100 LE550N5 IN POULTRY KEEPING — 5LCOND SERIES. 



lisbed. One caDDot be certain of tlie numlier of fowls or e^^s that will supply him as many 

 chicks for the season as he wants, but he can take the number that should ilo so if leMilt-s 

 are aijout average. Generally speaking, a breeding pen — that is, a male and four females — 

 is enough to begin with. In more cases a trio will be better. Then if the fowls do not luecd 

 sati>fiiclorily the outlay has not been heavy. There is, of course, a loss of time, but that can- 

 not be avoided. Indeed, it is no uncommon thing for breeders of considerable experience to 

 lose practically a whole season through the failure of their stock to breed satisfactorily. 



Returning Unsatisfactory Stock. 



The novice generally is not capable of judging the quiilitv and value of the stock sent him 

 accurately, nor is it possible to give him instructions that will enable him to arrive at an 

 exact e.-tiinate; but there are some points that may be given that will help him to know some 

 faults for which he should reject stock, and some reasons why he should sometimes hesitate 

 to reject it on liis own unfavorable impression of it. 



Unless bought in the fall, birds that are decidedly immature and undeveloped should not be 

 accepted. Breeders sometimes, in their eagerness to 1311 orders, send chickens whose quality 

 is as yet uncertain, telling the buyer that they will grow into tine birds by the breeiling 

 season. If the buyer was advised before ordering that this class of stock would be sent him, 

 he lias no cause-to complain, but such birds too often fail to develop into what the breeder 

 said tliey would, because they are not, when received, what they should lie at their age. . 



Sick, injureil, or dead birds the buyer should refuse to accept from the express companies. 

 This leaves the settlement of responsibility for damage where it belongs — between the shipper 

 and the transportation company. 



The mere fact that on inspection a pen of fowls fails to realize the anticipations one had 

 been indulging of what he was lo get, ought not to lead him to reject them as unsatisfactory. 

 If the birds are apparently in good condition, take them out of the coop, put them in a pen 

 by themselves, and observe them for a little while — at intervals for a few hours, or, at most, 

 a day. Give them and the seller a chance. A reasonable time is allowed — and should be 

 taken for Inspection. Often birds just from a journey look quite diflerent after a short rest. 

 But don't keep the birds more than a day. If you are then still not satistted witli tliem, 

 return them promptly. For whatever troubles may develofi wliile llie stock is in your hands, 

 you are properly responsilde. A buyer cannot, in fairne^«, keep stock for one or two or 

 more weeks, and then ask tiie seller to make losses good. 



Do not let a small fault, as you see it, decide you to return birds bought at ordinary prices. 

 There are few specimens produced free from faults, and they are not for sale except at very 

 high prices. 



If one fowl in a lot seems to you decidedly superior to the rest, don't use that fowl as the 

 standard of the value you should get at the price, and be dissatisfied with the others. It may 

 be that in that one specimen the breeder has given you special value. It is not at all an 

 uncommon thing for breeders anxious lo extend their reputation to give customers some 

 rather better birds than the prices warrant. 



Don't allow any ideas you may have of distinctive marks indicating the absolute purity of 

 stock of the variety you are buying, to lead yon to reject or And fault with it. Many novices 

 hiive a notion' that pure bred fowls have certain distinctive features which Invariably appear 

 in well bred stock. Tliis is not the case, and in rejecting a fowl for lack of such mark, one 

 mny reject a fowl that is especially valuable for other or general excellence. 



Don't be too much Influenced in your opinion of the stock you buy by the comments or 

 judLjment of others who see them. Consider all such on the basis of the speaker's actual 

 knowledge of and experience with the kind of stock in question. On the whole, it is safe to 

 give the seller and the stock the liemfit of any small doulits you may have on points other 

 thin sickness, damage, or immaturity. I'orsons selling slock cannot aflTord to send out stock 

 ihiit will not suit, and in most cases where this is done the party doing it is at fault bcciiuse 

 of his lack of experience in selling, rather than because of any deliberate purpose to deceive 

 or defraud. 



