THE POULTRY KEEPER'S PROBLEMS 65 



the handling of a stock of hens to have them in laying condition 

 when eggs are most in demand is a complex problem. Mating with 

 a view only to the reproduction of the species is an extremely 

 simple matter, accomplished by allowing males and females to come 

 together ; mating to preserve or improve breed or other desirable 

 characters is a highly complex problem. 



Hard problems may be easy if worked out step by step. The 

 tendency of poultry keepers is to go too fast, and get into posi- 

 tions where they are confused by the variety of little problems 

 pressing for solution. It seems the hardest thing in the world 

 for enthusiasts beginning to specialize in this line to heed the 

 oft-repeated warning, to " go slow." When poultry is kept merely 

 from custom, and no special efforts are made to increase the flock, 

 natural and environmental causes and conditions cooperate to keep 

 the numbers about the same from year to year, and the question 

 of taking care of a large increase hardly ever arises. But when 

 poultry are kept with a purpose, and for the greatest possible profit 

 under existing conditions, everything influencing the result sought 

 must be adapted and adjusted to it. In many cases preparation 

 for the work of one season must begin with the preceding season, 

 or even earlier. An unsuccessful hatching season will certainly 

 affect the egg crop of the next season, and may affect the breed- 

 ing and hatching results of the following year. Delay in getting 

 pullets into winter quarters may postpone laying for months. 

 Neglect to provide ample coop room for chickens as they grow may 

 cause heavy losses and retard the development of chicks that sur- 

 vive. A sick bird not promptly removed from the flock may spread 

 a contagious disease which will ruin, for breeding purposes, all birds 

 of the flock affected, even though they recover and may be used for 

 other purposes. Conditions over which the poultryman has no con- 

 trol, or only partial control, may also unfavorably affect his results. 



With so many contingencies to consider, an experienced poul- 

 tryman rarely plans for a large increase, in one season, over the 

 preceding season. The novice who does so rarely succeeds in doing 

 more than make such advance as the expert would consider it wise 

 to project. Not infrequently he fails to maintain his original num- 

 bers, simply because he undertook more than he knew how to do 

 and look after every detail at the right time in the right way. 



