Gathering fresh eggs laid by chickens in your backyard may sound idyllic, but keeping the birds healthy requires some special knowledge. Avian influenza, salmonella, predators, food safety, choosing the correct feed, what’s snake oil and what’s not, and how to pick the right breed for you are just some of the common chicken conundrums people want practical science-based information about.

The new book “Dr. Cluck’s Backyard Chickens,” published by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and available in paperback and hardbound, provides backyard chicken owners with science-based advice for poultry care at every life stage.

This fun-to-read guide is the first comprehensive how-to book that is peer-reviewed, poultry vet-approved and reads like your favorite sitcom.

Read full news release from UC Davis ANR