Synopsis
Stephen Creen-Armytage, author/photographer of Abrams' enchanting Dudley: The Litter Terrier that Could, has now produced a unique adult book, introducing the bizarre and beautiful world of exotic ornamental chickens. His startling pictures present an international selection of breeds ranging from the Bearded Silkie and the crested Polish to the majestic Phoenix, whose tail feathers can exceed 10 feet in length.
Chickens of all sizes, shapes, and colors parade through these pages, as Green-Armytage captures the surprising and expressive personality of these amazing birds. For breeders, this will be a volume they must own; for everyone else, it will be a revelation, prized for the sheer enjoyment of the striking photographs and the extraordinary animals they portray.
Library Journal
Anyone who thinks of chickens merely as flocks of egg-laying machines or as food for the table will be in for a surprise when they read this book. Author-photographer Green-Armytage, whose pictures have appeared in a number of books and magazines, visited poultry shows and individual fanciers in the United States and abroad to capture the approximately 160 full-color photographs displayed here. Many of these photos are, like the subjects themselves, extraordinary. Here chickens stand out as individuals with their own distinctive colors, shapes, and sizes. Most are quite beautiful. Many are unusual, even exotic, with crests, beards, combs that look like horns, long tails, no tails, feathered feet, and naked necks. Green-Armytage also examines feather patterns and textures, heads and combs, feet and spurs, and even eggs. The text consists of a brief introductory chapter followed by an alphabetical list, with descriptions, of the several dozen breeds portrayed. More detailed information and the official standards of all breeds exhibited in the United States can be found in The American Standard of Perfection (American Poultry Association, last revised in 1998). Recommended for leisure, animal, photography, and other collections.--William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.