ORDINARY GOOD STOCK FOR BLGINNLR5. 97 



not justify the arrangement. The special adaptabilities of the different breeds to different pur- 

 poses are more theoretical ur fancied than real. Thus Leghorns, though easier to get eggs from 

 than heavier breeds, aud generally steadier layers in summer because they are non-sitters, 

 frequently surprise the man who would keep them for summer layers, by laying as well in 

 winter as his supposed winter layers, while the difference between the two kinds for the year 

 may be insignificant. The fact is that in general the different breeds lay about alike when 

 given good care such as those trying to make poultry pay commonly give their fowls, and in 

 time the poultryman realizes that the few practical advantages of keeping two types of fouls 

 are about offset by the disadvantage of having to maintain two stocks, and the frequent incon- 

 venience in adapting the accommodation* to the different habits of the fowls. 



What Quality of Stock? 



The next question of interest to the beginner is the quality of stock to buy. Beginners 

 usually purchase low priced stock that is, low priced from the fancier's standpoint. From 

 the beginner's point of view, two or three dollars for a female, and three to five dollars for a 

 male is extravagance. He may pay such prices, but prefers not to let his acquaintances not 

 much interested in poultry know the amounts. Occasionally a beginner will pay much higher 

 prices. If financially able to do so, beginners often buy the highest priced birds. Their idea 

 is that by so doing they buy a place and a standing among the foremost breeders. 



There certainly is an advantage in buying high quality stock, and it may be from every con- 

 sideration the best policy for one who is financially able to do so, and who knows how to main- 

 tain its quality. It is on the latter point that most beginners fail. No money can buy skill in 

 breeding except money which may be paid to a breeder for birds he has produced, or as salary. 

 His goods and his services may be bought if he is willing to part with them for a consideration, 

 but this kind of knowledge and skill is not to be had separate from individuals who have it. 



As we saw in the lessons on breeding, it requires quite as careful selection to maintain excel- 

 lence in fowls as it did to secure it. In unskillful hands the best of stocks are apt to deteriorate 

 rapidly. A single season of unskillful management of the breeding stock may put the stock of 

 the man who bought the highest priced birds he could get on a level with that of one who 

 bought much cheaper stock. Unless one is in a position to get expert services in mating bis 

 Block it is as well for him not to pay extremely high prices. 1 would not say that he should 

 limit himself to the lower figures I have mentioned. He might go several times as high, and if 

 he proves an apt student of mating problems and successful in growing chicks, have results 

 that justify the larger expenditure for stock, but as a rule the poultryman who buys extra good 

 stock at the start does not establish his stock on that foundation. The rule is that in his inex- 

 perience and unskillfulness his first stock goes back, and when he realizes this and sees where 

 and why he failed he buys anew for foundation stock, and on this stock bought when he has a 

 measure of experience to show him how to use it, he builds up bis permanent line. Hence in 

 buying ordinary good stock at about the range of prices mentioned, the beginner with poultry 

 is s'Qiply applying the common principle in use wherever people work with materials which 

 may be damaged or lost in manipulation, of using rather cheap material to experiment with. 



Beginning With Stock or Eggs. 



The determination of this question is settled in part by the season when tbebeginning is 

 made people are going into poultry keeping at all seasons. Unless the start is making dui ing 

 the late winter or spring, that is, during the hatching season, beginning with eggs would not be 

 considered (except in the hatching of winter chickens, in which line, as stated, most growers 

 buy their eggs for hatching). For those beginning at times when the stttrt might be made with 

 either stock or eggs, it is often a puzzle to decide which way to begin. Results by either 

 method of starting are so variable that one has to be cautious about making positive recom- 

 mendations, but I believe that the greater number of satisfactory beginnings are made from 

 stock. Perhaps as good away as any is to try both ways, divide the amount available fur 

 the purpose, buy a few fowls, and invest the rest in eggs. Though there is no sureness about 

 results, unless luck goes entirely against the beginner, he is likely to get some good chickens 

 from fowls mated as they were sent him by the breeder from whom he bought them. But in 

 buying eggs there is always the possibility of getting a good hatch and a lot of exceptionally 



