I am a dedicated “researcher”. Before we make any decisions or buy anything that is a big ticket item, I research until I am comfortable making a decision and spending our hard-earned money. You name it and I have researched it. Likewise, before I invest in a reference book for the bookshelf , I want to make sure I get exactly what I need. I read reviews and comments first. I may check it out at the library first, or borrow it from an acquaintance.
And so, in our pursuit of country living, alpaca/livestock husbandry, and poultry raising, I found these books so far that have helped answer lots of questions. I shop at a nearby Half-Price Books or Hastings for good values; otherwise, I get great deals on Amazon. You can set yourself up with a “wish list” and check it often to find any of your wish-list books that might be on sale at that time. Take a look and search by topic, or author, for an easier search. http://www.amazon.com/gp/homepage.html
Here are my 6 “go-to” books right now, in order by topic. Some of the “country” will also have sections on poultry.
Country living:
1. Storey,John and Martha Storey. 1999. STOREY’S BASIC COUNTRY SKILLS. Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, 564 p.
2. Emery, Carla. 2008. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COUNTRY LIVING, the original manual for living off the land & doing it yourself. Seattle: Sasquatch Publishing, 922 p.
3. Ekarius, Carol. 1999. SMALL-SCALE LIVESTOCK FARMING, a grass-based approach for health, sustainability, and profit. Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, 217 p.
Poultry:
4. Damerow, Gail. 1995. STOREY’S GUIDE TO RAISING CHICKENS, care, feeding, facilities. Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, 341 p.
Alpacas:
5. Hoffman, Clare and Asmus, Ingrid. 2nd ed. 2005. CARING FOR LLAMAS AND ALPACAS, a health and management guide. Wyoming: Pioneer Printing, 176 p.
6. Bennett, Marty McGee, THE CAMELID COMPANION, handling and training your alpacas & llamas. New York: Raccoon Press, 386 p.
Alpacas and Poultry 