In Where to Find Chickens, author Peter Henderson delves into the fascinating history of farming and poultry. The book traces the development of the chicken from its origins in Australia to its flourishing popularity as a companion of humans in dozens of countries today. Although Henderson provides a lot of information about the history and current state of farming, the real meat is in how he examines how we use and think about chickens, and how their lives can enrich ours. The book describes the fascinating journey of a bird through its natural habitat and its experience on four continents across the world. The key is to be honest and realistic, while still providing a colorful portrait of this bird that has touched the lives of so many.
One of the most surprising aspects of the book: is the very casual way in which its ideas are presented. Throughout Where to Find Chickens, Henderson simply refers to it as “chickens,” without giving any further context or explanation. Throughout this book, chickens are dismissed as simple creatures, with little complexity or personality. However, this thinking becomes very problematic when the book takes a serious look at how these birds have coped with climate change and other environmental changes over time.
In What the Birds Eat, author Holly Berry turns: the story of chickens into an epic story of resistance. Using ancient Babylonian clay tablets as the primary source of her information, Berry transforms this simple book into a story of heroism, determination, and even tragedy. In this book, one learns that these birds are more than just food: they are members of a complex community that works together through their rituals and traditions.
In The Children of the Stone: author Kevin Dunn offers another perspective on the life of chickens. Unlike What the Birds Eat, this book delves more deeply into how these birds have coped with changing environments. As opposed to a focus on how food is gathered and used, What the Birds Eat peels away at how these animals have adapted to their environment.
While the basic plot of What the Birds Eat: is about chickens and how they are able to coexist with the environment while eating their natural diet, Dunn provides more in-depth insights into each character’s role within their community. This book provides one of the best examples of an ecologist using cultural conservation to explain the science behind a species’ ecological processes. It provides a unique perspective on the lives of animals and how they interact with their environment.
In addition to providing a scientific explanation of why these animals exist: what makes them sick, and what they eat, What the Birds Eat also provides an interesting look into the daily life of chickens. By looking beyond the simple story of where to find chickens, this book offers much more in-depth information on the lives of these animals.
If you are a fan of birds, this book will appeal to you not only because it is a fun and entertaining read, but because it provides you with the opportunity to learn something new about your favorite animals.
