ORDINARY GOOD STOCK FOR BEGINNERS. 97 



not justify the arrangement. The special adaptabilities of the different breeds to different pur- 

 poses are more theoretical or fancied than real. Thus Leghorus) though easier to get eggs from 

 thau heavier breeds, and generally steadier layers in summer because they are nou-sitiers, 

 frequently Burpri.-e the man who would keep them for summer layers, by laying as well in 

 winter as bis supposed winter layers, while the difference between the two kinds lor the ^ear 

 may be insignificant. The fact is that in general the different breeds lay about alike when 

 given good care — such as those trying to make poultry pay commonly give their fowls, and in 

 time llie poultryman realizes that the few practical advantages of keej^ing two types of fowls 

 are about offset by the disadvantage of having to maintain two stocks, and the freq-uent incon- 

 venience In adapting the accommodationr< to tlie different habits of the fowls. 



What Quality of Stock? 



The next question of interest to the beginner is the quality of stock to Ijuy. Beginners 

 usually purchase low priced stock — that is, low priced from the fancier's >t:indpoiri(. From 

 the Iji'giiiner's point of view, two or three dollars for a female, and three to five dollars for a 

 male is extravagance. He may pay such prices, liut prefers not to let his acquaintanci's not 

 much interested in poultry know the amounts. Occasionally a beginner will pay much higbi r 

 prices. If financially able to do so, Ijeginners often buy the highest priced birds. Their idea 

 is that by so doing they buy u place and a standing among the foremost breeder.-. 



There certainly is an advantage in buying high quality slock, and it may be from every con- 

 sideration the liest piilicy for one who is financially able to do so, and who knows how to main- 

 tain its quality. It is on the latter point that most beginners fail. No money can buy skill m 

 breeding except money which may be paid to a breeder for birds be has produced, or as salary. 

 His goods and his services may be bought if heis willing to ]tart witli them for a consideration, 

 but this kind of knowledge and skill is not to be bad separate from individuals who have it. 



As we saw in the lis-uns on breeding, it requires quite us careful selection to maijitain excel- 

 lence in fowls as it did to secure it. In unskillful bands the liestof stocks are apt to deteriorate 

 rapidly. A single season of unskillful management of the breeding stock may put the ^tock of 

 the man who bought the highest priced birds he could get on a level with that of one who 

 bought much cheaper stock. Unless one is in a position to get expert services in mating his 

 stock it is as well for him not to pay extremely high prices. I would not say that he should 

 limit liimselt to the lower figures I have mentioned. He might go several times as high, and if 

 he proves an apt student of mating problems and successful in growing chicks, have results 

 that justify the larger expenditure for stock, but as a rule the poultryman who buys extra good 

 stock at the start does not establish bis sto(!k on that foundation. The rule is that in his inex- 

 perience and unskillfulness his first stock goes back, and when be realizes this and sees where 

 and why he failed he buys anew for foundation stock, and on this stock bought when he has a 

 measure of experience to show him how to use it, he builds up his permanent line. Hence in 

 buying ordinary good stock at about the range of prices mentioned, the beginner with poultry 

 iss'mply applying the common principle in use wherever people work with materials which 

 may be damaged or lost in maidpulation, of using rather cheap material to experiment with. 



Beginning With Stock or Eggs. 



The determination of this question is settled in part by the season when tlie beginning is 

 made— people are going into poultry keeping at all seasons. Unless the start is making dujing 

 the late winter or spring, that is, during the hatching season, beginning with eggs would not be 

 considered (except in the hatching of winter chickens, in which line, as stated, most growers 

 buy their eggs foi' hatching). For those beginning at times when the start might be made with 

 either stock or eggs, it is often a puzzle to decide which way to begin. Results by either 

 method of starting are so variable that one has to be cautious about making jiositive recom- 

 mendations, but I believe that the greater number of satisfactory lieginnings are made from 

 stock. Perhaps as good away as any is to try both ways, — divide the amount available fur 

 the purpose, buy a few fowls, and invest the rest in eggs. Though there is no surenesa about 

 results, unless luck goes entirely against the beginner, be is likely to get some good chickens 

 from fowls mated as they were sent him by the breeder from whom he bought them. But in 

 buying eggs there is always the possibility of getting a good hatch and a lot of exceptionally 



