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telurin's review
No throughline, too anthropomorphic, doesn't understand bird behavior. Meandering.
thatokiebird's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Under the Henfluence is a must-read for anyone to understand both backyard chickens, and a bit of the chicken and egg industries in general. It's part-memoir, part educational anecdotes about the world of chickens. When I adopted three backyard chickens from a friend who was moving, I was immediately smitten with them. Another friend recommended reading this book as a way to better understand chickens without it being a technical dry how to book, and it was exactly the type of book I wanted to read at this time.
The author really dives into the world after adopting her own day-old chicks, by touring different aspects of the industry such as a hatchery, chicken therapy-animals, wild chickens, even beauty pageant for chickens show. It was illuminating looking at chickens in all sorts of different angles and what we can learn from them. Some of course was heartbreaking, but was written with observation versus straight up vehement shaming. (I did the shaming loudly in my brain, specifically how chickens are treated in the meat industry.) So although some is hard to read, it's also important and illuminating and interesting. I read the ebook version checked out from my library over the course of about a month.
The author really dives into the world after adopting her own day-old chicks, by touring different aspects of the industry such as a hatchery, chicken therapy-animals, wild chickens, even beauty pageant for chickens show. It was illuminating looking at chickens in all sorts of different angles and what we can learn from them. Some of course was heartbreaking, but was written with observation versus straight up vehement shaming. (I did the shaming loudly in my brain, specifically how chickens are treated in the meat industry.) So although some is hard to read, it's also important and illuminating and interesting. I read the ebook version checked out from my library over the course of about a month.
alongapath's review
4.0
How could I resist another book about chicken-keeping? I'm powerless!
Danovich and I would get along famously. I spend a lot of time telling others about my flock of 12 and trying to show them that chickens are truly pets. Some come when they're called, some like to play games with me, some hop on my lap for early morning snuggles and some come right over to tell me that they are sick or scared. Danovich has the same experiences with her flock and is spreading the word with her cute, touching and devastating tales of chicken-keeping.
Sandwiched in between all the stories, Danovich digs into the world of chickens - from visiting a hatchery to attending a chicken-fancier show, from tracing the history of industrialized egg and meat production to the perils of being an unwanted rooster in a hen's world.
Although the deep dives into these areas was comprehensive and informative, it felt too much like a textbook required reading. Frankly I was bored and wanted to get back to the cute stories again.
I suppose that this ⬆️ is exactly the problem with educating people about chickens. Most people don't want to be schooled in the dark side of industrial animal agriculture and just want to be surprised and entertained by the funny antics of this atypical pet as they ask for a second helping of wings.
This is a great read for anyone - whether you watch regular episodes of 'Chicken TV' from your porch or prefer your chicken with hot sauce and football.
Danovich doesn't lecture or try to persuade you to become vegan. She simply gives a window into the lives of the most populous animal on the planet.
Danovich and I would get along famously. I spend a lot of time telling others about my flock of 12 and trying to show them that chickens are truly pets. Some come when they're called, some like to play games with me, some hop on my lap for early morning snuggles and some come right over to tell me that they are sick or scared. Danovich has the same experiences with her flock and is spreading the word with her cute, touching and devastating tales of chicken-keeping.
Sandwiched in between all the stories, Danovich digs into the world of chickens - from visiting a hatchery to attending a chicken-fancier show, from tracing the history of industrialized egg and meat production to the perils of being an unwanted rooster in a hen's world.
Although the deep dives into these areas was comprehensive and informative, it felt too much like a textbook required reading. Frankly I was bored and wanted to get back to the cute stories again.
I suppose that this ⬆️ is exactly the problem with educating people about chickens. Most people don't want to be schooled in the dark side of industrial animal agriculture and just want to be surprised and entertained by the funny antics of this atypical pet as they ask for a second helping of wings.
This is a great read for anyone - whether you watch regular episodes of 'Chicken TV' from your porch or prefer your chicken with hot sauce and football.
Danovich doesn't lecture or try to persuade you to become vegan. She simply gives a window into the lives of the most populous animal on the planet.