I did find the layout of the chapters a bit haphazard. For example, my interest is in ducks and chickens. When trying to figure out what size of run/pasture and sort of shelter would be required, I really had to carefully read both chapters, start to finish, to find all the relevant tidbits that were scattered throughout.

The later chapters (goats, sheep, and cows) looked to be a bit better organized, but I only scanned them as they weren't in-line with my interests.

The organization and lack of depth doesn't make it a particulaly good reference, but for an introduction to husbandry of several different animals, the authors have succeeded.

62 of 64 found the following review helpful:


Barnyard in your Backyard  May 04, 2003 By Cyberpip "cyberpip1"
Excellent book for someone starting to raise livestock either for the first time or after a long absence. Basic information presented in an easy to read and understand format. Gives a good basic understanding of what is needed for the various types of livestock covered. Though I personally would have wished perhaps a bit more depth in some areas overall I found it to be an excellent read and well worth it as an reference book.

33 of 37 found the following review helpful:


highly recommended  Feb 14, 2005 By Hakushou
You can't get all-inclusive with this many species in one book, but this book comes awfully close. An amazing introduction to basic animal care. Definitely check this out *before* you bring home those cute chicks, or rabbits, or goats! Also excellent for cattle (beef and dairy) and more!

15 of 16 found the following review helpful:


Very Informative Guide to Raising Livestock  May 30, 2006 By Mary Ann
Over the past year, I have gotten into raising chickens, rabbits, and most recently, goats. I have used this book each time to learn about the basics of the species, housing requirements, feeding, and other issues. I am not an expert by any means (and was clueless when I started!) but this book has been a tremendous resource to get me going with animals.

I think that the organization of the book is great and the writing style is clear, interesting, and easy to follow. Overall, if you think you want to start raising any of the animals covered in this book (chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, sheep or cattle) I think this is a excellent, non-intimidating choice.

32 of 38 found the following review helpful:


Huge disappointment  Sep 30, 2008 By M
After 20+ years of horses, we decided to expand our little farm to include animals that pay their way. First came the dairy goats, then chickens & hogs. I have other Storey books, so I was really looking forward to receiving this and was so disappointed when it arrived! The information is VERY basic, pretty much excerpts from other Storey books (which you would then have to buy to get more detailed information). The part on goats, taken from YOUR GOATS: A KID'S GUIDE TO RAISING & SHOWING, was word for word, paragraph for paragraph. IT ALSO MADE LITTLE SENSE TO OMIT HOGS ENTIRLY, one of the more popular animals kept by small homesteads, yet include a large section on cattle, which generally require a little more than a "backyard." As for chickens, the information on egg layers was pretty good, although I would have liked to have seen at least basic plans for building a coop/nest-boxes. But that's a different Storey book (and another plug). But Damerow only touched lightly on broilers, with no information whatsoever on butchering (chickens or any other species), although she did plug yet another book for that. But for this book, killing/cleaning chickens was addressed in 2 sentences telling you to have an experienced friend or neighbor teach you. Not bad advice, but while you're at it, skip the book and just keep that same friend/neighbor close by...

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