The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-03
PROFICIENT
IN POULTRY
Chicken Fancier From Coast
Tells How to Make
Money.

| experiences incurred as the originator
and promoter of the now prosperous
San Diego County Poultry Association
| OF California would be Of benefit te
the poultrynen of Hawaii, I shall try
to give a brief synopsis of its prog
ress.
Upon settling in San Diego County
in 1898, having always been a chicken
faneier, I began to inquire into the
| possibilities there of raising fowls on
| large scale and with greater success
and profit than had hitherto been ae.
complished. Several exhibitions had
been held there that proved a failure
IN promoting the industry as well as
financially. L Travelled the State as
solicitor and correspondent for the
Live Stock Tribune, then served as
coeditor one season, thus gaining a
wide acquaintance with facts and fan
eiers. With this start I returned to
San Diego County and started into the
actual work of raising and marketing
ducks, chickens and eggs. Tt required
two seasons of careful work and study
to satisfy me that the many failures
through disease in the flock. careless
ness IN many of the minor details of
mating, housing and feeding-and poor
management in buying and selling
could be rectified. Different localities
require that the fowls be cared for IN
manner suitable to each. Past ex-
perience elsewhere counts for but lit
tle-but It was almost useless to warn
the newcomer of this.
The next thing was to train the
Poultryman how TO buy his supplies to
the best advantage, and to market his
product without giving the commission
merchant and the grocer all the profit.
organized anew a fanciers assoei-
alton. and conducted as its secretary
three successful poultry shows. each
successive one being larger, until from
start with eighteen members we were
q united body of over $50 men aud
women. These shows excited interest.
stimulated a desire in others to pro-
duee the best. and had left our treas
ury in very fourishing condition.
Now was the time to take in and heip
the poultrvmen who were only WORK
ing along commercial lines.
We incorporated, having now 10000
Shares ont at 81 each. With the cash
in our treasury and with that received
from the sale Of shares, we opened a
store and later warehouse.
We stocked up with ineubators,
poultry foods and cures, and a full line
Of the needs of the poultryman and
fancier, including wheat, oats, bran,
etc. At first our purchases were small
but later We bought in carload lots,
thereby increasing the store s profits
and allowing each stakeholder little
rebate commensurate with the total
amount Of his purchases, which we
computed quarterly.
A breeders book was kept at the
store. where was entered the variety
each member handled, what he had 10
sell and the price. To this the store
referred whenever any inquiry was
made as 10 where so many fowls or
eggs of any variety could be had,
charging small commission for eff
feeting a sale. Coops Were kept.
where a limited number of fowls were
ALWAYS on hand at the store, for sale,
mostly of a quality used for good
breeders.
Then eonsignments of fresh eggs
were received, examined and sold to
stores and individuals, who were will
ing to pay few cents above the pre-
vailing market price per dozen-and
our guarantee as TO freshness in
creased the demand, so that wagon
and an egg route was established.
Inquiries came in from outside the
county, asking our figures on large
quantities OF fowls of certain varIe-
ties. or eggs for ineubating.
I recall one instance in 1907 when
we effected sale Of 800 White Leg
| horn pullets in less than day after
receiving the inquiry from Mexico, and
netting the seller very good net
price.
The store finally moved into larger
quarters last November, and Is now
/ carrying a full line Of garden and farm
/ seeds and plants which nearly every
pcultrvman uses TO some extent.
We have grown 10 where We use
three store clerks, two bookkeepers
and two vehicles. and dividends have
twice been paid of 5 per cent. al
though the profits have gone mostly
toward increasing the scope of the as
ISOLATION s usefulness and in satisfy
| ing the demands for Improvements OF
a growing business. Ny active par
tieipation in its management has
| ceased. although still reekoned on as
one of its advisers, and called upon
81 times for advice, or to Judge at an
exhibition or to score fowls privately
I an too much engaged otherwise II
attend their interesting meetings reg
ularlv, and was never at heart naughl
| hut a fancier for pleasure only. al
though my Buff Coehins have defeated
in the show room every competitor al
every Pacific Coast exhibition fol
three consecutive seasons, and 1 have
made shipments TO almost every State
ard frequently to South America
where fancy poultry, especially II
Peru. is rapidly increasing IN interest
/ wish | might have the chance fe
breed poultry here and to prove &c
those whom / have heard say that
embarrassing meets 50 many difiieui
1 at Ia