Tara Kindschi is an avid supporter of youth and the poultry hobby. Tara's work for these causes include acting as Sauk County's Poultry Superintendent, volunteering as a county-wide 4-H Poultry Project Leader and serving as Show Secretary for the Wisconsin International Poultry Club. She is also an active member of the Badger Poultry Club. She has mixed a graphic design career with rural, agriculture inspired projects whenever possible. She resides in Sauk County Wisconsin on a small-acreage, historic farm with her husband, son, and an array of animal species including poultry, of course!

Raising chickens teaches more than animal husbandry. It’s a hands-on chance to learn the character- and community-building principles and practices that 4-H is all about. And, of course, it’s fun. This easy-to-follow, illustrated guide introduces beginners to the basics of how to raise chickens. Whether you’re a 4-H’r, a first-time poultry owner, or a future egg farmer, The 4-H Guide to Raising Chickens provides step-by-step instructions for your project. From selecting a breed to caring for chicks, from housing and fencing to feeding and preventing or treating illness, the guide presents simple, straightforward information about chickens of all kinds, raised for pets, eggs, or meat. It also includes a glossary and list of resources.

This title has everything one ever wanted to know about chickens but didn’t know enough to ask. Eight chapters divide the text into broad topics such as getting started, choosing a breed, housing equipment, and exhibiting chickens. The double-column text takes nothing for granted as far as basic knowledge is concerned. Even so, it is not insulting to more-knowledgeable readers, and not only explains “how,” but also “why.” Line drawings and charts give additional information, and the excellent color photography is profuse–at least one photo appears on almost every page. Captions are usually informative. The final chapter on resources contains a list of hatcheries by state; a list of chicken-breed clubs and associations; mail-order poultry-supply sources; books, magazines, newspapers; and general and university Web sites. This title is so thorough it should not be limited to juvenile readers. Every county extension office and any library serving a rural community should own it.–Eldon Younce, formerly at Harper Elementary School, KS