12 POULTRY-CRAFT: 
adverse storms which swamp the poultryman of limited means. No one 
should invest money in a poultry plant until he has enough general knowledge 
of the business to enable him to make an intelligent estimate of the advantages 
and disadvantages of different locations, considered with reference to the 
branch of the business to be followed; of the qualifications of applicants for 
the position of manager; and, of the probabilities of his investment proving 
satisfactory. Most of those who have made losing investments in poultry have 
put their money out first, and acquired the knowledge that would have enabled 
them to invest wisely afterward. Many have been led into rash ventures in 
poultry keeping by the belief that large profits would be realized from the 
outset. It usually requires several years to thoroughly equip a poultry plant 
and place it on a paying basis. The history of most large plants shows that 
this has been the case, even when abundance of capital was at command. 
The man with capital makes large plans, which it requires time to carry out. 
Practical poultry keeping as an investment must be on a large scale; on a 
small scale, even a prosperous business could not be expected to do more than 
make a living for the manager and his assistants. Some of the most profitable 
plants of this class combine market and ‘‘ fancy” poultry breeding. There 
are numerous instances of persons of means breeding fowls both for pleasure 
and as an investment, taking a very active interest in the stock, but leaving 
the actual management of the poultry in the hands of a manager. An invest- 
ment of this kind is probably the most profitable that can be made. A study 
of the subject of poultry culture as set forth in this book will give a good basis 
of knowledge of the matters one needs to know before investing. Further 
information should be sought in current poultry journals. The information 
derived from these sources should be supplemented by careful examinations of 
up-to-date poultry plants, and a study of the conditions, both general and local, 
of production and consumption of poultry products. 
10. How to Learn Poultry Keeping. — Poultry keeping must be 
learned just as any other trade is learned — preferably by going to work for a 
poultryman. Opportunities to learn in this way are not numerous. One 
finding such an opportunity must expect to begin as an apprentice or unskilled 
laborer. If diligent and faithful to his employer’s interests, he will soon be 
advanced to work involving responsibility and giving practice in poultry 
management. While thus engaged he should be a close student of poultry 
literature, and should make the most of every opportunity to visit the plants 
and observe the methods of other poultrymen. This course is recommended 
even for those who have the capital to put into a small plant. Two years of 
practical work under a competent instructor are worth more to anyone than a 
period twice as long passed in gaining experience independently. A very 
important consequence of taking this course is that the man with small capital 
risks none of it, (and may even add to what he had), before learning how to 
use it to best advantage. After two years of practical work, a bright man of 
