Once upon a Flock - 9781451698701

This delightful memoir about life with a spirited, sometimes reckless flock of backyard chickens—inspired by the author’s popular blog, “Scratch and Peck”—includes color photographs and imaginative illustrations throughout.

When longtime illustrator and lover of power tools Lauren Scheuer was looking for something new to build, she got the idea to raise backyard chickens, which would necessitate a fun coop-building project. As soon as her newborn chicks arrived in the mail her whole family fell in love with the little bundles of fluff. Not just colorful lawn ornaments, the birds proved to have endearing individual personalities—and wild adventures ensued.

Once Upon a Flock tells the whimsical, wonderful stories of Lauren’s backyard chickens, their friendships, rivalries, and secrets. Lauren’s flock includes Hatsy, the little dynamo; Lil’White, the evil Orpington; and Pigeon, the fixer-upper chicken. We meet Lucy, a special needs hen who bonds with Lauren and invites her into an intimate friendship. And we witness the transformation of Lauren’s dog Marky from chicken-predator to proud watchdog. By enthusiastically immersing herself in the flock, Lauren discovers that love, loss, passion and resilience are not only parts of the human experience, but of the chicken experience as well.

Throughout the book, Scheuer documents the humor and drama of the flock’s adventures with beautiful photos and charming illustrations. At once humorous, poignant, informative, and quirky, Once Upon a Flock is a feathered tale like no other.