The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-09
Poultry Raising.

FOulJfy RalSlpB.
When rightly managed, poultry raising is
Anquestionably prohtab'e business. There
is always good market for eggs and poul-
try, and at certain seasons it is not uncom-
men for those products TO sell at prices fab
uiously high. The consumption of eggs is
enormous. As an article of commerce they
take a very respectable rank. The follow
ing not uninteresting figures taken from
Prof. A. Carbett's valuable work entitled
'sThe Poultry Yard and Market" enable
one to form some idea of the commercial
aspects of the poultry business. In New
York and Boston alone the value of poul-
try sold amounts $6,000,000. During the
years 1878 the United States imported eggs
from Europe to the value of 81 ,421 $3.50. Yet
nowhere is poultry raising regarded with more
favor than by the French people. In no other
country is it carried to such perfection as in
France. In no other country does the bust
ness assume SO large proportions and contri-
butte so greatly to the commecial welfare of
the nation. The value of eggs and poultry
annually produced and sold by those people
amounts to $S0,000,000, or 1922 to each
inhabitant of France.
Such are few statistics in regard TO
business, which at first thought may seem
small and Insignificant, but which is really
OF great value and importance. Those who
are specially engaged in raising poultry and
furnishing the market with eggs, cannot find
more paying occupation. Its apparent
smallness certainly need not be any objection
to engaging in it, and those who can take
hold of the business and conduct it in accor-
dance with certain methods, which expert
ence has proved indispensable, are not likely
to fail of success. The greatest errors, how
ever. prevail in regard to the matter of keep
ing fowls. The most absurd figures are often
n show how mu0b hn mazda from
flock of hens during the year. 1t is gen.
orally supposed that anybody and everybody,
who may own land of more or less acres,
can keep them profitaby either in large or
small numbers without regard whatever to
the size or condition Of their apartments,
and the amount of profit altogether, depends
on the number kept. The total income of
one hen for the year is thought to be small
at $500; the total expenses of keeping the
same is thought to be large at 81 90 per year.
By using artificial incubators the profit can
be doubled. The care and labor need not be
very great, at least not enough to interfere
at all with the various other departments of
the farm. Such ideas are of no more value
practically, than so many crooked pins.
They only serve to show to what extent the
"hen fever" will prevent ones sober judg-
ment. tits estimated by those who are dis.
posed to treat the question fairly, that hen
during tire year, which is fully as high an
estimate as can be allowed. The best of
hens under the most favorable conditions
will hardly reach that number, and flock
will each average much less. There is no
doubt but artificial iucubators can be en-
ployed with good results, yet the greatest
success does not by any means depeud on
their being used.
Fowls requires great deal of attention.
Iol< e g. l.
indispensable. Unceasing vigilance is the
price of chickens. Upon the strictest OBJ
seryance of these points and many others
seemingly small, depends success in raising
poultry, rather than the employment of ar
tiicial incubaiors. Failures in poultry rails
Ing owing in most cases TO causes easily as
ertained, are of common occurrence. Some
contend that the way to avoid all risks is to
keep small numbers; that small flock of
fewls will pay better than one twice as
large; that to employ much capital involves
increased care and labor, and greater dan
ger of loss from want of adequate accommn-
dations; that in short it does not pay. 1t is
true that in keeping small number of hens
the owner avoids little risk, and at the
same time it is equally true that he loses all
chance of making anything That it is
equally true that he loses all chance of max
ing anything. That it is unwise to keep
large numbers of fowls and to employ
much capital in the business, we do not be
lieve. In fact, If poultry raising is to be
made to pay at all IL must be conducted on
large scale. The profit of one hen is not
large enough to make the keeping of small
number of them profitable. 1t is nearly as
much labor to care for twenty-five or thirty
rs it ould be to take care of four times as
many; with the necessary experience and
amply provisions for their wants, it is better
30 keep not less than five hundred, than it
Is to keep one hundred As the facilities
for their management are enlarged the num-
Der might be increased to any desirable limit
with corresponding increase in the profits.
In order that this may be successfully car
ried out and made to yield good profits to
the owner, the business must be made a
specially. It is by not making it specially,
that accounts in nine cases out of ten for its
failures, when conducted upon large scale.
In every case where it is attempted to make
it subordinate to some other business, it
invariably ends in complete failure. In
every case where the owner has made poul-
try raising his chief interest, it has resulted
In complete success.
Very frequently, claims are made that
the farmer is the best fitted for engaging in
In the poultry business The idea is alb
curd That common farmer can engage
poultry raising and follow it successfully
and in the meantime do justice to his farm,
il impossible. 1t has often been tried, and
as often failed. Instances without number
have occurred where farmer being led to
double or treble his flock of hens, already
too large, has had occasion al a later period,
70 repent of the undertaking, either by os-
Ing nearly all of his fowls or by finding that
that he has had his labors for his pains, so
far as their paying him anything is concern
cd or possibly he may have wisely deter
mined to idemnify himself against further
loss at least, by wringing their necks at the
first convenient opportunity.
The fact is, successful poultry raising and
successful farming admit of no connection
whatever. The former does not, as is the
ease with raising beef and mutton. increase
the productiveness of the farm or add 10 its
owners income from it. 1t is a business
which, if made specially, would be highly
Yemunerative, becomes in the hands of the
farmer an utter failure in itself, and besides
Ia positively detrimental to his other inter-
csts. A flock of forty or fifty fowls for the
socialist would be too small; for the far
nler 1t is too large. AS ordinarily managed,
such q flock do not pay the value of their
feathers during the whole period of their
lives; under the best management the pro-
fits would not be enough to warrant the la
Dor and expense involved.
Fowls when allowed to range during the
Summer season, are the farmers worst en-
smies. Nothing that Is planted within hail
ing distance of buildings escapes their raw
ages, They are proof against all brides,