Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cattle

by Gail Damerow (Editor)

When is the right time to shear a sheep? Is there a market for manure? What time of day is best to collect eggs? What is the correct way to milk a goat? What does a duck eat? Can a cow and a sheep share the same pasture? Which types of rabbits are easiest to raise? The perfect book for anyone who has ever dreamed of having that little place in the country, Barnyard in Your Backyard offers tried-and-true, expert advice on raising healthy, happy, productive farm chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, goats, sheep, and dairy cows. Each chapter focuses on a different animal, discussing the pros and cons of raising the animal, housing and land requirements, feeding guidelines, health concerns, and a schedule for routine care. Species that are easy to raise, hardy, and companionable are profiled. First-time farmers will discover simple, clear instructions for caring for animals throughout the year, as well as guidelines for processing barnyard products such as milk, wool, and eggs. Combining practical advice from real experts, easy-to-use checklists and charts, a seasonal care calendar, and detailed black-and-white illustrations, Barnyard in Your Backyard offers a comprehensive review of the ins and outs - the tribulations and triumphs - of living with and caring for a small barnyard.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Reference, Agriculture, Gardening, Survival, Food

408 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

Gail Damerow and her husband operate a family farm in Tennessee where they keep poultry and dairy goats, tend a sizable garden, and maintain a small orchard. They grow and preserve much of their own food, make their own yogurt and ice cream, and bake their own bread. Gail has written extensively on raising livestock, growing fruits and vegetables, and related rural skills. She shares her experience and knowledge as a regular contributor to Backyard Poultry and Countryside magazines, as an occasional contributor to numerous other periodicals, and as the author or contributor to more than a dozen country skills how-to books.

Reviews

[Lauren Rev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as I have recently begun visiting a farm sanctuary in the hopes of volunteering. However, I realized as I was being followed by a goose, a pig and a herd of goats that I have little experience with the basics of any kind of farm animal. I wanted to learn what they ate, what they could not eat and what any non verbal or verbal communication might mean. This book answered many of these questions (there is not a chapter on swine) and also provided upkeep information that might prove helpful if I every do become a volunteer. It also confirmed that backyard farms are not more humane. For example, she explains the tasks of castration, dehorning and docking. These are performed without anesthesia (though aspirin-type pain relieve is recommended for some procedures). She recommends that these be done at a young age though it is not clear to me why putting a band around a scrotum or burning off a budding horn would not be painful for a young animal. She knows all the tricks of restraining an animal to be of best use to the human whether it be to shear a sheep, hobbling a cow so that she will provide sustenance to a calf that is not hers or putting a goat or cow into a stanchion so that it can be more easily milked. Also to manage a small farm, animals must frequently be culled. She recommends butchering them for home use or selling them off as meat so the animals “earn their keep” and gives the ideal age for each animal which is far short of natural death. These are the uncomfortable realities of farm life and I am glad that she does not try to gloss over them. The illustrations are useful and the instructions explicit and easy to follow. A glossary is included but the terms had usually already been explained fully when they came up in the text. For what it is, it is a well written book. I just wish more people were uncomfortable with the way farm animals are treated. Perhaps after reading this book they will be.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read the chicken and beef cattle parts, as those are what's relevant to me, and skimmed the rest. But it's a great little overview if you're interested in getting into any of these animals. It answers a lot of equipment, husbandry, and timeline questions. Also, it's published by Storey and from 2002 so it's practical instead of homestead-trendy.

[Hanna Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books ever! It teaches you how to choose, buy, build shelters for, train, care fore, sell, breed, and do all sorts of other stuff with Ducks, Geese, Chickens, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, Dairy Cattle, and Beef Cattle. I have this book on my desk to refer to whenever I need it. It's a great help when you're trying to pick out an animal. It lists different breeds, along with the ups and downs for each one. If I could give 6 stars to any two books, it would probably be this one and the Book of Mormon.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book and it had a lot of information on geese and other animals.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book to re-educate myself on raising our chickens. Very informative. Even though I did not read this book and it’s entirety I did skim through all the other animals that she spoke about. This book will stay on my bookshelf for future references. Even if you’re not going to raise the animals, very interesting on how and what it takes to be a farmer.

[Carolyn Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family had this on our shelves when mom wanted a farmette. It worked! We successfully raised cows (and their calves), chickens, and in turns a goat and a turkey. My cousins down the road had this same book and raised goats. Healthy, happy animals all!

[Leigh-ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, honest reference book for anyone considering acquiring livestock, whether it be a couple of chickens or a herd of cattle. The author gives a thorough assessment of the pros and cons of owning any "farm animal", and isn't afraid to share the negative information that some other books gloss over. I've owned a book called "Keep Chickens" for the last few years, and it's aimed at people who want to keep a small flock of hens within the city limits to provide the family with fresh eggs. That book talks about how personable chickens are, shows some fancy coops that will make the neighbours envious, and generally makes chicken ownership sound on par with owning a guinea pig or parakeet. In "Barnyard in Your Backyard", the author reveals the truth about owning chickens: they only lay eggs for two or three years before their production grossly decreases, but they may continue to live for twenty or more years in the right conditions. So the conundrum begins: what do you do with your three pet chickens once they reach a certain age and no longer produce -- do they stay as pets, or hit the stew pot? When it comes to keeping a cow, the problems faced are even greater: can you afford to feed 10 lbs. of grain per day to a dairy cow who's also producing 60 lbs. of manure per week? This book is packed with answers and good advice, and belongs on the bookshelf of anyone considering hobby farming, even if it's just owning a couple of chickens or a small goat. It lacks one star because it doesn't have many color photos, and it's missing sections on swine, as well as miniature breeds.

[Athalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a fairly in-depth overview of each - chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, sheep and cattle. I particularly found the descriptions of the animals temperaments and personalities helpful. Anecdotal advice about food, living and human interaction was also welcome. The approach to husbandry in this book assumes outsourced food (commercial grains, feed and hay) and routine medications (worming, vaccinations, etc). It does not have information on creating a holistic environment (permaculture approach) for raising animals. There are many illustrations and charts to depict birthing and hatching, different breeds of the animals, shearing, hoof trimming, tattooing and ear marking, food and shelter types, anatomy illustrations, and on and on. Indeed, it is a great Beginner's Guide to animal husbandry and offers a introductory understanding of what it is needed to raise and care for these animals.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was informative. I did not read this page for page since I am not considering having a cow in my backyard. I read through Chickens, Waterfowl, Rabbits and bits and pieces about goats and sheep. I learned that there are chickens that are primarily used for meat, chickens that are good layers, chickens that can be both and some that are purely ornamental. There is also a duck that isn't really a duck. It's called a Muscovy and acts more like a goose than a duck. It doesn't quack, but it does get aggressive and can be "flighty". Apparently if I were to keep ducks, the Rouen would be best because it is calm and is not apt to fly away. I don't think the book mentions turkeys. Anywho, I checked out this book because it was mentioned in the book "Farm City".

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Storey publication, another outstanding intro to a country living topic. The author/editor Gail Damerow covers 6 type of animals, chickens, ducks and geese, rabbits, goats, sheep, and cattle and goes into details about housing, care, feeding and things to watch for while raising them and what you can expect out of them in terms in temperament and output.

For a novice like me, this introduction to livestock was perfect. It answered all my questions and much more.

Not only is the overview packed full of information, the author has a large list at the end of the book of additional information so one can find out more.

I highly recommend this book.

[Ellen Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Barnyard in your Backyard because I was interested in a general overview of the various types of livestock we could begin raising on our small farm. Unfortunately, one of the animals we are most interested in - pigs - isn't discussed in this book. However, those animals that are included in the book are covered pretty thoroughly for a beginner's guide. The book covers things like acquiring stock, breeding and birthing/hatching, potential health ailments, and more. A good book to help steer a farming newbie in the direction of which animal(s) he/she might be interested in.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

My low rating is more because the book wasn't what I needed. It was a beginners reference to all different types of potential livestock. I just wanted something on chickens, which was there, but a book specifically for the animal you would like to read is a better choice. This is a good book to read before you decide wether to raise anything or not. It can give you a brief run-down on expectations and work each will require.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really awesome book if you are looking to find some basic information about many different barnyard animals. If you want some more specific information, get one of the Storey's Guide books because they are apart of the same series.
This is a truly helpful book and one I would recommend investing in. I have it on my bookshelf and it has come in handy many a time.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great starter book if you are intersted in getting involved with a variety of animals. Gives the basics enough for you to get started and decide which route to go. I continue to use this book for reference.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be an excellent resource manual, particularly when it comes to raising chickens. More illustrations or pictures could have pushed this book to four stars. I was also confused on why the author chose to leave out a section on raising pigs.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

if this title doesnt make you laugh and smile, then fooey on you. I only read the chapter on chickens, but this book covers every other type of animal one might fancy having in their backyard barnyard.

[Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for researching if you might want to get some farm animals. It walks you through initial steps of considering the animal through buying and maintaining the animals. If I move into other animals I would definitely revisit for the information it provides.

[Rachel Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for getting a good idea of how to raise barnyard animals in most environments. From routine care to feed schedules to proper buildings, it's a great read for anyone interested in adding livestock to your life.

[judith kilgore-atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of information in this book. Whether you have some acreage or a small plot this book will explain all the who, what, where and hows of having *livestock* at your home. Easy to read and lots of hints and suggestions. It was very helpful to me in making some livestock decisions.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I shunned this book because there were no photos of cute animals. But there are drawings, and black and white lines have never looked more lovely. The text part is good, too.

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read it all the way through. I will save that for the day when I actually decide to get some animals or not.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful overview of various barnyard critters: chickens, rabbits, geese and goats. I'm on the way to becoming a self-sustaining hippie.

[Al Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose this book : Acclaimation/Care/Longevity of my Duck. Well that and too understand me...the Rooster, Mwwhha! I love you Monica Maxine Ruiz!

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great as a reference. Very useful information if you have a need for it.

[Barb Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read the chapter on chickens, because that's the info I needed, but this book provided the best information that I have read to date. Very thorough and informative.

[Jodi Z]

Very helpful to our current endeavor. My chickens are most grateful that I learned a thing or two before acquiring them!

[Me2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it covers some great information about raising chickens, waterfowl, sheep, goats and cows.

[Ida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very handy book with quick ref. to useful things...if you have farm animals in your backyard! :) Thinking of adding geese and more ducks to my 'flock' this spring. :)

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pick-up & set down book for me, much I know. Working on rabbits these days

[Gabrielle W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book, whether you're new to the farm life or not! Lots of illustrations, and very nicely written.