THE POULTRY KEEPER'S PROBLEMS 67 



For example, take the matter of selecting a breed or variety 

 and securing stock of that kind. Intelligent selection must be based 

 on a general knowledge of breeds and varieties. After the choice is 

 made, the selection of stock would be a very simple matter if all 

 stock of the kind desired were of the same quality. But since this 

 is not the case, the selection of stock often becomes a most per- 

 plexing matter, because, while the general average of characteristics 

 of a breed or variety as it may be described in a textbook is fairly 

 constant, the quality of the stocks of individual breeders is variable, 

 both in different stocks and in the same stock. A good decision as 

 to the kind of stock required, the type of house, or the method 

 of feeding may be made by a novice after a little study of any of 

 these matters. The building of the house then becomes a question 

 of his skill in carpentry (if he builds it himself). Learning to use the 

 ration selected becomes a question of feeding it for a little while 

 according to general directions, then gradually modifying to suit his 

 stock and conditions. But to secure such stock as he wants, it may 

 be necessary for him to buy and discard in succession the stock of 

 several different breeders. 



To get suitable foundation stock is the beginner's most difficult 

 problem. This is as true for the beginner who only wants good 

 utility stock as for one who wants exhibition stock. It should, how- 

 ever, afford some consolation to the beginner disappointed in re- 

 sults of purchases of stock to know that the problem of maintaining 

 high standards of quality or performance, either within his own 

 breeding lines or by judicious introduction of new blood, is the 

 greatest and most difficult problem of the expert breeder. The 

 novice will usually get his experience and his final start with suit- 

 able stock more cheaply if, following the policy of the old breeder, 

 he buys stock 1 only on inspection or approval, selecting or ac- 

 cepting only stock that is evidently thrifty and in good condition, 



1 Whether to buy stock or eggs is usually considered a moot question. Per- 

 sonally, from experience and observation, I believe it is better for the beginner to 

 buy stock for breeding, if for no other reason than because by so doing he gains a 

 year's experience in breeding. He may buy eggs also, if he can handle more young 

 stock than his breeders will produce, or if he wishes to get a line on the quality of 

 the stock breeders. Experienced poultrymen (soft-roaster growers excepted) do 

 not depend on purchased eggs for hatching, and even among soft-roaster growers 

 the practice of buying eggs is decreasing. 



