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One of the secrets of successful chicken raising is to keep them 

 constantly growing. To do this, no condition can be tolerated 

 which gives the animal a check in its development. As soon as 

 the young pullets can be distinguished from the cockerels, the 

 birds of different sexes should be separated, and the pullets at any 

 rate should be given free and abundant pasture range. They will 

 thus obtain a sure supply of green food, and will usually find con- 

 siderable animal food in the form of grasshoppers, worms and 

 various insects, which will help to balance the grain food com- 

 monly supplied them. The poultryman is fortunate if he is able 

 to pasture the growing birds where they can easily find running 

 water to drink. 



Selling the Products. 



Sell direct to the consumer, if possible. Dispose of the poultry 

 products at the time when the condition of the same and the state 

 of the market yield the greatest net profit. In some localities a 

 chicken will bring more as a broiler (at one or two pounds) or as 

 a young roaster (three to four pounds) than at maturity, and the 

 food and care necessary for the added growth and weight may be 

 saved. In culling out the chicks to be killed and sold as dressed 

 poultry, do not sacrifice the promising young thoroughbreds. 

 Save them for breeders, to replenish your stock, and, in case of a 

 surplus, especially of cockerels, to sell to other poultry men. In dis- 

 posing of eggs, some poultry keepers find it profitable to sell to 

 special customers, who are ready to pay more than the market 

 price for them. Ordinarily, however, the eggs will go into the 

 regular market. Even in this case it pays to be careful that the 

 product is fresh laid, clean and uniform in size and color. This 

 problem of the successful disposal of poultry products after the 

 labor and care of their production is one which varies greatly, ac- 

 cording to the conditions in each case. It must be studied out on 

 the spot. Fortunate will it be for the profits if the poultry keeper 

 is a shrewd salesman. One thing at least should be insisted upon : 

 the farmer's wife or son or daughter who undertakes to care for 

 the poultry should receive the income which comes from all prod- 

 ucts sold, and full value for all eggs and chickens furnished for 

 the table.. The laborer in the poultry yard is worthy of his hire. 



The Poultry Keeper should be an Account Keeper. 



One thing further I desire to emphasize most earnestly ; that is, 

 the keeping of records and accounts. Here is where most farmers 

 and poultrymen lack. They do not know actually how their busi- 

 ness stands financially, and are really often working at a great 

 disadvantage, because they do not actually realize which part of 



