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Chicken Boy

By: Arthur Parkinson
Narrated by: Arthur Parkinson
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Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

A charming portrait of life in the company of hens, by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Flower Yard.

Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, Arthur Parkinson never wanted a dog, or a cat, or a pony - just hens. As a kid, he was known as 'chicken boy', a taunt Arthur now proudly reclaims with his crested coterie that includes countless hens, from Sheila the white Silkie to Clarissa the champagne-coloured Buff Cochin.

A personal and humorous memoir of Arthur's life amongst his hens, this is an invitation to discover the joy that is only possible in the company of these intriguing creatures: Pekins are friendly, Lavender Leghorns aloof, while Burford Browns have a bad habit of feather-pecking...

Having already earned renown as 'king of the small-space garden', Arthur's appreciation for the natural world is inspiring and relatable. The quiet fulfilment of hen-keeping rituals has rescued his mental health from pervasive depression. His sanctuary is the backyard: nurturing chicks who grow into happy hens and planting hardy, chicken scratch-resistant foliage.

Chicken Boy is a joyful ramble through the hen house - sleeves rolled-up - and a testament to the mutual rewards and delights of keeping hens.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Arthur Parkinson (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"Arthur's love of living things is completely infectious." (Joanna Lumley)

What listeners say about Chicken Boy

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Did not expect to cry.

I have kept garden hens in inner-city Dallas, Texas for more than 30 years, but I still learned tips from Arthur about tending them. I wrote about them in a local gardening column until I retired, and readers laughed at their antics and mourned my losses with me. Like Arthur, I am tenderhearted. I cry easily at the sight of a needy animal, but I did not expect to cry at hearing how Arthur tended to his grandmother in her last days. I listened to the book while I worked hard at autumn chores in the garden, and Arthur’s interesting chapters and soothing voice lightened the load for this worn-out, arthritic body.

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