Commercial poultry raising

Front matter

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Introduction

There are numerous poultry books on the market. Some are valuable works, except that they are out of date. Others have been written by persons who knew more about theory than of practice. Still others were printed because the author had a system to advocate, a farm to advertise, or an axe to grind. Obviously, in reading these so-called systems the beginner generally obtains erroneous ideas, which sooner or later bring about costly mistakes, often failure.

In the chapters that follow the author has no hobbies to ride, no theories to advance, nothing to offer, in fact, except the practical information which he has acquired from many years of actual experience raising fowls on a commercial scale, and from the associations of other poultrymen with whom he has come in contact in a business or friendly way. His effort has been to give facts and state principles clearly, so as to establish a solid foundation for the study of poultry culture. The real study, of course, commences with the actual work with the fowls, and cannot be acquired from the printed page alone.

No phase of agriculture or animal husbandry has made such enormous progress in the past thirty years as poultry culture. Consequently, literature written on this subject a quarter of a century ago, or even a decade ago, is now mostly obsolete. Not that fowls have changed their habits to such an extent, but because we have learned more about their habits, and how to derive the greatest benefits from them at the least possible cost.

Poultry raising on a commercial scale could not be attempted on the methods practised by our grandfathers. It was not until the invention and perfection of appliances for the artificial rearing of little chicks in large numbers that poultry keeping really viii INTRODUCTION

passed the "pin money" stage. Even then, it was not until we learned something about the scientific manner of feeding, breeding and housing the fowls that our efforts were assured any degree of success from the standpoint of dollars and cents. We have long known how to keep fowls; but it has been comparatively recent that we found out how to make the fowls keep us.

There is money to be made from poultry. There is a living to be made from it, and a good living. Some claim there are fortunes to be had from hens. The author begs leave to differ with this last statement, or rather to qualify it. Fortunes might be made from chickens if it were possible to look after them, personally, in large enough numbers; but this is quite out of the question. Very large flocks necessitate the employment of help, and it is the uncertainty or incompetence of this help that makes success with tens of thousands of birds more or less dependent upon chance.

The author has purposely avoided all reference to "big stories of big profits," likewise the fads and fancies of poultry keeping, which have brought disaster to so many beginners. He has aimed to show that hard work is necessary, that the caretaker must be always on the job, that some of the tasks are not as pleasant as they might be, that common sense is required above theoretical training, that disappointments and mistakes are to be expected, and that it is no get-rich-quick scheme, but a safe, sane, practical business enterprise, and as such it must be conducted. Where figures are quoted, especially in respect to profits, if anything the author has been too conservative. These figures, however, are based on prices prevailing before our entrance into the European War. Success does not fall into the lap of the poultryman ; he must go out and dig for it. And if he digs hard enough, he is sure to be rewarded.

As previously inferred, the author has read most of the literature written about poultry, and having found it either obsolete, incomplete or utterly fallacious, he has endeavored to prepare a work that is the most up-to-date, comprehensive, practical guide-book of its kind. Economy and efficiency are the under-

INTRODUCTION ix

lying motives of every chapter. They are what he conceives to be the cornerstones of success with poultry.

Acknowledgment is herewith made to The Country Gentleman and Public Ledger, in which publications most of these chapters have appeared, for the rights to publish them in book form. Appreciation is also acknowledged to those who kindly submitted photographs for reproduction as illustrations.

H. Armstrong Roberts

Philadelphia, 19 18

Contents

Chapter Page

I. American Poultry Industry i

II. Analyzing the Different Breeds n