Best-selling author Melissa Caughey knows that backyard chickens are like any favorite pet -- fun to spend time with and fascinating to observe. Her hours among the flock have resulted in this quirky, irresistible guide packed with firsthand insights into how chickens communicate and interact, use their senses to understand the world around them, and establish pecking order and roles within the flock. Combining her up-close observations with scientific findings and interviews with other chicken enthusiasts, Caughey answers unexpected questions such as Do chickens have names for each other? How do their eyes work? and How do chickens learn?
This arrived today and I couldn't wait; I've been curious to read it since I first read about it pre-publication.
Sadly, it was not quite what I expected.
Almost though. The author does discuss what chickens are trying to communicate, and she covers a fair amount of anatomical/behavioural information about chooks (Aussie slang), but she's coming from an enthusiast's perspective, not a scientist's. This is totally ok, but I was hoping for something a tad more in-depth and research based; this is more a 'chickens are wonderful and grossly underestimated' tome. (She's right - they're hilarious individualists, and anyone who keeps one for more than 10 minutes will never underestimate them again.)
In spite of it not measuring up to my expectations, it's a lovely book overall and I did learn quite a bit more about chickens. Turns out, I have 3 of the closest living relatives to T. Rex living in my back garden. How cool is that?
Reading updates
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Started reading
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16 January, 2018:
Finished reading
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16 January, 2018:
Reviewed