CHAPTER THREE 



STARTING IN THE BUSINESS 



REPRESENTATIVE FOREMOST AMERICAN BREEDERS 



UNITE IN A SYMPOSIUM OF THE SECRET OF SUCCESS— HOW TO START RIGHT- 

 PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR FANCIER, FARMER AND MARKET POULTRYMAN 



' ISHING to present to our readers the latest, best 

 and most authoritative information, on starting 

 in the poultry business we decided that the best 

 way would be to ask leading successful experi- 

 enced poultrymen, how they would start if they 

 were to begin again and possessed their present 

 knowledge of the business. With this idea in 

 mind we prepared a set of fourteen questions on this subject 

 and mailed them, with request for a prompt reply, to a number 

 of old friends and patrons of the Reliable Poultry Journal. 



These poultrymen and women have learned the secrets of 

 success and are experienced breeders and fanciers of note. They 

 are in a position to tell the beginner how to start right and avoid 

 the pitfalls of inexperience. Their advice should prove of great 

 value to the novice whether he intends to become a breeder of 

 fancy poultry, a market poultryman, or, as many have wisely 

 chosen, expects to devote himself to a happy combination of 

 both interests, fancy and utility. The farmer and the farmei;'s 

 fl-ock is not overlooked, fpr him also good sound common sense 

 advice is given. 



On first reading, some of these answers may appear to con- 

 flict, but closer study will show that these fifty-nine successful 

 breeders are practically of one opinion as to the essentials. 

 Where one apparently disagrees with the majority his answer will 

 usually contain a qualifying clause which modifies it according 

 to the case in points or there is given good reason for his par- 

 ticular dissension from the verdict of the majority. 



The only way to get full benefit of these questions and 

 answers is to study them all carefully, apply them to your own 

 particular case and circumstances according to your own best 

 judgment, and then be guided by the advice of the majority who 

 have given answers that fit your own situation. No beginner 

 can go far wrong who will study this symposium carefully and 

 then properly apply its teachings. 



The majority of these breeders agree that it is best to start 

 with breeding stock where means will permit, and they give the 

 reasons why; yet nearly all agree that eggs for hatching will 

 give a good low cost start to one who does not possess sufficient 

 means to start with stock. There is an element of chance in 

 eggs for hatching that cannot be overlooked, — it is really a 

 gamble or lottery. You buy the breeders chances in that par- 

 ticular lot of eggs, say a sitting of 15 eggs for $2., $3. of $5. You 

 may hatch and raise half a dozen birds worth a, dollar each, you 

 may'get three worth from $5. to $100. each and you may lose the 

 whole lot and get nothing. It is for you to decide whether or 

 not you wish to take chances in this egg lottery; the breeders 

 have given their views and you must decide. Even though the 

 element of chance enters largely into this egg problem, experi- 

 ence has shown that fortune more often than not favors the egg 

 buyer. There are chances also to be taken in the purchase of 

 stock; The change may affect the birds, they must become 

 acclimated and losses may result. 



Every reUable breeder you patronize, whether you buy 



eggs or stock, will do his best to help you to start right, and 

 if losses result, from no f^ult of your own, will do his best to 

 meet you half way and help you to overcome your disappoint- 

 ment and loss. 



Mongrels are spoken of in no imcertain terms in this sympo- 

 sium. The day of the mongrel on successful poultry plants has 

 gone forever; it no longer pays to keep scrubs. Pure-breds cost 

 no more to raise and keep and they bring in much better retmns 

 in eggs and meat, besides being salable at good prices as 'breeding 

 stock. The farmer who is abreast of the times has no use for 

 mongrel stock, his horses, cattle, sheep and hogs must aU be 

 pure-breds, the best he can get, for the same reasons he should 

 keep pure-bred poultry, not alone because they are more beauti- 

 ful and make the farm more attractive, but because they grow 

 thrive, produce and pay better. 



• HOW TO STUDY THE SYMPOSIUM 



This symposium may be well termed "the voice of experi- 

 ence." Men of mark in the poultry world have contributed 

 their advice and judgment freely. The reader should first study 

 the questions and then compare them with the answers which 

 are numbered to correspond. Each question has been given a 

 number and under each of the fifty-nine separate divisions of 

 this chapter, devoted to the repHes of a prominent breeder, the 

 answers will be found bearing the same number as the question 

 asked. We believe that this is the simplest and best way to 

 handle the subject satisfactorily. The reader is earnestly urged^ 

 to carefully read and study each question and answer by itself 

 and then compare the opinions of the different breeders. Here- 

 with is the list of questions: 



THE FOURTEEN QUESTIONS 



Suppose you possessed your present knowledge of the poultry 

 business and were about to begin again, 



•Q. 9. Would you buy eggs or fowls with which to Start? 



Q. 10. What would be your reason? 



Q. 11. What course would you advise for the farmer who 

 wishes to improve his fiock of mongrels by the addition of pure- 

 bred blood with the object of raising better poultry for market? 



Q. 12. What course for the farmer who wishes to raise 

 and sell fancy poultry as well as poultry for market? 



Q. 13. What course for the beginner with ample funds 

 who wishes to keep a limited number of fine fowls and breed 

 exhibition specimens? 



Q. 14. What course for the beginner without much 

 money to invest who wishes to go into the fancy poultry business? 



Q. 15. What course for the beginner with ample funds 

 who wishes to establish a large business in fancy and market 

 poultry? 



Q. 16. What course for the beginner with moderate 

 means who wishes to estabhsh a large business in fancy and 



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