TYPES OF POULTRYMEN 25 



The average day is one of ten hours, with special late hours dur- 

 ing the spring while hatching and rearing are under way. Extra 

 help is quite often employed at this time to do routine work such as 

 filling lamps, watering, and cleaning. Work on po 'iltry farms offers 

 many attractions to young men wishing work in the open. Perma- 

 nent and efficient labor is easily obtained if the employer at- 

 tempts to make the work remunerative, interesting, and enjoyable. 



The Side-line Flock. — There are two types of poultry flocks 

 which are kept as a distinct side line to other business. These 

 are the often-mentioned farm flocks and the city flock. 



The farm flock exists on over ninety-five per cent of all Amer- 

 ican farms. The great bulk of our eggs are produced in the spring 

 of the year with little care and at small cost from such flocks. 

 The average size of such a flock is from ten to one hundred birds, 

 which are usually poorly housed and insufficiently fed. More 

 interest in the poultrj'- on the part of the farmer would result in 

 more and better birds and would make poultry husbandry one 

 of the most remunerative branches of general farming. 



The city flock, located on small areas in thickly-settled sec- 

 tions, is a recent and interesting development. Studies in New 

 Jersey show that in average cities there is one bird to every two 

 inhabitants. These flocks vary in size from ten to twenty-five 

 birds, and are kept in close confinement. They are usually well 

 cared for, both as to housing and feeding. Many cities are now 

 passing ordinances regulating the keeping of birds, with the idea 

 of compelling proper sanitary surroundings. 



Auxiliary Occupations. — The poultry industry has made rapid 

 strides in its development during the past decade. This develop- 

 ment has brought about the building up of many associated fines 

 of business. These lines of effort offer pleasing and remunerative 

 occupations to many thousands of progressive poultrymen. 



The poultry judge is a product of the sporting spirit of the 

 poultryman. Poultry shows have doubled in number and popu- 

 larity in the short space of four years. With this development 

 has come a growing demand for honest, well-trained men, with 

 experience in breeding poultry, to make the awards at exhibitions. 

 Judging is usually an auxiliary occupation carried on by a breeder 

 of birds or, as is often the case, by a poultry editor. A knowledge 

 of standard requirements and honesty in making the awards are 

 the essentials to success. The field for good poultry judges is 

 attractive, and the demand is greater than the supply. 



