Alex & Me is the remarkable true story of an extraordinary relationship between psychologist Irene M. Pepperberg and Alex, an African Grey parrot who proved scientists and accepted wisdom wrong by demonstrating an astonishing ability to communicate and understand complex ideas. A New York Times bestseller and selected as one of the paper's Top Ten Books of the Year, Alex & Me is much more that the story of an incredible scientific breakthrough. It's a poignant love story and an affectionate remembrance of Pepperberg's irascible, unforgettable, and always surprising best friend.
A small flock of poultry can supply all of the eggs your family needs during the year. And, after your hens have completed their egg-laying days, there will be meat for barbecuing or roasting. Luckily, a small flock takes a relatively small amount of space and is easy to manage.
If yours is one of the growing number of families interested in raising chickens for eggs or meat, The Backyard Chicken Book contains all the essential information for the hatching, brooding, rearing, and managing family-sized poultry flocks. The first step in deciding on a family flock is to determine what breed may work best for your needs. For example, you can go with a laying breed such as the White Leghorn that produces top-quality eggs but provides little meat. Or, you could select a dual-purpose Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire that provides fewer eggs but much better meat. In addition to helping you select your type, this handy guide will also tell you what you need to know about: Providing housing for home poultry flocksRearing the laying flock pullets
Managing laying problems
Fighting pests and disease
Raising other poultry such as ducks, turkeys, geese, bantams, and guinea fowl Enhanced with full-color photos and dozens of illustrations, The Backyard Chicken Book is the perfect guide for the first-time poultry raiser.
Keeping a few hens was once only for rural dwellers with big yards - or inner-city hippies. Now it's mainstream and an attractive proposition wherever you live. Fluffy little recycling units that eat weeds, bugs and scraps and turn them into organic eggs - what's not to love? Chickens are great backyard pets for young and old - they're a natural extension for everyone with a vegie patch, and for those who like eggs but are concerned about the welfare of commercial hens. This book is the perfect reference, whether you're already keeping chickens or an absolute beginner thinking about getting a couple of chooks. Dave Ingham offers compulsively readable advice on how to start, housing and feeding, settling chickens in with other pets, troubleshooting, and the (minimal) commitment required to keep your backyard hens healthy and happy.
When you're ready for the next step, Backyard Chickens Beyond the Basics shows you the realities of raising productive flocks that are happy and healthy.
A must-have for every backyard chicken keeper, Backyard Chickens Beyond the Basics goes beyond introductory lessons and explores the realities of raising a flock for eggs -- and entertainment, of course From odd eggs and molting, to feeding and preparing for the seasons, this book covers the subjects beginner books don't adequately address and re-examines common knowledge that may not actually hold true. It's a resource to turn to time and again.
Author Pam Freeman draws on her years of experience fielding reader questions to identify and clearly explain many common - and some not-so-common - issues in chicken keeping, including:
- How do you add new chickens to your flock?
- What is the pecking order and how can you change or control it?
- Is it better to raise chicks by hand or with a broody hen?
- What do you do when you collect eggs?
In Backyard Chickens Beyond the Basics, readers will find not just answers, but a book full of "coop truth" that helps them continue on their journey. Because as every chicken owner knows: Chickens are individuals and real-life chicken keeping often takes you far from the beaten path.
Every common breed of chicken, organized into one information-packed guide.
Fueled by the local and organic food movements, as well as a sea change in local ordinances, backyard chicken keeping is booming. Anyone who's decided to join the new wave of chicken keepers knows that the poultry breeds available are dizzying in their variety. Calm your anxiety with this book--a guide for backyard chicken keepers in search of chickens that best fit their needs.
Each breed of chicken listed in the field guide is thoroughly described and is illustrated by color photos. The book tells you all about the bird, detailing each breed's particular usefulness, adaptation to climate, coloration, number of eggs typically laid, foraging ability, temperament, and unique qualities. There are fun facts about varieties of chickens, as well as information about color and comb varieties, rare breeds, classification, and hybrids.
From the sparrow to the starling, the woodpecker to the warbler, the eagle to the egret, and every species in between, birds are some of the most plentiful and most diverse creatures in North America. Soaring high above us, these winged beauties have long been a source of fascination and enchantment.
While dozens of studies and field guides have been written, few provide a better-rounded overview of the denizens of the sky than Frank Michler Chapman's Bird Life. First published in 1897, over a century later Bird Life stills provides insightful observations about dozens of species of birds native to North America.
A pioneer in the study of natural history and ornithology, Frank Chapman writes with scientific prowess and an expert's eye in regards to bird anatomy, migratory patterns, mating habits, and habitat choice. Describing species from across the continent, Bird Life is a true testament to one of the nation's most beloved creatures.
-- Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk There is no denying that many people are crazy for birds. Packed with intriguing facts and exquisite and rare artwork, Birdmania showcases an eclectic and fascinating selection of bird devotees who would do anything for their feathered friends. In addition to well-known enthusiasts such as Aristotle, Charles Darwin, and Helen Macdonald, Brunner introduces readers to Karl Russ, the pioneer of "bird rooms", who had difficulty renting lodgings when landlords realized who he was; George Lupton, a wealthy Yorkshire lawyer, who commissioned the theft of uniquely patterned eggs every year for twenty years from the same unfortunate female guillemot who never had a chance to raise a chick; George Archibald, who performed mating dances for an endangered whooping crane called Tex to encourage her to lay; and Mervyn Shorthouse, who posed as a wheelchair-bound invalid to steal an estimated ten thousand eggs from the Natural History Museum in Tring. As this book illustrates, people who love birds, whether they are amateurs or professionals, are as captivating and varied as the birds that give flight to their dreams.
Describes the species that make the best pets and offers advice on care and feeding, grooming, bonding, and choosing the correct bird
"This true story will twist your heart like a sponge and renew your faith in the world." --Lee Woodruff, co-author with Bob Woodruff of the New York Times bestseller In an Instant
"A heartwarming book." --Vicki Myron, author of New York Times #1 Bestseller Dewey
"Reminds us of the extraordinary ways caring people are helping the men and women who have served our country...and animals along with them." --Maxine Waters
"I defy anyone to read it without shedding tears." --Rosemary Low, author of The Complete Book of Parrots
"It left me smiling, full of hope, and wishing there were more Lorin Linders out there." --Mary Gauthier
Animal lover though she was, Lorin Lindner was definitely not looking for a pet. Then came Sammy - a mischievous and extremely loud bright pink Moluccan cockatoo who had been abandoned. It was love at first sight. But Sammy needed a companion. Enter Mango, lover of humans ("Hewwo"), inveterate thief of precious objects. Realizing that there were many parrots in need of new homes, Dr. Lindner eventually founded a sanctuary for them.
Meanwhile, she began to meet homeless veterans on the streets of Los Angeles. Before long she was a full time advocate for these former service members, who were often suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ultimately, Dr. Lindner created a program for them, too.
Eventually the two parts of her life came together when she founded Serenity Park, a unique sanctuary on the grounds of the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration Healthcare Center. She had noticed that the veterans she treated as a clinical psychologist and the parrots she had taken in as a rescuer quickly formed bonds. Men and women who had been silent in therapy would share their stories and their feelings more easily with animals.
Birds of a Feather is ultimately a love story between veterans and the birds they nurse back to health and between Dr. Lindner and her husband, a veteran with PTSD, who healed at Serenity Park. Full of remarkable people and colorful birds, this book reminds us that we all have the power to make a difference.
