Chicken Boy cover art

Chicken Boy

My Life with Hens

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Chicken Boy

By: Arthur Parkinson
Narrated by: Arthur Parkinson
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A captivating testament to the mutual rewards and delights of keeping chickens, by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Flower Yard

Most of us want a dog, or a cat, or a pony when we are young – but for Arthur Parkinson, it was always hens. Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, the other kids in the playground called him 'Chicken Boy'. The quiet fulfilment of keeping hens became his sanctuary, a tonic for mental and physical health, a connection with his family and the natural world. Illustrated with Arthur's own characterful watercolours and photographs of his ‘girls’, Chicken Boy is a one-of-a-kind memoir of a life in nature.

©2023 Arthur Parkinson (P)2023 Penguin Audio

 Animals Biological Sciences Birds Gardening & Horticulture Outdoors & Nature Pets & Animal Care Science Sustainable & Green Living Gardening Witty Dogs Animal husbandry

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Why Women Grow cover art
Tales from Jimmy's Farm cover art
The Farmer's Wife cover art
Under the Henfluence cover art
Keeping Hens cover art
Charles Dowding’s No Dig Gardening: Course 1 cover art
The Book of Wilding cover art
The Backyard Parables cover art
Fearless cover art
The Starter Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens cover art
One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up cover art
My Garden World cover art
How to Keep Dinosaurs cover art
Heartburn cover art
Rooted cover art
Birds, Beasts, and Bedlam cover art

Critic reviews

Poetic... Parkinson writes with great lyricism... His knowledgeable enthusiasm is infectious (Bee Wilson)
A joy from the very first page. Arthur's beautiful, lively and accurate drawings of these enchanting feathery people are irresistible, and I just love the way he writes. I am now jealous of fox-free areas where chickens may be kept. The photographs are award-winning: the whole thing is bliss (Joanna Lumley)
This hugely informative, joyful and amusing book has me desperately wondering and hoping that I could, after all, find space in my small garden for a few chickens. Maybe the rhubarb will have to go (John Wright, author of THE FORAGER'S CALENDAR)
All stars
Most relevant  
A beautiful account of a life with hens, their care and joy.
Arthur adds in his own biography along the way, which gives the book a great honesty and depth.
Filled with love and the best advice for hen keepers, but written with such beauty and attention to detail.
Thank you very much Arthur, yet another gorgeous book.

Beautiful account of a life with Hens

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am so pleased that I found this title. It is one of those that I will listen to more than once. As a keeper of a small flock of hens it was wonderful to listen to someone who deeply respects and cares for these intriguing creatures, whilst picking up practical tips and advice along the way. Anyone curious about chickens would also enjoy this. The author's performance was engaging and relaxing to listen to. I found the narrative to be very open, generously honest and joyful. I am thankful to the author for sharing his story.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A wonderful and inspiring listen for a new or experienced hen keeper. Practical advise, inspiring words and heartwarming story.

Heartwarming and practical book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A joy to listen to. A practical hen-keeping must-read chock full of chicken tips. Wistfully romantic and touchingly personal too. Will be buying the book and all.

Delightful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent book from start to finish, after 35 years of poultry keeping/showing this book has reignited my love for all things fowl, I related to so much and picked up some tips along the way, ideal for the novice or expert keeper or even just an insight into us mad poultry folk.

Poultry mad and loved it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Love this book . Wonderfully narrated and captivating. Please Arthur another book please soon.
I have learnt so much about an important subject .

Fabulous book . It makes one want to get a flock of chickens first , and then meet Arthur Parkinson.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Full of knowledge and love, beautifully written, with moving personal anecdotes and glorious visual imagery.

Beautifully written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.