The most comprehensive guide to date on raising all-natural poultry for the small-scale farmer, homesteader, and professional grower. The Small-Scale Poultry Flock offers a practical and integrative model for working with chickens and other domestic fowl, based entirely on natural systems.

Readers will find information on growing (and sourcing) feed on a small scale, brooding (and breeding) at home, and using poultry as insect and weed managers in the garden and orchard. Ussery's model presents an entirely sustainable system that can be adapted and utilized in a variety of scales, and will prove invaluable for beginner homesteaders, growers looking to incorporate poultry into their farm, or poultry farmers seeking to close their loop. Ussery offers extensive information on:

• The definition of an integrated poultry flock (imitation of natural systems, integrating patterns, and closing the circle)
• Everything you need to know about your basic chicken (including distinctive points about anatomy and behavior that are critical to management)
Extended information on poultry health and holistic health care, with a focus on prevention
• Planning your flock (flock size, choosing breeds, fowl useful for egg vs. meat production, sourcing stock)
• How to breed and brood the flock (including breeding for genetic conservation), including the most complete guide to working with broody hens available anywhere
• Making and mixing your own feed (with tips on equipment, storage, basic ingredients, technique, grinding and mixing)
• Providing more of the flock's feed from sources grown or self-foraged on the homestead or farm, including production of live protein feeds using earthworms and soldier grubs
• Using poultry to increase soil fertility, control crop damaging insects, and to make compost-including systems for pasturing and for tillage of cover crops and weeds
• Recipes for great egg and poultry dishes (including Ussery's famous chicken stock!)
• And one of the best step-by-step poultry butchering guides available, complete with extensive illustrative photos.

No other book on raising poultry takes an entirely whole-systems approach, or discusses producing homegrown feed and breeding in such detail. This is a truly invaluable guide that will lead farmers and homesteaders into a new world of self-reliance and enjoyment.

1. Why bother?
2. The integrated small-scale flock
3. Your basic bird
4. Planning the flock
5. Starting the flock
6. Housing
7. Manure management in the poultry house : the joys of deep litter
8. Watering
9. Pasturing the flock
10. Managing the pastured flock using electronet
11. Mobile shelters
12. Putting the flock to work
13. Chickens in the garden
14. A question of balance
15. Thoughts on feeding
16. Purchased feeds
17. Making your own feeds
18. Feeding the flock from home resources
19. Cultivating recomposers for poultry feed
20. One big happy family
21. Protecting the flock from predators
22. Helping the flock stay healthy
23. Managing the winter flock
24. Other domestic fowl
25. Breeding for conservation and breed improvement
26. Managing the breeding season
27. Working with broody hens
28. Butchering poultry
29. Poultry in the kitchen
30. Serving small local markets
Epilogue : The big picture
Appendices