Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-07-29
POULTRY-kEEPING.
Profits Large In Proportion to the Amour
Invested in This Business.

Invested in This Business.
But few fail to realize profit from
poultry, though often it is supposed
that loss occurs. In fact, it is almost
impossible to incur loss under good
management, and it requires but very
little management to give profit If
one should invest ten dollars in a flock,
including food and other expenses, and
realize eleven dollars or only one dol.
lar more than the outlay, it would give
profit of ten per cent. Yet, but few
would be satisfied to expend ten dol.
lars for food and receive but eleven
dollars from the hens, although in
some branches of business the proper.
Tomato profit from investments is
smaller.
Familiar as some are with barn-yard
fowls, yet they know nothing of the
merits of the different breeds. A
"chicken is chicken" and the very
fact that there are SO many colors,
shapes and sizes assists in the dclusion,
There are at present two classes OF
poultry raisers, the one giving no care
at all, and the other pampering the
tlocks to an unnatural condition. Mis-
management arises in the one case
from not regarding the poultry as be.
ing of sufficient Importance to receive
care, while in the other it is due to
overlooking and deprivation of exer-
else.
Yet we must include labor as an ele.
ment in the cost of keeping poultry,
and the excess derived over and above
the expense is not all really profit; but
it is safe to claim that all labor rightly
bestowed will be amply repaid if the
flock is large one. Small flocks are
proportionately more profitable than
large ones, because they utilize much
of the waste of the house; but by cor
rect knowledge of the proper conditions
for keeping poultry there is no reason
any number should not be kept. Here.
tofore the drawbacks have been the
desire to keep too many together in
order to economize room, which entails
competition and inequality in allow
ance of food to each individual. Then
there is the failure to supply meat
| plenty of water and warm quarters, tC
say nothing of neglect in cleaning the
houses and yards. When the hens ART
as carefully attended to as the cows
and pigs, both as regards regularity OF
feeding and labor of cleaning thu
houses, they will give better results.
A large number who do not keel
accounts would be surprised at the val
ne of the eggs and carcasses consumed
in the family compared with the ex
pense; yet, because large proportion
of food has been purchased, the hen
are regarded as Improbable. A stric
account of all receipts and expense
would show gain of one hundred pc
cent. in many cases. The profit from
poultry does not depend upon the gros
amount, but upon that produced owe
and above the outlay, and such prof
may be but small sum, yet be larg
percentage on the amount invested
The markets should BE- watched in OF
der to secure the highest prices, an
business methods should prevail.
The reason why poultry-keeping
sometimes apparently Improbable
because the average poultryman
not familiar with the breeds; does nc
feed variety, uses no precautio
against cats, rats, hawks and other Ell
emies; does not keep the houses an
yards clean; does not provide plenty {
water; feeds too much concentrate
food, and keeps the hens in an III
healthy condition. When these evil
are remedied and the poultryman wi
compare his investments with those {
people engaged in other pursuits, tn
comparison svill be in his favor.
Rural Ne,c Yorker.