POULTRY-CRAFT. 17 



CHAPTER II. 



Location. Situation. 



17. Definitions of Terms. By the location of a poultry plant, i* 

 meant its position with reference to markets, and as determined or affecceu 

 by the general climatic conditions. Situation means the position of ;i 

 poultry house, or the buildings constituting a poultry plant, as determined 

 by those things which directly affect fowls, or increase or diminish the labor 

 of caring for them. Every poultry keeper has to consider matters relating to 

 the availability of particular sites for poultry houses. The question of 

 location hardly needs attention from those not keeping poultry for profit. 



18. Locating for Business. Poultry Farming. A good location is 

 as necessary in poultry keeping as in any business. A wrong choice of 

 location has caused many a failure. The first, and most important thing 

 to consider is the matter of markets. This subject must be examined from 

 several points of view. One whose capital is large enough to equip a large 

 plant, and keep it running until it pays expenses, should decide first what 

 branch, or branches, of the business are to be followed, and make choice of 

 a location accordingly. If market poultrying is to be a specialty, he must 

 locate within quick shipping distance of a large city, and should give the 

 preference to a district containing many towns and small cities. In sections 

 where a large part of the population is engaged in agriculture, the supply of 

 eggs and poultry is, during the greater part of the year, in excess of the 

 demand. As nearly all of this supply comes from small flocks kept under 

 such conditions that the profits from each flock, in effect, equal the proceeds 

 of the flock, agricultural districts are usually poor locations for special 

 market poultry farming. It might be said that, except in the most densely 

 populated districts, in proportion as poultry keeping is made profitable by the 

 general farmers in any locality it becomes unprofitable to the specialist. 

 This has been well illustrated, within a few years, in the state of Kansas, 

 where, in the face of a notable increase of the poultry product of the state, it 

 was reported that many of the large plants near Kansas City had gone out of 

 business, unable to continue at a profit in competition with the farmers, 

 whose output of eggs and poultry was year after year increasing in quantity 

 and improving in quality. The poultry farmer must have a nearby market* 

 where strictly fresh eggs and fancy dressed poultry will always command a 

 premium. Thus it is seen that in this country the exclusive poultry farm can 

 be made profitable only in limited areas. To be as exact as possible it 



