CHAPTER VIII 



SYSTEMS OF POULTRY FARMING 



Various methods are followed in keeping poultry and it 

 is well at the outset to form a clear conception of the busi- 

 ness of poultry husbandry in its different aspects. 



Mixed Husbandry. The great bulk of the poultry and 

 egg supply of the country is produced under a system of 

 mixed husbandry. This type of farming constitutes the 

 most promising field for increasing the production of 

 poultry staples. Under present conditions poultry and 

 eggs are produced at greater profit by the general farmer 

 than by any other class of poultry-keepers. Poultry- 

 keeping fits in well with about, any system or type of farm- 

 ing. It is usually a side line, though sometimes it is the 

 leading feature of the farm. The farmer may or may not 

 specialize in poultry-keeping. Mixed husbandry may be 

 carried on where the production of poultry and eggs is the 

 leading feature and brings in the largest revenue of any 

 branch of the farming operations. 



Specialization. This in poultry-keeping does not neces- 

 sarily mean that the poultry-keeper must confine himself 

 exclusively to poultry production. He may be a poultry 

 specialist and grow the feed for his poultry and a large 

 part of the food for the family. Specialization does not 

 mean one-crop farming. The railroad business is a highly 

 specialized business, but the railroad grows more than one 

 kind of crop on its right-of-way. There is a freight crop 

 and a passenger crop, and other crops, such as express, 

 mail, etc. If the railroads were to specialize on passengers 

 alone they would probably fail to make ends meet. 



The best poultry specialization is that which makes the 



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