INTRODUCTION 



Just plain chicken talk is the title of this book and just a 

 plain everyday poultry man wrote it. The idea of writing a 

 book had never occurred to the author, but after talking 

 and explaining chickens to hundreds of men and women 

 engaged in this particular business he was led at their earn- 

 est solicitation to set forth his ideas and the ideas of others 

 with whom he has come in contact. In the following pages 

 the author has simply tried, with no attempt at fine phrase- 

 ology and detailed theory, to explain what he knows about 

 poultry. This book is based upon practical chicken know- 

 ledge by practical people with no attempt to offer any plan 

 or suggestion which cannot be practically carried out. 



There is a prevailing idea that there are many failures in 

 the poultry business. This is the wrong impression. Of those 

 who take up the business as a means of livelihood, there are 

 no more failures than in any other vocation. To be sure 

 there have been some large failures, but this has been mostly 

 due to lack of experience, or perhaps they have had some 

 ideas as to the feeding, housing, etc., that they wanted to 

 carry out at the expense of their pocketbook. It most cer- 

 tainly is experience that counts, or at least it pays to follow 

 the advice of one who has had experience and made a success 

 of the business. I would not think of entering the dressmak- 

 ing business without some knowledge or experience, yet we 

 have heard of failures on this account in the poultry busi- 

 ness. Don't ever think that because you have read of the 

 success of others who have had years of experience, that 

 with money you can accomplish more than they. Money 

 at the spur of the moment will not do any great amount of 

 good. If you had the equivalent in a flock of good birds and 

 experience or knowledge, you would be in a position to suc- 

 ceed. I would rather have knowledge and experience than 

 money to start in the poultry business, though both are 

 necessary in their respective places. Even with knowledge, 

 you will find so many little things that only experience can 

 teach. Many wish to start in the poultry business, but have 

 no funds. Never get discouraged, because if you have nerve 



