50 Chicken Books for Kids and Adults

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Add some feathered fun to your reading list with these chicken books for kids and adults. As a school librarian who also raises chickens, I’m excited to present these books about chickens to you. Whether you’re searching for engaging children’s books about farm animals, educational nonfiction packed with chicken facts, or practical guides for adults continuing their education in backyard farming, there’s something for everyone. From delightful farm yard adventures perfect for preschool read-aloud sessions to fascinating books about the chicken life cycle activities, these favorite books cover all things chicken. Whether you’re interested in animal action stories for kids or hands-on guides for raising chickens at home, this list offers a wide selection to inspire readers of all ages.

Chicken books for kids teens and adults book covers


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Why I Love Raising Chickens

We have raised chickens on our small Pacific Northwest farm for over 20 years. With plenty of room to roam in our fenced orchard, our chickens have delighted us with fresh, nutritious eggs and amusing antics. Here I am hand-feeding one of our chickens a favorite treat, cracked corn mixed with seeds.

chicken books picture of a chicken being hand fed

Raising chickens at home offers many benefits in addition to fresh eggs, including natural pest control and eco-friendly waste management through composting. Chicken flocks provide educational opportunities, cost savings on groceries, and therapeutic benefits for mental well-being. Chickens can also contribute to sustainable living by reducing environmental impact and offering valuable fertilizer for gardens. Additionally, they bring entertainment, companionship, and the chance to engage with your community.

When they were young, our boys would sell eggs to the neighbors and kept track of their profits. It was a great way to teach kids about finances, and they learned social skills as they interacted with their customers. Read on for a list of egg-cellent titles for chicken fans and aspiring chicken farmers!

Chicken Books: Nonfiction Books for Kids

The Best Beginner’s Guide to Chickens and Chicks for Kids by Mindie Dittemore is a comprehensive guide introduces kids to the world of chickens and chicks, covering breeds, coop care, behavior, and essentials for raising healthy chickens. Written in an accessible style, it’s perfect for young readers interested in caring for poultry.

Chickens (Blastoff! Beginners: Farm Animals) by Betsy Rathburn is a beginner-friendly book that teaches kids all about chickens, including their role on the farm, basic behavior, and how they’re cared for. The book features simple language and engaging photographs, making it a great choice for early readers.

Chickens For Kids: Cluck Into The World of Chickens by Charlotte Gibbs is packed with fun facts, stunning photos, and even coloring pages, this book is an exciting and interactive way for children to explore the world of chickens. It’s ideal for kids who love animals and want to learn more about these fascinating birds.

Chicken books for kids Chickens For Kids

A Chicken’s Life Cycle (Bullfrog Books: Life Cycles) by Jamie Rice is an educational book focuses on the life cycle of a chicken, from egg to adult. It provides young readers with clear explanations and vivid pictures, perfect for teaching the basics of biology and life science.

Chickens (Who Lives in a Barn?) by Kerri Mazzarella is an engaging book that introduces children to chickens and their barnyard environment. It explores their daily activities, habits, and interactions with other animals, making it a great read for curious young minds.

Prizewinning Chickens (Prizewinning Animals) by Nancy Greenwood highlights extraordinary chickens known for their unique qualities and awards. It showcases different breeds and explains why they stand out, inspiring kids to appreciate the diversity and beauty of poultry.

Chicken Books Chickens Prizewinning Animals

Young Chicken Farmers: Tips for Kids Raising Backyard Chickens by Vickie Black is a helpful guide designed for children interested in raising chickens in their backyard. It offers practical tips on chicken care, feeding, and coop maintenance, while also teaching responsibility and the joys of keeping chickens. With easy-to-understand advice and engaging illustrations, this book is perfect for young aspiring poultry farmers.

Chicken Books: Fiction Books for Kids

Fiction Picture Books for Read Alouds (or Sing-Alongs)

Mama’s Chickens by Michelle Worthington is a heartwarming tale about a mother’s love for her chickens and the joys of caring for them. This beautifully illustrated story teaches children about compassion, responsibility, and the bonds we share with animals.

Philadelphia Chickens: A Too-Illogical Zoological Musical Review by Sandra Boynton is a playful and whimsical book combines silly stories about animals, including chickens, with a CD of delightful songs. Perfect for kids and families, it offers endless fun through music, humor, and creative storytelling.

The Chickens Are Coming! by Barbara Samuels is a humorous story follows a city family adjusting to their new backyard chickens. Full of lively illustrations and relatable moments, it’s a charming book about learning, adapting, and the occasional chaos of urban chicken-keeping.

Chicken books for kids The Chickens are Coming

Chickens to the Rescue (Barnyard Rescue) by John Himmelman is a hilarious picture book about a group of heroic chickens who spring into action to save the day on their farm. Filled with colorful illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, it’s a delightful read for kids who enjoy adventure and humor.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein is a humorous and heartwarming picture book about a little red chicken who just can’t help but interrupt bedtime stories. As her father tries to read classic tales, the eager chicken keeps jumping in to save the characters from trouble. With lively illustrations and playful storytelling, this book is perfect for children who love to participate in storytime.

Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski is a funny and adventurous story about four timid chickens who face their fears while exploring the barnyard. Each time they encounter something scary, they squawk and scatter—but eventually, they find their courage in unexpected ways. With rhythmic text and vibrant illustrations, this book is a delightful read-aloud that teaches bravery and teamwork.

Fiction Chapter Books for Kids

Kung Pow Chicken (Branches Series) by Cyndi Marko is an action-packed early chapter book series that follows Gordon Blue, an ordinary chicken who becomes a superhero after a strange accident. Alongside his little brother Benny, he takes on hilarious villains and saves the day in Fowl City. With comic-style illustrations and a fast-paced, funny narrative, this series is perfect for young readers transitioning to chapter books.

Chicken books for kids Kung Pow Chicken

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones is a charming story follows Sophie, a resourceful young girl who inherits a flock of magical chickens with extraordinary abilities. Told through letters, quizzes, and illustrations, it’s a funny and heartwarming tale about responsibility, self-discovery, and finding your voice. Bonus: This book includes an excellent easy egg breakfast dish recipe that has become a family favorite.

Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? by Kelly Jones In this sequel to the book listed above, Sophie takes on the challenge of hatching and raising more magical chickens while navigating new adventures on her farm. Packed with humor, charm, and heartfelt moments, this book continues Sophie’s journey of growth and imagination.

The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin is a witty mystery that follows J.J. Tully, a retired search-and-rescue dog, as he reluctantly helps a pair of quirky chickens solve the case of their missing siblings. A hilarious and clever story filled with twists, it’s a great choice for young mystery fans.

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin is the first in a six-book series of this zany adventures featuring a team of daring and slightly clueless chickens who solve barnyard mysteries. Full of humor, action, and quirky characters, it’s perfect for kids who love lighthearted and silly stories.

Chicken books for kids Chicken Squad

The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth is a classic story that follows young Nate Twitchell, whose chicken lays a massive egg that hatches into a dinosaur. A mix of humor, adventure, and unexpected challenges, it’s a delightful and timeless tale for readers of all ages.

Chicken Books: Nonfiction Books for Teens and Adults

Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens: Breed Selection, Facilities, Feeding, Health Care, Managing Layers & Meat Birds by Gail Damerow is a comprehensive resource covering all aspects of chicken care, from choosing the right breeds to housing, feeding, and health management. Perfect for both beginners and experienced poultry keepers.

Chicken books for teens and adults Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens

Raising Chickens: Harvest Your Own Fresh Eggs (Urban Gardening and Farming for Teens) by Bridget Heos is a beginner-friendly guide designed for teens interested in raising backyard chickens, covering everything from coop setup to egg collection.

Notes from the Henhouse: On Marrying a Poet, Raising Children and Chickens, and Writing by Elspeth Barker is a charming memoir blending reflections on family life, writing, and the joys and challenges of keeping chickens.

Joy of Keeping Chickens, Ducks, and Turkeys: A Practical Guide to Raising Backyard Poultry by Jennifer Megyesi is a practical and engaging guide to raising different types of poultry, with insights on care, feeding, and creating a sustainable flock.

Raising Chickens: The Essential Guide to Choosing and Keeping Happy, Healthy Hens by Suzie Baldwin is a straightforward handbook on selecting the right breeds, building coops, and maintaining healthy, content chickens.

The Small-Scale Poultry Flock: An All-Natural Approach to Raising and Breeding Chickens and Other Fowl for Home and Market Growers by Harvey Ussery is a detailed guide for homesteaders and small-scale farmers focused on sustainable and organic poultry practices.

Backyard Chickens for Beginners: A Practical Handbook to Raising Chickens in a Happy Backyard Flock, Choosing the Right Breed, Feeding and Health Care by Tom Lee is a beginner-friendly guide covering essential aspects of backyard chicken keeping, including breed selection and flock maintenance.

Backyard Farming: From Raising Chickens to Growing Veggies, the Beginner’s Guide to Running a Self-Sustaining Farm is a comprehensive introduction to self-sufficient living, with practical tips on raising chickens and growing food.

The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens: How to Raise a Happy Backyard Flock by Anne Kuo is a step-by-step guide for beginners on starting a backyard flock, including coop setup, feeding, and egg production.

Chicken books for teens and adults Beginner's Guide to Chickens

Hen and the Art of Chicken Maintenance: Reflections on a Life of Raising Chickens by Martin Gurdon is a humorous and heartfelt exploration of the joys and quirks of chicken keeping.

Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens: The Backyard Guide to Raising Chicks, Handling Broody Hens, Building Coops, and More by Carissa Bonham is a practical guide with expert advice on maintaining a healthy flock, from coop construction to egg-laying habits.

Living the Locavore Lifestyle: Hunting, Fishing, Gathering Wild Fruit and Nuts, Growing a Garden and Raising Chickens Toward a More Sustainable and Healthy Way of Living by Bruce Ingram is a guide to sustainable living with insights on raising chickens alongside other self-sufficient practices.

Know Your Chickens (Old Pond Books) 44 Hen Breeds from Ancona to Wyandotte, with Essential Facts on History, Country of Origin, Color, Size, Egg Production, & More, plus Full-Page Photos of Each Breed by Jack Byad is an interesting guide to 44 breeds of chickens and includes fun facts about each.

The Complete Guide to Raising Chickens: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply by Tara Layman Williams is a detailed, accessible guide covering all aspects of chicken care, ideal for beginners and experienced keepers alike.

Getting Laid: Everything You Need to Know About Raising Chickens, Gardening, and Preserving – With Over 100 Recipes! by Barb Webb is a practical and entertaining guide to sustainable living, featuring chicken-raising tips and delicious recipes.

Raising Chickens for Dummies by Kimberley Willis is a beginner-friendly, easy-to-follow guide covering all the essentials of raising chickens, from choosing breeds to managing a healthy flock.

Chickens: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising and Keeping Hens by Laura Bryant is a practical, visually appealing guide that walks readers through the basics of chicken care with step-by-step instructions.

Chickens in Five Minutes a Day: Raising, Tending, and Getting Eggs from a Small Backyard Flock Made Easy is a simple and time-efficient approach to chicken care, perfect for busy backyard farmers.

Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens… Naturally by Lisa Steele is a natural approach to chicken keeping with tips on organic feeding, herbal remedies, and holistic flock care.

Chicken books for teens and adults Fresh Eggs Daily

My Pet Chicken Handbook: Sensible Advice and Savvy Answers for Raising Backyard Chickens by Lissa Lucas is a practical guide tailored for chicken keepers looking to treat their flock as beloved pets.

Raising Chickens by Kim Pezza is a concise guide to raising chickens for eggs and meat, offering practical advice on feeding, housing, and care.

Storey’s Guide to Raising Poultry: Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Guineas, Game Birds by Glenn Drowns is a thorough reference for raising various types of poultry, with expert advice on breed selection and care.

Chick Days: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens from Hatchlings to Laying Hens by Jenna Woginrich is a fun, beginner-friendly guide that follows the journey of raising chickens from chicks to productive egg-layers.

Play Chicken Bingo

Help students learn chicken vocabulary terms by playing Chicken Bingo. This free virtual bingo template may be played using Google Slides. Make your own copy, then replace the free images and words with chicken images and vocabulary, then reuse the template as many times as you like.

Winter Virtual Bingo Teacher Copy

It’s fully customizable when you make your own copy and includes a teacher page, too!

Get my free virtual bingo board!

More Resources for Readers

The best way to encourage a love of reading is to provide kids with many opportunities to engage with a wide variety of books that are of interest to them. At Book and Tech Tips I want to make it easy for you to find great books kids will love. Over the years I’ve also discovered some helpful tools for connecting kids, adults, and books.

Online digital libraries are one very handy way to do this. Epic! is one of our favorite online libraries. It’s full of over 25,000 books, learning videos, quizzes and more for kids 12 and under…and it’s free for educators. Click here to learn more and sign up.

Another great free digital library is ReadingIQ. It’s also free for educators and has a wide selection of titles.

If you download the free Libby app, you can access many digital audiobooks from your public library. Audiobooks are perfect for car trips!

Looking for a book that is out of print? Try searching Thriftbooks online. There are over 13 million titles available.

Looking for More Book Ideas?

If you enjoyed this list of chicken books, you might like these book lists as well:

Have a wonderful week, and enjoy reading books about chickens!

First Name Signature Conclusion

 

 

Lisa Mitchell is a former classroom teacher, now a school librarian, who likes to use her job as an excuse to stay up far too late reading books and noodling around with tech tools. To learn more about what this website has to offer, click on over to the About page.

2 thoughts on “50 Chicken Books for Kids and Adults”

  1. Thank you for this excellent list of chicken books! We are hoping to add chickens to our small acreage soon, so I was looking for some great books about chickens.

    Reply
    • Wonderful! Glad these chicken books are what you’re looking for. Have fun starting your flock!

      Reply

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