Raising Chickens For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 18

More than Ten Misconceptions about Chickens, Eggs, and So On

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discerning the truth in what you read and hear about chickens

Allaying fears about bird flu, growth hormones, and antibiotics

Dispelling myths about what determines egg taste and quality

Oh, the things that are said about chickens! The very word chicken brings up the image of a coward, but chickens aren’t really cowards. We talk about falsehoods throughout the book, but here’s a compilation of the most common myths and misconceptions about chickens and eggs that you may encounter as a chicken owner — or chicken-keeper wannabe. Maybe some of these bits of misinformation are actually keeping you from getting some chickens of your own, so here we clear them up once and for all.

And when you’re out there throwing around chicken references like “dumb cluck” or “hen-pecked,” remember that while some are based on fact, most are misconceptions about chicken behavior. Knowing a bit about chickens from reading this book and actually observing chickens will help you become a champion for the cause of chicken-keeping.

Bird Flu Is a Risk to Reckon With

Some people want to keep chickens out of cities and ...