POULTRY KEEPING 



INTRODUCTION 

 INSTRUCTION IN POULTRY HUSBANDRY 



Demand for Instruction in Poultry Culture. — The past five 

 years have witnessed an immense advance in the popularity 

 of poultry raising. This growing popularity is commercial as 

 well as educational, and has been manifested by an increased 

 attendance at Agricultural Colleges and by the larger num- 

 ber of, and greater interest in, poultry organizations for edu- 

 cational purposes. Within the last year this growing inter- 

 est has been especially evident in the demand for poultry 

 instruction in grammar and high schools. 



Various causes create this demand, but one of the leading 

 factors is a growing revival of interest in the problems of 

 life, a "back to nature" movement, as it were, which is 

 becoming quite general, and is more and more evident 

 among young people. The present high cost of living is in 

 part responsible for some of the popularity of poultry keeping. 

 A small flock in the back yard or on the farm will materially 

 decrease expenditure for certain foods since poultry and eggs 

 can be used largely in place of meat (Fig. 1). Products 

 for the table can be more easily secured with poultry than 

 any other kind of animal. Another decided advantage in 

 poultry keeping, which accounts for its growing popularity, 

 is the fact that a small plant can be readily equipped and 

 rxin by the investment of a little money, which is an important 

 consideration for the average small farmer or back yard 

 poultrjonan. A variety of products can be secured from a 

 small flock. In addition to supplying food for the home 

 table, commercial poultry products, such as eggs and meat, 

 can be sold to neighbors or stores, and bring in a considera- 



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