The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-04-28
BEGINNING POULTRY BUSINESS


ginning. Many people look upon
the poultry business as being a
matter requiring but little consider
alton, but l have found, to be sue
ccessful, the person interested must
have some idea of nature and be
willing to apply him or herself &C
cordingly. I doubt if there is any
line of business that requires more
attention, and a more business-like
mind than that of poultry as so
much depends upon every detail.
Probably the first matter of i'm
portance when one finds he has the
hen fever, is to decide upon the
variety suitable to his fancy. I find
a great many poultry men who
never seem to have any particular
fancy, while Others will start out
with a number of varieties which
will necessitate an unnecessary
amount of expense, for every poultry
man has his fancy. While many
continue to breed a number of va.
rieties, it is doubtful to my mind if
a man can make the success of his
business breeding in this manner;
as he could be specializing, and if l
were contemplating adding new
blood to my flock, I would at once
begin to look for the best specialist
breeder that I could find. This
brings us to the purchase of our
foundation stock.
The people of the Pacific coast
have had the habit of patronizing
the advertisers of eastern journals,
now this I believe to be absolutely
unnecessary. A visit to the show
rooms Of the northwest this past
year should be sufficient evidence to
convince anyone interested. I have
seen pens of birds that were shipped
from eastern breeders at fancy
prices, not only by beginners but
by old breeders of the northwest,
this year that were only fit for
slaughtering purposes, some l doubt
if were even good layers, yet we
continue to patronize them. Now
l think every popular breed of
poultry is represented on the Pacific
coast, and by men who are constien-
tious and are willing to give their
customers square deal. So /
would advise any beginner to look
up the advertisers in their home
papers, and take up the matter of
their desired breed by correspon-
dence (if it is not possible for them
to visit the yards of the breed cry
and learn from them as to the quail
ity of their stock. Some prefer to
start by buying a few settings of
eggs, which is very good way to
secure some good stock cheap, but
l prefer buying stock. After de-
Gliding that | could breed White
Wyandottes more successfully than
any other breed I at once began the
matter of correspondence with
specialist breeders. Finally after
about six months of correspon-
dence and study l decided that
the best thing for me to do was to
buy trio of the best birds I could
afford, however after placing about
$50 Of good money into eggs. Will
say Thy the way) that I got some
fine birds from the eggs. l didn't
send east for them, either.
The American Poultry Associa-
ton Standard of Perfection is very
necessary, in fact it is the breeders
poultry bible, as it is necessary to
keep the type of your breed con-
stantly before you. It is important
to keep the egg booklet in mind also.
/ have found by the use Of the trap
nest that my birds with type nearest
the Standard of Perfection are my
best layers.
The beginner has SO many things
to consider and encounters so many
discouragements / have heard
many old brooders say that they
hadn't louise on their farm, when