54 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 



be clean and, for the best price, uniform in color and size. 

 All misshapen eggs should be culled out. 



"Ask the Birds, Their Judgment Is Good" 



This suggestion, to "Ask the birds, their judgment is 

 good," has appeared in several parts of the text of this little 

 book, and will bear reiteration. A regard, or disregard, of 

 the idea embodied in these words, will always mark the dif- 

 ference between the successful and unsuccessful poultryman. 



The fancier, of course, will, by the very fact of his being 

 a fancier, take pains to maintain his birds in comfort — he is 

 in the business for the love of the game. 



The poultryman who expects returns in eggs, in sufficient 

 number to return him a profit, however, must be in touch with 

 the needs of his flock. The question has been tritely put, 

 "Why keep chickens? Let the chickens keep you!" 



Another way of stating the fact that a poultryman must 

 know his business, in order to draw dividends, was used by 

 two men in discussing the poultry business — one of them re- 

 marked, "There is money in the chicken business." to which 

 remark the other replied, "Yes, I know there is ; I have put it 

 there." 



Now, unless one has an unlimited bank account, this 

 idea, in money matters, of "putting it there" must soon come 

 to an end ; and it does come to an end for many who engage 

 in this business of poultry keeping. 



Rosy outlooks are presented of what may be expected 

 from this business, and mathematical calculations are made of 

 the increase in flocks, or the production in eggs, which cause 

 many to enter a business of which they know nothing, and 

 for which they have not the necessary qualifications. 



It is true in all lines of business that "business is busi- 

 ness," and the poultry business is no exception. 



To be successful, "details" (that horrid word which so 

 many detest) must be attended to, as a regular performance; 

 and for this attendance many are not fitted by nature. 



The business of producing eggs and poultry will not be 

 overdone, if for no other reason than that it takes men of 

 special qualifications to stay in the game successfully. There 

 is no royal road to success in poultry keeping. All that can 

 be learned from books on this subject are certain fundamental 



