go POULTRY-CRAFT. 
who does this pays more for his stock, and, in addition, runs the risk of 
losing the earlier and better part of the season —laying and hatching results 
alike being likely to be poor while the fowls are becoming accustomed to new 
conditions. After the first of June, each year, there are numerous oppor- 
tunities to buy at very low prices some of the stock breeders have used in 
their breeding pens. These are bargains for those prepared to give the stock 
proper care — not for others. 
112. Buying Old Stock.— There is very little difference in point of 
profitableness in buying young (breeding) stock, and buying stock in the 
second year. The older stock costs a little less, can be used, generally, only 
one season, but, is likely to throw better stock than younger fowls of the same 
quality. Fowls past two years old may be worth something as breeders to 
one to whom they no longer owe anything. For others they are risky invest- 
ments. It is only in exceptional cases that a fowl past two years old is worth 
buying for breeding a¢ axy price. For ‘laying stock, young hens ought always 
to be preferred, because of their longer period of usefulness. 
113. Prices of Stock.— Prices of exhibition stock are always a matter 
of special correspondence between breeders and buyers. Fowls fit to win in 
the average show cost from $10 or $15 apiece, to double and treble those 
figures. What is called ‘‘ number one breeding stock,” a grade of stock fit to 
produce fair Standard fowls, itself of a quality to rank well in the minor 
shows, can be bought at $5 to $15 each for males; $3 to $10 each for females. 
Fairly good breeding stock, satisfactory to all who do not value or cannot 
appreciate the fine points of a breed, can be had for $2 to $5 for males, and 
$1 to $3 for females. The prices of good thoroughbred stock bred for utility, 
run about the same, though extra good birds sometimes bring more. Those 
who cannot give fowls the care necessary to keep them up to the standard to 
which they have been bred, will find it better to buy such fowls as can be had 
at $10 to $15 a dozen, and to frequently renew their whole stock.* 
114. Buying Eggs.—‘ Is it better to begin with eggs, or with stock?” is 
the query of every beginner. People have all sorts of results,— good, bad, 
and indifferent— from purchases both of eggs and stock. It may be said, 
however, that in buying stock both the risks of total loss and the chances of 
*NoTE.— This does not mean that a farmer who wants to keep two hundred hens 
should buy them at those prices; but that he might find it on the whole more profitable 
to buy a breeding yard of good culls every other year from which to produce his laying 
and market stock, than to introduce new males to the old stock each year. People who 
keep a few hens, only for the eggs, would find the cheap grade of stock as good as any 
other; provided, always, it has been bred for eggs—cheaper at those prices than they 
could produce it for themselves, and cheaper, in the end, than the most of the stock 
offered at one-half to one-third the price. 
