The Chicken Care Playbook
What if your dream of fresh backyard eggs came with a side of science and a few chicken jokes?
A new guide from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources is helping chicken owners keep their flocks healthy and safe, without making it boring.
“Dr. Cluck’s Backyard Chickens” is a veterinarian-written, peer-reviewed book that tackles everything from avian influenza and predators to nutrition and food safety. It even walks readers through choosing breeds, spotting illness early and making compassionate end-of-life decisions.
Co-author Maurice Pitesky from UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine says, “Chickens are fun and taking care of them and reading about them also should be fun.”
The book blends real science with cartoons and humor, led by a character named Dr. Cluck, making it approachable for beginners and experienced owners alike.
But experts warn, backyard chickens are not a shortcut to cheap eggs. They are a commitment that can last more than five years.
Bottom line. Healthy chickens start with informed owners.
Check out the book yourself at https://www.ucanr.edu/blog/food-blog/article/drcluck
