Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 636
EAN: 9781580174565
ISBN: 1580174566
Label: Storey Publishing, LLC
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 416
Publication Date: July 01, 2002
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Studio: Storey Publishing, LLC
Sales Rank: 13097

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
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 animals: 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.

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Rating: - A wonderful starter for backyard livestock
"Barnyard in Your Backyard" is truly what it claims to be "A beginner's guide" to several species of livestock. Much of the information contained in it is definitely a good place to start if you're thinking about raising any of these breeds in your small or large lawn. While I've found similar information on several aspects of the individual species, it was nice to have them compiled into one "manual" and I thoroughly appreciated the special notes the author made about how these species might get along with each other in a domestic livestock situation, including beneficial and potentially detrimental aspects (such as increased disease risk). Even though it is transparent which species and breeds the author prefers, the information is quite adequate to help you determine what species and breeds you might appreciate. The references and resources provided in this book are excellent pointers to get more comprehensive information on any animal that you wish to research further.

There were only two drawbacks to this book: 1) the assumption that only commercial rations were appropriate to feed your animals (and no references to more organic or free-range dietary resources); and 2) the conspicuous absence of pigs! I'm sure the pigs were left out because many jurisdictions do not allow pigs anywhere near civilization even though they are remarkably easy to care for - the poor pigs are so discriminated against! I was surprised to see such a large chapter on Cattle, since they do require a significant amount of land (not just the average suburban yard) but the information was good.

If you've been thinking about getting livestock to supply some extra food or even a more aesthetic pleasure, this is a great start!

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Rating: - Quick start guide
This is a good book for those who are just starting out. "Barnyard in Your Backyard" gives good, practical information on how to raise several different types of animals. This book would be perfect for someone trying to decide which animals to raise and it guides you through each step based on the care, size requirements etc of each group. Each animal section covers health, breeds, uses, finances, and more. Excellent resource for the first-time farmer or wanna-be farmer. The book has lots of colorful photographs throughout. The author left out the care and raising of pigs.

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Rating: - I loved this book!
I read it cover to cover. We will be starting our little farm in 2009,
so I have been collecting pertinent reference material. It REALLY spurred
my enthusiasm for raising our own food.
Now on to "Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game"...

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Rating: - Back to Basics!
Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows Is the greatest informational book on learning about raising animals on the farm. It is easy to read with pictures and diagrams that are understandable for all ages. The book is a good size to handle, has margins for notes an excellent book, and a key source for anyone interested is having a few animals on the farm!

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Rating: - Very informative
With just purchasing our acreage and trying to determine what animals to raise, this book helped tremendously. Alot of info on care and raising these animals.

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