CHAPTER XXII 



OCCUPATIONS RELATED TO AVICULTURE 



The value of a knowledge of domestic birds is not limited to 

 the use which may be made of it in keeping them for profit or 

 for pleasure. Any occupation in which a great many people are 

 interested affords opportunities to combine the knowledge relating 

 to it with special knowledge or skill in other lines, to the advan- 

 tage of those who are able to do so. Just as the large market or 

 fancy poultry business may develop from a small flock kept to 

 supply the owner's table or to give him a little recreation, many 

 special occupations grow out of particular interests of avicul- 

 turists. Some of these have been mentioned incidentally in 

 preceding chapters. In this chapter the principal occupations 

 associated with aviculture will be discussed both in their rela- 

 tion to that subject and with respect to their possible interest for 

 those who plan to devote themselves to lines of work which 

 would qualify them for special service in aviculture. 



Judging fancy poultry and pigeons. There is the same dif- 

 ference between selecting one's own birds according to quality 

 and judging the birds of others in competition that there is 

 between performing well in a friendly game and performing 

 well in a competition where the stakes are important and feeling 

 runs high. Many fanciers who are good breeders and also good 

 judges under other conditions make poor judges in competitions. 

 In judging at shows decisions must be made quickly, there is 

 little opportunity to rectify mistakes, and if a judge makes 

 serious blunders he is severely criticized. A person who de- 

 liberates a long time before coming to a decision, and who is 

 very sensitive to criticisms of his errors, even though he knows 



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