Keeping Chickens : How to Choose and Care for Chickens at Home

Author: Celia Lewis

Poultry farming

Published on 6 August 2026 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (Bloomsbury Wildlife) in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 160 pages, 300 watercolour illustrations throughout
242 x 216 x 17 | 736g

A practical and beautifully illustrated guide to keeping chickens at home.

Whether you want a reliable source of fresh, delicious eggs, organic chickens for your table or a few friendly hens as pets, Keeping Chickens explains everything you need to know about the 46 breeds best suited to life in your garden or backyard.

Drawing on years of experience, author and artist Celia Lewis offers clear, practical advice on everything from choosing housing for any outdoor space and feeding your flock, to daily, monthly and yearly care routines, plus tips on protecting birds from predators.

Each breed – including hybrids – is brought to life through Celia’s charming watercolours and engaging profiles, covering behaviour, temperament, egg production, and even snippets of fascinating history.

You’ll also find tips on storing and preserving eggs, delicious recipes for when you have a surplus, and crafty ways to use shells and feathers.

So whether you’re starting your first flock or expanding an established one, this inspiring guide is your perfect companion, from coop to kitchen and everything in between.