86 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



Simply constructed buildings, in an orderly arrangement, neatly 

 painted or white- washed, and having an air of practical utility, 

 make the most impressive showing, provided they are clean and 

 stocked with vigorous, healthy-looking poultry. By all means 

 avoid an accumulation of junk or rubbish lying about the 

 premises; it is bad for the fowls, and a constant eyesore. Have 

 a place for everything, and everything kept in its place. The 

 appointments necessary for the convenience of the fowls and their 

 caretaker are really very simple, and most of them can be bought 

 for a small outlay, or they can be made at home. 



Home made devices should not necessarily mean makeshifts — 

 odds and ends, broken china, discarded kitchen utensils, old 

 buckets, rusty pans and other receptacles that have long since 

 passed their age of usefulness, and which only serve to clutter up 

 the yards and houses. Visitors and customers observe these 

 things, and their opinions are formed accordingly. Nothing 

 is more enbarrassing than to have to make excuses for the ap- 

 pearances of everything; and besides excuses are futile. All 

 the excuses in the world fail to make a reason that will justify 

 shiftlessness ; it is inexcusable. 



Visitors. — Notwithstanding the poultryman's time is very 

 much occupied by routine work, and that visitors are sometimes 

 rather troublesome to entertain, also that their presence is dis- 

 turbing to the birds unless precautions are taken, experience 

 has proved that one of the best selling methods is to get the pub- 

 lic's interest in your work. Every family living in the commu- 

 nity, or who might be visiting the community, is a prospective 

 customer if their interest is aroused, and they are assured of a 

 courteous reception when they seek information. If ^'ou have 

 something to sell, you must let it be known, following which 

 you must be perfectly willing to exhibit your goods. 



Sign. — ^The first step toward publicity is to erect a neat sign, 

 setting forth the name of the farm or that of the owner, which- 

 ever is used to trade under, together with any other advice, 

 clearly and concisely worded, such as the names of the breeds 

 raised, and whether hatching eggs, breeding stock, day-old- 



