Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-30
THE POULTRY YARD
POULTRY BUSINESS.
BY Ed Weber
BY Ed Weber

fail; when the question is Scttleu why
only 10 per cent Of the people own their
own homes; when the question OF why
the very rich are growing richer and
the very poor are growing poorer mas
been unraveled; when the knots are
taken out Of why millions go half
nourished while the land Is painting
with q plentitude: when myriad OF
mysteries like these are cleared away
then will Il be known why so many
persons who engage in the poultry
business fail and so very few succeed.
The statistician informs us that the
poultry business Is the third largest
industry in this country, its peers be-
ing corn and cotton. It Is not an in
FAINT industry, for a cock heralded the
dawn Of the first day. There are no
more failures in the poultry business
than in any other occupation. The
hod carrier was and Is a necessity.
His place Is being taken by the power
hoist. He Is being superseded by some
thing that is better just as the mongrel
hen IS being displaced by the high
bred egg-laying hen Of the modern
breeding pen. Millions Of men come
and go, each filing his little niche in
then is forgotten. Among them are the
few who left an impress, whose foot
steps in the sands Of time we follow.
The multitudes in the first class were
blown about like chaff. The few were
the. sturdy oaks. For some unfathoma-
BILE reason these few were able to take
hold Of the world with the grip Of a
steam vice. They were capable OF alb
sorbing knowledge and applying it.
They had true visions and followed
then-followed them to success. And
why the few and not the many? Solve
any Of the great sociological questions
of the day and you have an answer to
the query. Everybody cannot succeed
in the poultry business any more than
every man can be a Paderewski or
J every woman Patti. It Is not nee
essary for a man to be g. thrilling ora
tor in order to become a profound ex-
ponent Of the law. But he must pos
sess a mind that can interpret. con-
strue, and apply the laws as they are
written If he rises to distinction in
his profession.
Must Have Adaptabillty.
The successful poultry raiser need
not have a college education or be in
formed on the arts or the crafts, but
he would be all the better off If he
possessed these accomplishments. But
he must have adaptability for the bust
ness. He must understand the wants
and desires Of his f1ocks, care for them
in fair and foul weather. If he does
not want to do these things; If he
wants his stock to Just grow" he had
better save his money time and dis
appointment for fail he will II any
department OF the business is neglected.
II one desires to kill little time or
just fool with few chickens one
should not be classed as being in the
poultry business. He is not. He be-
longs to that large class which really
and truely kills time and fools with
chickens, and when he fails" another
failure in the poultry business Is
checked up. Fortunately, however,
the world Is becoming a little more
discriminating and is not SO seriously
considering the person who is killing
time and fooling around.
Success Means Close Application.
To succeed in the poultry business
means the same close application Of
business principles and the same wise
expenditure Of capital that are ap-
piled to any other calling whether 1t
be among the profession, tradesmen, or
artisans. A lavish expenditure of
money is not necessary. Starting right
is one of the keys that unlocks the
success box. Many persons from an
apparently poor beginning win dis
tinction and wealth while others with
gilded houses and canopied runs stock
ed with breeding pens that cost fabu
lous sums make utter failures. Pro-
crastination and vermin will rout the
finest hennery on the continent, while
perseverance, some money, much pa
tience, and cleanliness will bring low
ly start to a lofty pinnacle.
No person will ever reach beyond or
binary success in the poultry business
without possessing clear knowledge of
the demands, the wants, the desires,
the necessities Of his flock. The
breeder should understand the anat-
omy Of the fowl, their natural habits
study their dispositions. These can
be acquired by sad experience, by OBJ
servation, reading and study. Natural
ly a bird Of the field, flocks of poultry
are now confined in small houses and
short runs. From liberty and freedom
they are brought to close quarters.
From securing much Of their own food
by roaming the neighborhood the best
poultry of today has its every want
supplied. From laying her eggs under
the barn, in the straw stack, or in the
hay loft, Eddy Is now trap-neseed.
From roosting under the shed or in the
trees she now sleeps on an easy porch
in a comfortable house. With the in
Cubator and the brooder she Is saved
the time, the care, the vicissitudes of
Matching and raising her young. Pass
ing from the natural to much that is
artificial the hen has grown in pro-
ductiveness, in weight, in value, in
appearance.
Government statistics say the aver
age hen in America lays eighty eggs
a year. The successful poultry men
would shop off the head Of any hen
which will not produce 100 eggs in a
year. He is. not killing time or fool
ing with poor layers. He has brains,
ability and IL using them just as does
the manager Of the great department
store. .
Should Be on Common Sense Basis.
The lack Of application, the want of
discernment the failure to see what
Is going on before you, the lack Of
power to learn by experience. gives no
insight into many of the causes why
multitudes fail to make money raising
poultry and making money Is the mark
Of success. In every business, in every