For generations, people in the countryside have kept chickens, mainly for the eggs. Now, more and more people, in town as well as countryside, are enjoying the pleasure of keeping hens in the garden and reaping the reward of those fresh eggs every day. Virginia Shirt has lived with chickens for over 15 years so her knowledge of these fascinating birds is conditioned by practical experience. Her book is a revelation to every aspiring enthusiast. Concentrating initially on the very first steps, the book goes on to deal with feeding and rearing chickens and comprehensively covers matters relating to health and disease.