I have neither inclination nor conducive circumstances to raise chickens anytime soon (although I generally enjoy reading about agrarian life and have always been fond of chickens), but Chicken Boy ranks among my favorite reads in recent memory.

His writing and photography are regularly featured in the Daily Telegraph , and have appeared in The Times , Country Life and Country Living , among other magazines and newspapers; he has also featured in BBC Two's Gardeners' World . Illustrated with Arthur’s own characterful watercolours and photographs of his ‘girls’, and laden with practical hen-keeping tips, gardening advice and introductions to common, rare and pure breeds, Chicken Boy is a one-of-a-kind memoir of a life in nature.Arthur Parkinson is a young British gardening expert who, judging by his six-figure Instagram follower number (which I now count myself amongst), is apparently pretty well known, although he was unfamiliar to me before I encountered Chicken Boy. And to be able to walk round a garden full of flowers and chickens with him talking and laughing and sharing stories. The only problem with this author is you quickly want more, more words, more flowers, more memories, more hens, more thoughts. It is also the book for people who already keep hens as there is something to learn on almost every page. From the allotments of Nottinghamshire to Chatsworth and an unlikely friendship with the late Duchess of Devonshire, a famous hen-keeper, this memoir – illustrated by the author – tells the story of the love and satisfaction to be found in caring for living things.

Parkinson’s gentle, passionate voice shines through his writing, which is unpretentious and accessible. Arthur Parkinson is the author of The Pottery Gardener and The Flower Yard , and the co-host, with Sarah Raven, of the popular Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange podcast. Kudos to the publisher for creating a book that feels special and high quality, with a gorgeous cover design and color scheme that complement Parkinson’s top notch chicken illustrations and photographs, which are included on at least every other page and add so much to the experience of the book. He has written several books on gardening most notably The Flower Yard and his first book on chickens is due out at Easter 2022.Parkinson is charming and knowledgeable, passionate about chickens and the way of life he has chosen and he is very generous in the way he shares it with the reader. Additional note that this is the most beautiful and satisfying hardback book I now own, the format and texture and every page so well thought through n produced. Join Arthur Parkinson as he shares his journey of raising chickens and finding joy in his feathery companions.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products.I really enjoyed this book and can also highly recommend his previous books The Flower Yard and The Pottery Gardener. From the local allotments and his nan’s back garden, to Chatsworth and an unlikely friendship with the late Duchess of Devonshire, a famous hen-keeper, Chicken Boy tells the story of the love and satisfaction to be found in caring for living things. Came away with a much deeper understanding of my hens, what they need and how I can improve their lives for the better. A perfectly balanced memoir, hen keeping guide and art/photo exhibition of the joys and realities of keeping hens.