138 FIRST LESSONS IN POULTBY KEEPING. 



There is still another reason why attention should be given to the selectlen and fitting of po8- 

 Bible show specimens. It leads the poultryman to study his stock much closer than he isliltely 

 to do it he gives no attention to exhibition quality and condition, and though he should not 

 show a single specimen, all the time and thought he has given to this work will be found when 

 he comes to mate his fowls for the next season, to have been well spent. The matter of fitting 

 birds lor exhibition will be treated more at length in the next lesson. 



The Poultryman Who Begins in the Fall. 



I am often asked what time of the year is best to begin poultry keeping. Judging by results 

 ol fiTSt efforts I cannot say that it makes a great deal of difference, but the fall has always 

 seemed to me the best time to begin, because beginning at this season experiences come in their 

 logical order, and something of the handling of adult stock is learned before hatching and rear- 

 ing questions press for consideration. 



The poultryman beginning now, if on an old plant, has to take much the same steps in getting 

 houses ready lor winter as have already been mentioned. One building new houses, of course 

 has no cleaning up or repairing to do, but unless buildings are already well advanced they must 

 be pushed rapidly to have them ready lor the stock before winter sets in. 



It is best not to buy stock until the buildings are practically ready, for fowls coming to a new 

 place will not stand confinement in makeshift quarters as well as lowls reared ou the premises 

 do, being continued longer than advisable In the summer quarters. In fact the stock In summer 

 quarters may come along as last at present as il in winter quarters, but the point is to avoid 

 moving them just as they are about to begin laying, and to guard against too much exposure, 

 when, as is often the case, the coops are unsuitable lor cold, stormy weather. 



"With fowls brought to a new place, sickness may easily develop if conditions are specially 

 unfavorable. Hence it Is better to have the house all ready before a fowl is put Into it, and not 

 to get lowls until the house is ready lor them. A great many do buy fowls and keep them con- 

 fined in small coops perhaps lor a month, while making the house ready. This gives the lowls 

 a very poor start lor the winter. 



