The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-19
Poultry Keeping for Women.
Fanny Field in Prairie Farmer.

Before me is a letter from a woman
who labors under misapprehension re-
garding the amount and nature of work
connected with poultry keeping. The
writer says: 81 am out of health-un-
able to do hard work, but still that 1
must do something toward earning my
living. l have read that poultry keeping
is a light and profitable employment for
people who are not strong, and feel
disposed to try it. l live near good
market for poultry products, and can
have the use of few acres of land. If
l could manage to earn, clear of the ex-
pense of keeping the fowls, $500 to 5000
year, should feel quite independent"
The above is a fair sample of many
letters that l have received from half
invalid women, who desire to engage
in some light employment that will bring
in ready money and | thing it is almost
time to put in protest, not against the
letters, but against the perpetual reiter-
alton by some poultry writers of the
"old, old story" to the effect that
poultry keeping is suitable and prof
table occupation for women who are
not strong enough to engage in any
money making employment that re-
quires downright hard work. Success
in poultry keeping can only be won by
constant care, close attention to minute
details and plenty of hard work thrown
in. A semi-invalid may undertake some
of the lighter work connected with poul-
try keeping-she may even assume the
entire care of small flock of fowls, and
doubtless her health will be benefited
by the out door air and exercise, but
she must not expect to derive any great
pecuniary benefit from her labor in the
poultry yard she certainly must not go
into the business with the expectation
of making living by it. l do not
write this to discourage the half-inva-
lids, but to warn them against indulg
ing in hopes that cannot be realized,
and going beyond their strength in the
vain effort to accomplish the work that
would tax the energies ofall well women.
Let your work be according to your
strength. But for women who possess
an average amount of health and
strength, or who have or can get the
use of few acres of land, l can recon-
mend the poultry business as means
of livelihood. l know several women
who are supporting themselves and
others dependent upon them from the
proceeds of their poultry; and other
women may do equally we'll, provided
they begin right and stick to the busi
ness. Poultry keeping has none of the
drawbacks that many occupations pre-
sent to the women who have themselves
and children to support. Poultry rails
ing has always, so far as my knowledge
extends, been considered women S work,
and woman can engage in it without
fear of being pointed at as a "dreadful
creature" out of her ''proper sphere"
Next, it is work that can be taught to
help in many ways. Thirdly, one can
start with very little capital, and the
business soon yields an income; it is
not like investing money where eo5.
must wait six months or yea 6s
"dividends' aud last but not least, the
profts-if the business is rightly man
aged-are sure first class poultry pro-
ducts will always sell at paying prices,
and the woman who once masters the
poultry business need have no fears
about the future-so far as this world
is concerned.
For farmers wives and daughters
who desire to do some extra work that
will pay in cash, l know of nothing
that will pay as well in proportion to
the time and capital invested as small
flock of fowls we'll cared for.