The daily gazette., 1875-05-10
Prices OF Fancy Poultry.

DIR. A. Nj. Dickie, Of Doylestown has
this to say on the subject OF fancy"
VS.. common fowls:
Many farmers think the prices of
the improved breed of fowls and eggs
exorbitantly high. They seem to think
that because common chicken Is
worth from a dollar to dollar and o
quarter. that five dollars is too high q
price for a fancy chicken"
At the first glance the price does
seem high, but there is not much
money to be made in thebusiness even
at the current prices, unless 1t be fol-
lowed as a business by man who
knows his business. 1t requires time
and money, 4. more than either Of these
it requires capacity on the part OF the
breeder to raise really fine stock. 1t is
az difficult thing to breed fine poultry
as to breed fine horses or cattle. A
man who can succeed in breeding pre-.
MUM fowls will be likely to succeed
in any other branch as stock raising.
Farmers hesitate to pay FIVE or ten
dollars for first class fowl; but there
are plentG of fanciers who will pay al
most any price for bird that suits
them. At the late poultry show at
Buffalo, q second ligt Brahma cockeral
was sold for $40. The fourth prize
light Brahma cockeral was sold for
$i0O. A dark Brahma cockeral brought
$40; a White Cochin eockeral $50; and
SO down to $25, at which price q num-
bcr of birds changed hands. Numer-
GUS offers of 500 were made for par
ticular birds, but were refused by
their owners. These prices were re-
allied by fanciers and breeders Of
known standing and excellence and
were paid by the same class who were
the purchasers.
These are certainly 'fancy" prices
but they are not the top prices realiz-
ed the past season for first class birds,
some of which have changed hands at
more than double any Of the figures
Just mentioned. Thus men who spend
time, money and study In improving
the various breeds receive and deserve
fair remuneration.
But while the farmer cannot be ex-
pected:o pay prices as those mentioned
above, he can we'll afford to pay five
or ten dollars for really fine bird to
improve the general character OF his
flock. If q farmer keeps 5Ocommon
hens he may also improve their laying
qualities by introducing iudiciOusly
selected cock that in the second year
they will at least average IL eggs more
to the hen. In this case if he has paid
say even $40 for the cock, he has made
a permanent improvement, which, if
followed up, will pay over 100 per
cent. per annum. If, on the other
hand he raises 100 common fowls for
market each year which will average
from to s pounds the pair by the use
of the improved cock he can increase
the average weight by only one pound
per head with the same feed and care
he will find that $40 cock has really
cost him nothing.
This may be called theoriZing. But
is theory that any man can demon
stratc for himself We have had some
Experience in this matter and know
what we are talking about. We have
before now been laughed at when urg
ing our farmer neighbors to improv'
their poultry by buying stock, or egg
to demonstrate by our own practic
| Wuot we StToNc W pcIauduc tucm wa
true. Seeing is believing and when
man is convinced he will soon be Gus
toner. We now sell fifty dollars wort
to people in our own county, where W
sold five dollars worth five years ago
Then farmer would come and look q
our fowls several times and 20 ava
without buying. Now they come am
buy at sight.
Poultry exhibitions are the best ed
ucational means that can be employee
to bring the public up to an apprecia
tion of fine poultry. Many man VIII
, has raised poultry all his life has neve
seen really choice fow |, if he.has ne,
er attended poultry show. We hav
men who think their chickensat at HON
a are "just as good as anybody's" an
r cannot be convinced of the contrar
: until they bring their fowls and plac
them in competition with well-bre
stock. This test usually takes the col
ceit out of such people, and il they
: really sensible men, as they often ar,
they hesitate no longer to take the ne,
essasy steps to improve their aocks.