20 POULTR?IY-CRAFT. 
the start furnish the quickest, surest, most evenly distributed returns; while in 
other localities it will be better to make such a combination as the demands 
of the market, the amount of capital on hand, and the skill of the poultryman 
allow. At least a slight general acquaintance with the whole subject of 
poultry keeping is necessary before one can decide what to do and what not 
to do in any given case. 
23. Situation.— General Remarks.— Though certain surroundings are 
more agreeable to fowls than others, and under favoring conditions they are 
handled at least cost for food and labor, there is nothing in the nature of 
domestic fowls to prevent their being thrifty and profitable in circumstances 
quite the reverse of those most agreeable. Indeed, it is coming to be well 
understood that, within reasonable limits, restraints on the natural tendencies 
of fowls are beneficial. Like all domestic animals, they can be accustomed 
to great changes of habit, as well as of climate. The breeds of fowls differ 
somewhat in adaptability to artificial conditions; but as a rule the welfare of 
the fowls depends more on the poultryman than on the nature of fowls or 
of their surroundings. Farms and large village lots furnish the best 
opportunities for poultry keeping. Fowls can be kept and, even, a few 
thrifty young reared on narrow city lots —sometimes in very close quarters. 
It has often been said that fowls can be kept wherever human beings can live. 
While not literally true, this statement is not far wrong —if its application is 
limited to fowls kept for pleasure. Whether fowls are kept for pleasure or 
profit, successful management consists in rightly balancing natural and 
artificial conditions, providing by art those things in which the situation is 
deficient, or when that is not possible, devising ways of compensating for 
nature’s defects. Just here is where it is found that ways of caring for fowls 
for best results differ in different localities and situations. The needs of 
fowls do not vary; the resources of places do. In different places poultry 
keepers have to do different things to supply the same needs. This is all 
there is in the oft-repeated assertions that fowls cannot be handled in the west 
as in the east, in the south as in the north, in mountain countries as at the 
sea level. The poultryman in unusual circumstances must study his sur- 
roundings and their effects upon fowls, and vary treatment as he finds nature 
doing more or less in any direction; and he ought always to follow the 
general rules for caring for fowls under ordinary conditions, until by careful 
study of his situation he sees reason for making change in treatment or diet. 
He should not do extraordinary things without knowing why he does them. 
Unusual circumstances demand thoughtfulness and prudence, not eccentricity. 
The poultry keeper for pleasure can go as far as he likes in making good the 
natural defects of a site. One in business for profit needs the advantage of 
a situation with few defects. It is folly to undertake keeping fowls for profit 
on a site where the ‘‘outs” are so many that the making of a living is 
rendered unnecessarily laborious. 
