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Milking your family cow and experiencing the simple joys that comes with it are explained in this guidebook by veteran dairy farmer and cheesemaker Phil Hasheider. This book leads you through all the steps needed to make your dream a reality and the processes involved to make your own dairy products. You will learn the practical do’s and don’ts of buying a cow, milking, feeding, and assisting her when she gives birth to a calf. You may not have the experience yet, but time will take care of that as you learn. Your adventure starts here and this book will guide you along your journey with your family cow.

About the Authors:

Philip Hasheider helped to manage his family’s 65-cow dairy for 20 years. He has a dairy science degree from the University of Wisconsin and seven years' experience as a cheesemaker’s assistant. He is the author of several livestock books, including How to Raise Cattle. He lives in Sauk City, Wis.

Photographer Daniel Johnson is a professional photographer specializing in farm imagery. He helps run Fox Hill Farm, a family-owned horse farm. He is the author of the 4-H Guide to Digital Photography. He lives in Phelps, Wis.

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Many gardeners fear chickens will peck away at their landscape, and chicken lovers often shy away from gardening for the same reason. But you can keep chickens and have a beautiful garden, too! Fresh eggs aren't the only benefit — chickens can actually help your garden grow and thrive, even as your garden does the same for your chickens.

In this essential handbook, award-winning garden designer Jessi Bloom covers everything a gardener needs to know, including chicken-keeping basics, simple garden plans to get you started, tips on attractive fencing options, the best plants and plants to avoid, and step-by-step instructions for getting your chicken garden up and running.

For anyone who wants a fabulous garden where colorful chickens happily roam, Free-Range Chicken Gardens is the guide that will bring the dream home to roost.

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Robert and Hannah Litt have dispensed advice to hundreds of urban and suburban chicken-keepers from behind their perch at Portland’s Urban Farm Store, and now they’re ready to help you go local and sustainable with your own backyard birds. In this handy guide to breeds, feed, coops, and care, the Litts take you under their experienced wings and share the secrets to:

• Picking the breeds that are right for you
• Building a sturdy coop in one weekend for $100
• Raising happy and hearty chicks
• Feeding your flock for optimal health and egg nutrition
• Preventing and treating common chicken diseases
• Planning ahead for family, neighborhood, and legal considerations
• Whipping up tasty egg recipes from flan to frittata

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Rabbits are a wonderful animal to raise as a pet or as part of the livestock on a farm. They are a great starter animal for children who participate in 4-H or other rabbit shows. This book will detail information on raising animals in both urban and rural situations, breed types, housing and food requirements, and general health care for the rabbit. The book will help you determine what rabbit breed will best suit your needs and inform you of what you need to know to keep your rabbit happy and healthy. Advice on showing your rabbit will also be included.

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The definition of a chicken tractor has evolved to mean employing your chickens skill-sets in a variety of different tasks that benefit you, your garden and yard. The chickens peck and scratch the soil to clean your beds, eat pest bugs and weed seeds, and fertilize the beds with their manure. Best of all, they provide eggs and meat with that old-fashioned flavor and homegrown goodness.

Expanded, updated and even more detailed. Learn how to raise homestead flocks for eggs, meat and money. Loads of photos and diagrams make important information visual and easy to understand.

Process birds in your backyard with exact, step-by-step explanations. Over 50 processing photos and diagrams—to let you do it right, efficiently and humanely each and every time.

This incredibly popular hands-on book is a grass-roots best seller. It has helped thousands of folks have better gardens and has rekindled an interest in the backyard flocks and heritage breeds of poultry. It has literally, changed the lives of millions of chickens all over the world by taking them out of factory farms, and putting in the gardens where they are happier, more productive and healthier.