderful guide to breeding parrots RESPONSIBLY. It is incredibly honest and straight forward on the benefits and pitfalls of breeding. Very easy reading and informative. Also comes with a reference guide in the back. Highly recommended.

No comments about Amazon Parrots (The Birdkeepers' Guides).

5 comments about How to Build Your Own Aviary, Cages, Nestboxes, Etc. and $ave a Bundle: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide.

1. This book is a valuable resource in that if you follow the authors suggestions it can keep you from making a lot of costly mistakes. While this book is geared towards someone who is in the business of breeding birds, it is full of practical advice that can be applied to someone who just wants to keep birds for enjoyment. I recommend it...



2. An aviary is more than a cage. I found this book very expensive for chapters that basically repeated the same info, with just a change of bird name etc. I was hoping for some plans to build an outdoor aviary, but this book is about mass producing cages of lower quality to house
   hundreds of birds for breeding and profit.



3. This is a good book. It is not for the person who has never built anything though. Fortunately my roommate is a real handy dandy person and can decipher these how to books quite easily. I don't know what half the tools are. So if you plan to use it to build cages or an aviary, you better know something about building things to start with, or have a good friend who does.



4. this is a great book for those who want to start the bird business idea with the minimum coasts,it explains how to build all from scratches,the only thing taking against it is the black and white photoes used to explain how to make nest boxes and so ,but not really a big deal as long as explains all steps though building things.



5. The entire book is clear, concise and very informative. It is BY FAR the best book that I've found on building an aviary and it's sooo easy to follow. The pictures and illustrations are top notch.

1 comments about The Falconer's Apprentice.

1. There are fewer things more beautiful than a falcon in flight. This beautiful, majestic bird is the epitome of grace and speed.
   
   This book is a good beginner's guide to catching, training and working with falcons and enjoying the world through their very keen and penetrating eyes.