Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-24
Success Can Be Achieved in Poultry
Raising From Small Beginnings
Novice Should Be Careful to
Make Haste Slowly
Most Failures Have Resulted
From Trying to Grow Too
Rapidly
BY DIR. Thomas j. Clemens
Poultry Editor of the Philadelphia
Inquirer.


Inquirer.
COPYRIGHT 1915.
Poultry raising looks SO easy to the
city man that he contemplates IL as n
sort of country pastlme to bring in big
money returns.
Many city businessmen feel entirely
competent TO run n poultry plant
prohtably by reading up on the sub
iect. They often learn they are
blessed with more money than brains,
but not until ii has proven an expcn-
sive venture.
Poultry raising is as much a busi-
ness as banking. But it can he started
In small way and the man satisfied
with such a beginning can learn Valu-
able lessons that will help him when
he is ready to expand. The following
article is addressed to this class of
lpoultrymcn.
Probably no branch of livestock
keeping has suffered more by reason
of the ineXperiencc of those who en-
ter into this industry than that of
poultry keeping. The slogan of back
to the soil has had it's influence upon
all classes of workers, both men and
women, and the majority of these have
decided that their particular case will
be improved by entering into the field
of poultry culture.
Persistence and patience are bound
to bring success in poultry keeping
provided the operator follows the rules
which are the result of experience and
thousands of dollars expended during
the past few decades by the foremost
poultrymen in the world.
The universal opinion of these men
points to the fact that 1t is from
small start that the greatest measure
of success is to he gained-yin fact it Is
the back yard poultryman who
usually attains the most success, and
later is the best in formed in the in
dustry.
Most of the failures in the poultry
industry may he attributed to too
much money and a lack of experience
The call of back to the soil" has been
heard by men who have been success
full in other lines of business and have
amassed a moderate fortune. They
have answered the call by disposing Of
the successful business and embarking
in the poultry industry on a large
scale. Many of them lost sight of the
fact that they practically grew up
with their former business from the
humble position of an Office boy or a
shipping clerk, and in the course of
many years they became acquainted
with and mastered the details neces-
sary to meet competition and eventu-
ally place them in an Independent po-
stion.
They forget that their start was
| it required persistence and patience
for them to meet their obligations, but
nevertheless, when they answered the
call back to the soil" they took a
large portion of their incomes and
plunged into a new field with a mod
ern equipment, but little practical ex-
perience.
There are many instances of these
failures where large plants have
! sprung up in a short space of time,
and modern buildings and equipment
| have been installed but the owner not
| being desrous of giving IL his personal
attention and directing the operations
| from a personal knowledge, has been
compelled to employ experienced help
at large salaries. The heavy expense
thus entailed was more than the plant
was able to stand.
For the prospective poultryman a
lack of capital is rather more helpful
than a detriment. 1t forces him to be-
gin in small way, and gradually ac-
quire knowledge with the moderate in
crease of his stock. He is more able
to appreciate the value of his equip
ment. 1t teaches him to dispense with
many useless and expensive appliances
and to use only those which will as
sist in saving labor or those which will
add to the health and productiveness
of his f1ocks.
| There is no one best breed of fowls
nor is there any particular variety OF
poultry which will assure a profitable
investment. 1t is mostly a matter OF
preference on the part of the operator
and it usually takes more than one
season for him to determine which
breed or variety is best suited to his
desires or requirements.
There is no better way to take UP
poultry keeping than to begin in a
small way-preferably in the back
yard of the dwelling where the fowls
will be easy of access and where the
fowls will be easy of access and where
equipment will involve the least outlay
of capital. Take it up as a hobby with
purpose in view. Study the various
results of the different methods OF
feeding and the best means of main
tanning health in the flock.
| How to Start
Secure trio of fowls of the breed
or variety which most appeals to your