A would-be farmer learned of a government program that was offering free chickens as a start up. So he wrote in and requested some, and about a week later they arrived.
A week later, he wrote in for another free sample, and his request was granted.
Another week passed, and he requested a third sample. This time the government official asked why he needed so many samples.
The farmer replied that he was sorry for all the requests, but the previous two groups had died and he had no clue what he was doing wrong.
"Am I planting them too deep, or too close together?"