CHAPTER XIII 



FANCY STOCK 



No man ever had a well developed attack of "hen fever" without 

 desiring, sooner or later, to show his birds and win some prizes. 



That is a proper amhition. 



Moreover, it is an ambition that leads to fortune, if wisely fol- 

 lowed. 



Please keep in mind that last phrase: If wisely followed. 



I emphasize it because too many beginners do not follow wisely. 



All show birds are expensive — the cost depending upon quality. 

 The perfect bird would score one hundred points. But no such bird has 

 ever been seen, and there Is no probability that one ever will be seen. 

 I have scored a multitude of birds; but even in the highest scoring 

 varieties — solid colored birds — like the White Leghorns or White 

 Wyandottes, I have never found one that would come within several 

 points of perfection; while in some of the parti-colored varieties — 

 which naturally score lower than those of solid color — it is a rare bird 

 that will go over ninety. Indeed there are some particularly difficult 

 varieties which seldom reach that score. For this reason one should 

 bear in mind that what would be a comparatively low standing for 

 one of the easier breeds would be very high for another. A ninety-six 

 point white bird may be had, but don't look for it in a Rhode Island 

 Red. 



